D. Pogue

Very, very well put, Rob. A little "rancor_", followed by a little "Walt Kowalski". Who could ask for more? I sincerely hope that all of this, even the effluent provided by one hopelessly deluded individual, is not summarily deleted or consigned to the rubbish bin. It's all part of the bigger picture...........at least I hope it is......... Mr. Davidson..........I would pay for the privilege of reading such a "debate". Here or anywhere else. It's unlikely to happen, though..........Most of these tiny, pathetic, anonymous "experts" don't have the balls (or the material) to take you up on your rather gracious offer. Too bad. Regards, D.

A dozen long-stem roses will be sent at my own personal expense to the Markham, Ontario hospital room of shiny-noo Repticlic member "beekeeper" where he is currently recovering from a complex surgical procedure to remove the collective feet of several angry fellow members from his colon. In addition, I have arranged for a full orchestra to set up in the hospital parking lot and continually serenade our friend "beekeeper" with John Philip Sousa's "Liberty Bell March" at full volume, day and night, until I am assured his convalescence is complete. It's the least I could do. Was that idiotic addition to this Thread really necessary? Is the public displaying of this sort of nonsensical unfocused rambling why any of us are here?? What a waste of valuable space "page 7" has been so far. Instead of enjoying a Thread about Nature, Herpetology, Evolutionary Biology, Photography, and RealSnakes (tm).........we're subjected to this "investor's" drivel........not on his own "territory", where frankly none of us would even see it........but here on Repticlic. And now we all, myself included, get diverted away from the real reason most of us are here, or why we were first fascinated with reptiles. What a shame. Please tell me the post in question was intended strictly as a joke.....a "set up", no? It was one of those "internet suicide attempts" that we keep reading about, right? Or perhaps it was the written equivalent of a juicy batting-practice fastball, served up just for our amusement? No??? Isn't it confusing when "Law & Order" breaks down? I mean, when things or even people are just "out of place"........."Not where they belong", so to speak? Picture a huge, fresh turd sitting in an otherwise pristine spring-fed mountain pool. You get the picture. Posters like this individual really do have a place in this "e-world" where they actually fit in, though........where they have safety in numbers........where they truly belong. We all know where that place is, don't we? Why don't they just stay there, I wonder? I must admit here that I'm left to wonder why anyone would bother to post this sort of puerile, entry-level sewage here on Repticlic, or anywhere else for that matter. Why is the posting of a vehement and obviously personal attack like this one considered to be appropriate by anyone, even a terribly self-involved "investor"? How does anyone find the time to follow a small group from one site to another in order to submit for public consumption such poorly written material? Would it be out of line for me to suggest that this particular individual probably should have consulted an editor prior to posting these unsolicited and rather garbled words? Perhaps the sad reality is that individuals posting such material under the veil of anonymity likely feel absolutely no sense of embarrassment or shame at their own conduct, despite the obvious shallowness of their "opinions" and the completely value-free "content" they continually post here and elsewhere. I'd like to personally and cordially invite this individual to stay "over there" and to continue to grace that particular project with his, ya know, valuable contributions to The Hobby. I suspect that his "experienced" observations and "industry-based" offerings are in fact truly valued over there, but are of little or no interest to anyone here with a desire to share information and photographs, to discus and learn about reptiles, their ecology, their biology, or even to explore the world of Herpetology in general. I suppose that's a polite way of saying......"Go pound"........ Regards, D. ps- To "Brandon".......if in fact you actually exist........Working with "bees" and "spiders" opens one up to so many potentially dangerous situations. All that "biting" and "stinging", you know. Why not try snakes for a change? Maybe even some RealSnakes (tm) as pictured here on this very Thread. Just a thought. pps - One final thought. This is for all of the "Money & Morph"-types like this fellow who now completely dominate the Reptile Hobby. Why can't you guys just accept the fact that you've WON?? If there ever was a "battle", it's over. The Reptile Hobby is now officially ruled by money-and-novelty-motivated "investors". It's all yours, guys. Don't you all understand that this little "revolution" we have going here is nothing but an inside joke involving perhaps ten or twenty dedicated participants? We're not cutting into your "market share" here. Some of us have legitimate concerns about the destructive meddling that has been done and is still being done to the captive reptilian gene pool. Why is that concept so contentious? Why can't you all simply accept your overwhelming, crushing victory, won decisively in the name of commerce and deformity above all else?? And, once you've done that, why can't you just leave us alone in our own tiny little corner here?

