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My snake den

Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 6:16 pm
by reptilist
Ah what the heck, I might as well show ya'll a couple pics of the snakes in my den.

The big cage holds my Boa Constrictor. The small cages on top hold a Sonoran Sidewinder, a Grand Canyon Rattlesnake, a Tiger Rattlesnake and an Arizona Black Rattlesnake.

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These cages, clockwise from the top left: Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, Mojave Rattlesnake, Speckled Rattlesnake, Banded Gila Monster (I have a permit), and a Northern Black Tailed Rattlesnake.

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Across the room, top left going clockwise: Sonoran Lyre Snake, Common Kingsnake, Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake, Desert Kingsnake and a Western Hognosed Snake.

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Re: My snake den

Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 8:14 pm
by coazon de oro
That's a very nice collection Reptilist.

Is this just a hobby, or do you do studies on them, collect venom, or do presentations?

Homar

Re: My snake den

Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 4:13 am
by reptilist
It's a hobby and I do presentations.

I started collecting rattlesnakes because people wanted to see them.... I have a big respect for venom and do not encourage interacting with these animals so it was quite some time before I branched in this direction. The kids grew up, I bought locking cages designed for venomous snakes and some people started giving me offspring from their collections, about half of my snakes were wild caught by me when they were just babies. The Gila Monster is actually owned by the state of Arizona and they license me to care for it and show it off.
All my educational presentations are sane. That is, I don't go in for any sensational theatrics.... The venomous reptiles stay in their cages.

Re: My snake den

Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 10:55 am
by yuccahead
That's an impressive collection. Just wondering...do you change out specimens? That is...do you replace an older one with a younger one you might come across and would that even be practical? Would a captive snake be able to make it on it's own in the wild again or do you think it wouldn't have much of a chance?

Re: My snake den

Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 1:27 pm
by reptilist
Once a captive, always a captive.

It may be that some wild snakes retain their life lessons on how to capture live, wild food.... But I know that many do not.

Releasing any captive reptiles is a no-no because they may have been exposed to germs that could then infect the other herpefauna that they encounter.

I never swap out animals.... Not that it isn't tempting! When they are little, they are easy to manage, but when they get big, watch out!

Re: My snake den

Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 1:44 pm
by Apache Devil
Nice collection. I only photograph these days. I have not got the time or patience to keep any critters.

Re: My snake den

Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 9:16 pm
by DESERTGOLD
Terry:

I am impressed with your collection. I remember those day when I had to feed and care for seven rattlesnakes I used in my presentations. We cared for rattlesnakes for seventeen years. Our home was sometimes called a snake den by neighbors. No I didn't play with venomous reptiles either. I had a parent who was bitten by a thirteen inch WDB and the medical bill cost him about $16,000.00 because his insurance would not cover the bite. That occurred in the mid-1970s. You take care. We are going to try and make it up to Clifton on the 12th of November. One of these days I would love to share some stories with you. Tom K.

Re: My snake den

Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 7:08 pm
by kevinest
Hey Rep, nice collection. Living in California I don't get to keep hot snakes legally. I don't think my wife would go for it either. Too bad, rattlers are the coolest herps on the planet. I've pared my collection down over the years, mostly just from some animals dying from old age. My false water cobra died at the age of about twenty, and my cal king seems to want to live forever; he's over twenty five now. Atlas, the red footed tortoise is pushing thirty years with me and he's not slowing down. Other members of my herp family are a leapord tortoise, fat tailed gecko and a uromastix. That's just the reptilian part of the herd. There are also fish, dogs and a collection of cactus and succulents taking up space around here. What's you favorite, herp-wise?

Re: My snake den

Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2011 4:16 am
by reptilist
My favorite?
I really like my rattlesnakes.... Funny that, because I didn't always appreciate them!
I think my newest one, the tiger rattlesnake is my favorite "looker".
But, one of my long time captives, "Mojave Mike" is also a favorite because he's so mellow and nice looking!
My least favorite is probably the atrox.... He's a hazard fo' sho'! I call him "Darkness". hehehe

They all have dear memories associated with them... Some were gifted to me from great friends, and others were collected by me with family members. They all serve in the public education displays that I do from time to time....

Re: My snake den

Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2011 1:35 pm
by Apache Devil
About the most I will do is detain one for a day or two to do photography. This is me with a crotalus oreganus. Douglas County and Lake County are the two most reptile-rich regions in Oregon.