My snake collection (605 views)

[deebee]

Just wanted to show off some of my scaly collection, specifically the snakes! I'm sorry if people on here don't like snakes, I know there's not many that can do, but I can assure anybody who thinks badly of them that they are beautiful and mostly well natured animals. The media likes to put people off snakes or cause a bit of hysteria, but I promise they're amazing to keep and I enjoy their company just as much as any other animal! 

Key: Morph = Colour mutation

First up I've got Frank. Frank is a female Carolina corn snake, 5.5 foot long and roughly 3-4 years old at this point in time. Frank was given to me by somebody I used to go to college with who no longer wanted her when she was just over a year old (estimated). I changed her name to Frank when I got her suspecting that she was a he but a few years down the line and 17 eggs later we know she's definitely female





Secondly, Theodore! Theodore is a male royal python, 2 foot long and estimated just under 2 years old. My fiance's dad wanted me to get one at a reptile expo so he came home with me... No story there haha! He was a non-feeder for some time so has been a bit stunted but now he eats every time he's doing fantastic. He's got the cutest puppy face





Thirdly, Atlas. Atlas is an unsexed young (age unknown) common boa, roughly 3 foot long. Atlas was a non-feeder, as was it's sibling who is unfortunately no longer with us. Atlas was force fed and eventually took to eating like a champ. I don't handle him/her much because of the eating issues but have started to a lot more recently because I don't want a huge angry snake with a crackin food response haha!



I'll do these a few posts at a time because I keep getting logged out   

[deebee]

Next up is Casper. Casper is a male Carolina corn snake (ghost morph) and is around 4 years old. He's about 6 foot. Casper was given to me alongside another snake not too long ago by a guy who needed to urgently rehome a few snakes. I offered to take the other snake and couldn't not take Casper too





Then we have Captain. Captain is a hybrid between a royal python and a blood python. He's 75% bumblebee (morph) royal python and 25% blood python also known as the Area 51 python. There's only 3 in the country and he was imported from the US. He's about 2 years old, 2.5 foot. I had him off a friend who no longer wanted to keep him due to not having enough space in his already enormous collection and wanted him to go to somebody who will appreciate him. What he didn't tell me until he was dropping him off is that he's the angriest snake you could of ever come across and he's the only one I don't handle with my hands. I have to use a fairly long hook to move him out for cleaning. A brave few will hold him but he does strike a lot. He was a breeder snake, so he's never really been handled. That and there's a few blood pythons that are snappy haha





Soleil. Soleil is a sunbeam snake! Sex unknown, age unknown, around 1.5-2 foot. Soleil was given to me by the owner of Captain for the same reason. Little can be said about him but he is freakin GORGEOUS in the sun light. They are just brown and white and when you bring them outside their iridescence comes into play and you can see where they got the name!



My nails are filthy in this cause he lives in soil... sorry!



I've still got my bigger guys to go!

[deebee]

Can't forget Hendrix! Hendrix is presumed female, is at least 8-9 years old and at least 10 foot. Hendrix was rescued by a guy and came to him with mouth rot, scale rot, burns and was very underweight. Due to unforeseen circumstances he could no longer care for him and had to rehome him. Funnily enough, we had just moved into the new house and we were having our wifi fitted. I was at work, but Jack was here to see the guy in. He told the guy that we wanted the router to be upstairs and he hopes that he's okay around snakes. WELL! I get a text while on shift saying "well I've got you a snake..." I nearly fell over. Jack NEVER gets my animals haha, I usually have to bed. Turns out the guys brother owned a few large snakes and was rehoming at least two of them. He saw my set up and was impressed and then I went to see his and choose which snake I wanted. Hendrix was the largest but surprisingly most docile. Hendrix isn't always in the best of moods but is still my sweet baby, even if she is the only one that's bit me so far haha. It wasn't pleasant but it was fast!





Coming up we've got Misty! Misty is a Texas black rat snake, age unknown and presumed female. About 8 foot. Misty was a rehome. She's an absolute doll and she's great for people who haven't held snakes to mess with. She's very tolerant and gentle





Last but not least I've got Clyde. Clyde is an unsexed but presumed female coastal carpet python, age unknown but at least 8 and about 11-12 foot. Clyde came to me with Casper. I know a lot of people think carpets are evil but I promise they're awesome animals!