Is that you, "Brandon"?? I must admit, I'm rather honoured to learn that someone of such stature cared enough to follow me here. The embarrassingly poor writing skills aside, I mean. Or maybe it's really the legendary Baron Von Corkenheimer, in disguise? You know, the not-so-Self-Made "Duke Of Deformity"?? Ah, it's probably not him........I find it more than a little curious, though, because............well........it sounds a lot like him and is reminiscent of his "debating level" or what laughably passes for "style" in some quarters........Nah............he's likely far too busy making millions of dollars to be wasting valuable time posting on a Thread like this little one. It must be someone else. Yes, that's it........it's someone else. Nevertheless, whomever this cluck is, all I can say is.............. GET OFF MY LAWN. Regards, D. ps - "LMAO" indeed.

Here are a few CriboShots, just for Melanie. Avert your eyes, everyone else. These pics are for Melanie only. No peeking allowed for the rest of ya! Oh.......alright.......look at them if you must. I guess I can't really stop you all. Here's a Cribo of a slightly different kind...... I thought that I'd revive an old "classic" portrait here on Repticlic.......This one seems to be popular for some reason....... "Yucatan" Blacktail Cribo. Cribo in palm tree. Cribo in banana tree. These two Yellowtails are dilligently protecting Nick's favourite beer. Angry Eastern Indigo. Don't mess with this Morph-Eating Machine. Don't even think about it. Regards, D. ps - pps - ppps - Nice to see another new Repticlic member join the little "Revolution" here . There's lots more where this stuff came from, Chris. Love that Atheris avatar, by the way .

Just found this.... Well, Marc......perhaps you'd like to join myself and Jon Davidson in a Sistrurus Hunt sometime this upcoming season.....?? Doesn't that sound like fun? Of course, I must insist that you bring Nick with you . Jon and I never fail. And we can prove it. You're welcome to join in. I'll just bet that a long day "In The Field" with Jon and myself would ultimately be more rewarding than a day spent wandering aimlessly around a pathetic "Expo" filled with table after table of Deformed Designer Pets. Just a thought.......... . Regards (as always), DP

As are most "TV Shows". Funny story, Nick.........I have recently received e-mails from several people telling me that they have read on "The Internet" that I myself have these so-called "tessara" corns.......apparently they are valued at $1200.00 per messed-up cornsnake. Again, for those who care about such matters, I do not. And I never have. These same Vebsytes evidently have reported that I am "moving to Edmonton, Alberta". Again, I am not. What's with these people? Can't they find something/someone else to talk about? Perhaps they are they growing tired of their own endless, repetitive comments about "my balls", and the various permutations thereof ............? You know, the garbage that actually passes for "humour" with these "Investors", these clods who somehow feel the knee-jerk requirement to constantly repeat the same tired, unfunny, puerile junk that they have all dined out on for so long now. Ad nauseum. Hasn't that juvenilia been strip-mined deep past the bedrock?? I would respectfully say, "Give that crap a rest, guys........for your own self-respect, if for nothing else......" It all makes me so mad, I feel like posting a photograph of a snake eating another snake. Yup.......that's what it makes me feel like doing.............. Sad part is, I wish I did have a few $12,000.00 "tessaroo" corns here so I could feed them to a Drymarchon. Any Drymarchon, really......... Regards, DP ps - "100 easy payments of $12.00!!" pps - "10 easy payments of $1,2000.000.00!!" ppps - "1 easy payment of $12,000,000.00!! pppps - "What kind of Gullible Cluck (tm) pays car/food/rent/mortgage money for a Designer Pet??" ppppps - Give me a minute and I'll explain it to ya.........

