Snakes and Stones Pr. 2

[Bogertophis]

Nah, I have been focused on trying to find a new job. Biotech field has been in steep decline since January of this year...I am literally competing with hundreds of qualified applicants for every skilled position.

I am also taking care of wayyyy too many ball pythons. I am hoping I hit some target goals in 2026 so I can shrink my population of pythons and rodents--I am currently spending 50% more time, energy, and money than last year to maintain both sets.

That sure doesn't sound like fun. Both job hunting & too much animal care. Best of luck in both.

[Lord Sorril]

Thanks!

I have been having trouble with one of my Ivory ball pythons: (not photographed yet).
It is eating on its own accord but it won't eat anything larger than a single pinky mouse once every two weeks...could just be a problem-eater...or could be indicative of an ongoing medical issue.

Every other holdback and adult specimen I have is in top shape with the exception of an Axanthic female that hasn't put on enough weight (to my liking) since laying eggs this year...I may begrudgingly have to skip breeding her in 2026.

And fun fact: I hit a new record last week for the most number of rodents fed off in a single week...my former record was 693...I feed multiple smaller prey items so it is not like everyone gets a single medium rat... My large ball python population of 2024 holdbacks are into their steep growth curve...so I went wayyyy past my old record.

[Bogertophis]

So sorry about your fussy ivory BP- a few snakes can really ruin your day, can't they? A pinky is not even a meal for a hatchling BP- I hope it's not some sort of internal abnormality, but it's no less frustrating if it just needs a good therapist.

I'd say you're pretty busy, judging from the # of feeders you blow thru on a regular basis. I never thought to count when I had a house-full of snakes, but I'm sure you're the winner, & I have to say, better you than me! The most snakes I ever had was about 150, one summer, between some c/b offspring & "houseguests". My average number of snakes for many years was 85-90.
(That was on top of a full-time job, a large 'rodent ranch' -rats, mice, & hamsters- and 4 big dogs; Also, some- a varying # of my snakes- were hots, so that added to the workload.)

[Lord Sorril]

So sorry about your fussy ivory BP- a few snakes can really ruin your day, can't they? A pinky is not even a meal for a hatchling BP- I hope it's not some sort of internal abnormality, but it's no less frustrating if it just needs a good therapist.

The snake willingly ate a furred pre-hopper yesterday and struggled swallowing it, but eventually got it down. I hope this is a good indicator that it is on the right track. This problem eater is easily my smallest hatchling of 2025 now...and thus my main focus...

I'd say you're pretty busy, judging from the # of feeders you blow thru on a regular basis. I never thought to count when I had a house-full of snakes, but I'm sure you're the winner, & I have to say, better you than me! The most snakes I ever had was about 150, one summer, between some c/b offspring & "houseguests". My average number of snakes for many years was 85-90.
(That was on top of a full-time job, a large 'rodent ranch' -rats, mice, & hamsters- and 4 big dogs; Also, some- a varying # of my snakes- were hots, so that added to the workload.)

I was counting feeders as a personal record, but once I crossed a 1000, I suppose the only next milestone is 2000, and there is no way I would ever have the time to manage that level of snakeage without it being my full time job.

Having a varied of collection of snakes is much more of a strain because you have to manage all the various environmental conditions and individual temperaments. I only keep ball pythons (for snakes)...I do have a few cranky ball pythons, but for the most part they are all pretty chill.

I remember having 100 ball pythons at one point and 'people' said that there was no way I could adequately care for them...once you have the enclosures built and a good husbandry routine scheduled: they are not that challenging...and keeping only 100 seems like such a small number now... Side Story: I was visiting CV Exotics storefront a while back and examining the reptiles when one of the customers came up to me and bragged that they had 10 ball pythons, I just smiled and said 'Whoa! That is a lot'.

Photo #550

Black Pewter (Black Pastel/Pastel)/Het Piebald with some Petrified Wood.

The ringer was super clear when she was first hatched, but, it is fading rapidly.

[Bogertophis]

Yes, when I had all those snakes, they were various kinds, most were younger colubrids of all kinds (which eat more often than BPs), besides a number of hots. Mine were added gradually but it was still a lot to pay attention to, as opposed to having all one kind, like BPs. I had very few "cranky" snakes though, & certainly no regrets having known them all. I've bitten my tongue plenty of times also, when people told me they have something like 10 snakes.

[Lord Sorril]

Photo #551

BP = HGW/Lesser/100% Het Lav Albino/Possible Pastel
The snake has a 'yellow tinge', but the patterning doesn't bely Pastel (imo).
Parents: Pastel/Lav Albino x HGW/Lesser

Camera flash really obliterates the polish shine on this piece of quartzite (from MA, USA).
Here is another photo of the stone under different lighting.

[Bogertophis]

Gee, I wonder how they got the name "ball pythons"? Good demo!

[Lord Sorril]

Photo #552

BP = Banana/Het Clown/50% Het Hypo with a piece of Chalcedony (Western USA, OR likely).

Fun fact: I have no Banana breeding crosses planned for 2026. I think Banana looks nice in some combos, but I think it washes out in others-and I am pretty picky at this point.

[Lord Sorril]

Merry Christmas 2025!

[Lord Sorril]

Photo #553

BP = Pastel/100% Het VPI Axanthic/100% Het Orange Ghost/50% Het Tri-Stripe
Sometimes Het Tri-Stripe is obvious...not on this one...

The stone is a piece of agate...I'm not entirely sure its origin-I suspect Mid-West USA...It is kinda obscured in the image above, so I included another image below.