I have a few more snakes to tick off my list for now and that's a Burmese python and a red blood python. As we have set the date for our wedding I doubt I'll be getting either in the near future, not at least another year or two anyway but then my snake collection will be satisfying for me. I have got two more new additions coming in in the very near future. Friday I'm having my new common boa being dropped off. He's only teeny tiny as was born not long ago and I've been paying him off for a little while. He's a sharp albino het snow common boa! I cannot WAIT to have a big albino snake haha. They're so pretty. Photos will obviously come when I've had him. I do have a photo of him off the site for anybody desperate though... www.madaboutboas.com/s/cc_images/teaserbox_29805303.jpg?t=1432364717 Then I've also put down my deposit to get another baby next month. This is going to be my final snake for a long time. I've got a... RETICULATED PYTHON Dream snake! Tiger morph to be exact. Again, only a baby. I cannot wait!

I must remind everybody, before they think it's weird, that most snake keepers end up with quite a few. They're not overly expensive to feed for me as I buy in bulk, they're low maintenance and don't need feeding every day (my big guys is once every 14 days or so)/ The only problem for me is my electricity bill is HUGE haha! I don't mind though

[Bluekeet]

You're not weird! I feel ya sister. Reptiles rock!

I LOVE burms. Such sweet little bunnies. Retics are a little much for me just because of the length they get, but ooooh man, they are pretty. Congratulations on the new pick up! I'll need some pictures of it and I would like to see your reptile room as well.

I still want an albino ball and GTP. A couple leopard geckos would be great too. I think I have an animal problem. Between my little birdies, and the fact I want some more herps and a horse... I'll be busy.

[deebee]

Choosing a retic or a burm first was a really hard decision! I want both, and will get both (I want a hypo granite burm), but I had to have one or the other for now. The reason I chose a male retic is because they're less heavier bodied than a female Burmese. They may be lengthy but it's the weight that's the issue in my case. Well not an issue, but it's what I want to consider for now. By the time my retic is getting to a good size I will have had a baby burm too. There's still some bits and bobs I will get along the way but nothing I'm desperate for other than a blood. I really love the asian ratsnakes, hognose etc. and as I have a rack I can have smaller species easily. Rosy boas too. I did have a pair of young Kenyan sand boas but they were given to me before they'd even had a feed People shouldn't do that! I'd love another sand boa though in the future

As for hands being full, I've got these, lizards, chelonians, a LOT of birds including raptors, dogs and a cat haha! It's all I have though. It's what I live and breathe


EDIT: You should get those few reptiles! They're low maintenance (or the leo and ball are at least haha)

Another point regarding heavier bodied is like my boa and carpet. My carpet is a good foot or two longer but s/he is slimmer than the boa. The boa weighs a considerable amount more!

[Bluekeet]

I like a little chunk. Length is the biggest concern here, but it looks like we're opposite on that. I do kind of want the pythons, and if I get them, I plan to order them online (I do like online herp shopping), but the only issue with the leo is feeder insects, where as snakes are easy and it's just rats.

[Bluekeet]

But I do have to say...

Those heat pits tho.  :loveheart:

[deebee]

I definitely prefer the python look to boas with their puppy faces. Oh retics are chunky, but not as heavy. It's like my carpet is still a good chunk and one of the biggest coastal carpet pythons I've seen but is really quite light. Whereas Misty is really slim being a colubrid. Is feeding live bugs an issue or? Leos aren't massive eaters

[Bluekeet]

No, not at all. I just would prefer they all eat the same(ish) thing in general. Makes it easier for me. Plus, I don't really want a diverse collection. Just maybe 2 or 3 little snakes or just one big one. Geckos are great (leos, days and tokays... ooooh man), but I do see myself as more of a snake girl, despite having a wandering eye occasionally. My father initially had an attachment to bearded dragons, but there's just something about snakes I like more than lizards. Don't know what it is. All great nonetheless. Second would be tortoises for me. It is just so entertaining to watch them chomp on greens.

[Bluekeet]

I almost went with a corn snake, but I just didn't like how mobile colubrids were. Always on the move. I like something a little more placid. And by that, more like a pet rock.   I've had Medusa before several years ago, so fate intervened and I got her back again after 3 years apart. She is a great friend. Quiet, still and a little hissy, but all around just what I was looking for in a snake.