Before I start counting the Painted Turtles in Nick's photo, I'll post a telling turtle pic of my own. This was taken early last Fall on a well-travelled cottage road in North-Central Ontario. This little chelonian made it across the road......with a little help from a friend.........Many more turtles, sadly, don't make it past the death-dealing gauntlet of speeding cars and trucks that fill Ontario Cottage Country roads every season. Who cares about a stupid snake or turtle when stopping or swerving slightly would require even a small effort? I mean, some millionnaire might be a few minutes late for his appointment to mow the football-field-sized front lawn at his satellite-dish-and-bigscreen-TV-equipped Luxury Retreat by the lake........... Since everyone is posting great Northern Watersnake shots, I'll add some of my own to the growing pile. Ugly Brown Snakes indeed . Look........it's a Naturally-Occurring Deformity . As opposed to all the un-natural ones we're inundated with in the Hobby these days........ .......... She doesn't seem to be suffering from that old injury, though. She looks healthy enough to me. But she's a "wild snake". I've been told by "experts" recently that "wild snakes" are all full of parasites and just waiting to die. Could the man at the Pet Store have been wrong about that too??? Hmmmmmmm........... Actually, she was doing rather well for herself. She was quite clearly gravid, and likely about to give birth very soon. This is the latest in the season that I have found a still-gravid natricine this far North..................It was September 24, 2008 to be exact. We didn't observe her for very long. Once she had tired of our intrusion into her domain, she chose to retreat to the safety of a rock crevice. "See ya later, Stumpy! Best of luck with the new family". One more habitat shot. This Northern Vista is the rugged shoreline home of many a fine Nerodia sipedon sipedon. A beautiful woodland pond, only minutes away from that same rocky shoreline . I can hardly wait to see this one in the Spring of 2009. It's always filled with breeding Wood Frogs, Rana sylvatica, and American Toads, Bufo americanus . Regards, D. ps - Good to see our pal "rancor_" in fine form........angry again, as usual . Somebody has to keep all this fun and frivolity in check!

Looks like everybody is getting worked up for the 2009 field hunting season. I myself plan to be out photographing local snakes yet again on the very next sunny day here where the temperature is 10 degrees C or warmer. I'm told by our friend "Stevie" that a few Garters were already out and basking in the Toronto area on March 07, 2009 . We're on the cusp of another great spring.......I can practically taste it now......... Here are some new photos from the end of last summer. It's a nice example of a healthy, wild Eastern Milksnake, Lampropeltis t. triangulum. This one really impressed me by adopting a defence pose that was reminiscent of that more commonly displayed by snakes of the Agkistrodon complex........note the upward "head tilt" in three of the images. Regards, D. ps - Steaks, Snakes, and Ice-Cold "Moosehead" . I'm "in" .

Well, Nick, I think it looks like a "cryptic basking" example of one of these guys........ ........on top of a construction project done by one of the eager little workers who did this....... And this....... Speaking of "beaver shots".........Do I win a prize? Regards, D.

J'aime des hognose snakes aussi. Voici une photo d'un des albinos hachés par "Stevie" et photographiés sur un de mes palmiers l'été dernier. Regards, D.

Thanks for the turtle pics, Stephan. It looks to me like a case of "Same Pond, Different Turtles", though. I'm not sure that your big Blanding's is the same as the individual I saw so many times last spring. It would be great if that little urban pond had a breeding pair of Emydoidea blandingii, wouldn't it? Here are my photos of The Urban Blanding's .........dare I say, "TM"? . A "wide shot" of the pond. Regards, D. ps -

Thanks to everyone for the compliments on those "habitat shots". Some days, it's rewarding enough just to be out in the field enjoying those Natural Spaces, even if no snakes are found. As they say, any day snake hunting is better than any day working in the office. I really can't imagine what it would be like to be stuck in a cubicle five or six days a week. Especially when you realize what many "cubicles" are also used for . Here are some more Sistrurus catenatus catenatus habitat shots. These ones are from an entirely different part of the snakes' Canadian range. A few more images of equally "picturesque" but completely different Massasauga habitat....... "Gratuitous Beaver Shot" Sometimes the places you find them in are as rewarding as the snakes themselves. Regards, D. ps - Nice in situ photo, Jeremy. Imagine finding TWO "worthless" colour-brids ("tm") at once??? Not much "investment potential" there, I'll admit........but still beautiful serpents nonetheless . pps- Jeremy's advice regarding the combining of Large Adult Cribos and Garter Snake Musk is some of the best information I've ever received after a thoroughly predictable and thus preventable incident........."Now ya tell me........"

The Garters come out in another week, my "Frenchie Roughneck" pal . Here are a few more images to keep us all going until the 2009 Season officially begins. See you all here on Monday........or Tuesday....... Regards, D.

Glad you enjoyed the Massasauga shots, Nick . Well then, Jon, I imagine that the snakes in this and the previous post here also "look familiar" . For those who follow such details, Mr. Davidson was with me when these snakes were observed and photographed this past summer. A better snake hunter/field companion would be very difficult to find. If you're going to go snake hunting with me, you'd better be prepared to spend all morning, all afternoon, and all evening dedicated to the endevour. Jon is the first guy I've ever met who's more hardcore than I am . At around 2:30am, after an evening of fruitful road-cruising, Jon's observation was that, "the sun comes up in another few hours, Don". That's dedication, folks. Here are a couple more pics........ The rattler is in there somewhere..... More habitat..... An interesting lichen formation....... Another one of those "wind-bent" pines. And its rock-grabbing roots: Another Natural Treasure..... Regards, Don

Well, Chris, that's certainly a nice selection of "CB" snakes , and I think probably quite an accurate photographic representation of what "Captive Bred" has come to mean circa 2009. I'm not surprised that these "non-locality-specific" serpents have been somewhat difficult to "key out", though. Like the overwhelming majority of grotesque, deliberately malformed "Pet Trade" reptiles available in the Hobby today, it's hard to say defintively exactly what these guys really are. "Crochet-alus" is a good start, though . I've been hearing lately that "Captive Bred" may sadly no longer mean what it used to mean.........or what it should mean............and that the clarion cry of "Support Your Local Breeder" may in fact be an incitement to waste your hard-earned cash on Living Garbage...........More on those thoughts later. We might soon just see how much truth and honesty folks are willing and able to digest. Later. I'll just bet that Melanie likes the pink one with the scarf, though ........... For now, here are some of the Sistrurus catenatus catenatus photographs I promised earlier. All are Ontario specimens, photographed in the wild in the summer of 2008. These magnificent snakes are (thankfully) protected by Provincial legislation, and cannot legally be disturbed, killed, collected, or otherwise molested throughout their natural range (including in the US). These serpents are generally rather innocuous, and should be left undisturbed if encountered in the wild. So-called accidents usually happen when ego-driven "tough guys" feel the need to interact with wild snakes, either to approach them with the goal of killing them, or to free-handle them to show their drunken camping buddies just how tough they really are. Eastern Massasaugas also have very potent venom, and contrary to the suggestions put forth recently on "another Vebsyte", the full-yield envenomation from this pitviper is NOT "laughable"..........nor is the bite of any venomous snake, for that matter. Anyone who tells you otherwise is likely a person from whom you should not willingly receive "information". I hope everyone enjoys these shiny-noo images. Sistrurus catenatus catenatus Adult Massasauga, photographed "on the road". Regards, Don

How about some habitat shots? I thought it might be good to pass another cold, snowy winter's day by looking at some images from a warmer time........the summer of 2008, to be exact. Spring's coming soon. Maybe these photos will help to confirm that winter will eventually be over. Several "big game" Ontario snakes live in Natural Spaces like the following. Only one of those species can rightfully be called the "King of Kings". If you don't already know who that is, it's time for you to mortgage everything you own and buy a deformed Ball Python collection. Hopefully no-one here falls into that hoplessly deluded category . A few vistas for your enjoyment. The snakes are in there somewhere, trust me. They're coming soon........tonight or tomorrow.......... Hmmmmmmmmm. Look who it is! Regards, D. ps - pps - "Snakes Are Where You Find Them" ppps - "Designer Snake Blues"

J'essayerai d'aider ici si je peux. Veuillez excuser mon français pauvre....... ........ Votre peu "corn" est probablement OK. Ces serpents sont souvent très réservés comme bébés. Je suis d'accord avec Alex ....... que les températures sont trop hautes pour un petit "cornsnake". Je le garderais à 20-24 degrés C. . A-t-il mangé pour vous? S'il a, alors il est probablement OK. S'il ne mangera pas il pourrait être en raison de "stress". Ne manipulez pas le serpent journalier, et donnez-lui beaucoup de petits cacher-endroits (" very small tight hide-boxes"). Ce devrait être OK que je pense. La plupart des serpents que nous gardons sont infiniment comme les animaux sauvages. Ils n'aiment pas être interférés par des personnes. Peut-être quand le serpent devient plus grand il tolérera plus de temps avec vous . J'espère que ceci vous aide, "mehhdu54". Don

All this talk of Colour Morph Mittens and Sock Hybrids is making me hungry for some more RealSnakes (tm). One can only wonder what this Texas Blacktail Rattlesnake, Crotalus molossus molossus, would have to say about all the Colourful Cross-Species Garbage that fills the Herp Hobby to capacity these days. If he could, ya know, "talk".......... . This magnificent specimen was photographed by myself early on the morning of September 11 2001, just before the now-notorious Camel-Humpers started spreading their message of "Peace and Love" to the world........... Even though most of us can't keep venomous snakes for legal or practical reasons, they are still worthy of our interest and our respect as Hobbyists. The pitvipers in particular are some of the most highly-evolved/advanced serpents on the planet, and athough most of us as reptile lovers realize that these amazing snakes have an important role to play in Nature's Web of Life, far too many people think that the only good "poisonous" snake is a dead one. I think that we should all condemn the incredible stupidity of these ill-informed and short-sighted types. I know I do. Here are a couple of Copperhead pics to go with the last group from my previous post here. Northern Copperhead, Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen. Broad Banded Copperhead, Agkistrodon contortrix laticinctus. M/O/D/P ps - "Respect for Nature"

Bonsoir mes amis........ I just thought I'd drop in and post a few pics of some "RealSnakes" (tm). You know, the kind of snakes that would really make your day if you were lucky enough to find them in "The Wild"........as opposed to finding them in, say, a "Plastic Box"..........Remember that Vipera that Nick posted here a while back? That is most definitely a "RealSnake", and a true J&W Classic. That photo made my day, by the way......thanks again, "Nir"....... It doesn't get much more real than this, folks. A snake like the one in the following photos has no "Investment Value".........merely jaw-dropping beauty. I'd like to dedicate these next photographs to my friend Jon Davidson, a guy who has been an inspiration to me, and someone who should be an inspiration to all reptile keepers/students, making us all do just a little bit better. These are for you, Jon. Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix, as it can be found in Henrico County, Virginia. Technically, this individual is likely a natural intergrade between the Northern and Southern subspecies, because the parents were originally collected where the two subspecies' ranges overlap. What a beauty. Maybe I'll finish up tonight with a song. I usually write all my own material, but this time I chose to co-opt and modify an existing bit, 'cause it just seemed so appropriate in this case. A few of you might actually have gotten this in an e-mail during the past summer. With apologies to Becker and Fagen, here it is........ MorphWhacker In the beginning We could hang with the dudes But it's been too much of nothing That stank attitude "Now we curse your name And there's a bounty on your face It's your own fault, Corky" MorphWhacker's on the case We track your almighty ass through seven Heaven Worlds Me, Slinky Yellowtail And our trusty Angel-Girls And when the stars bleed out That be the fever of the chase You better get gone, Corky MorphWhacker's on the case Be very very quiet Clock everything you see Little things might matter later At the start of the end of history Yes we are the MorphWhackers Who rip and chop and slice For crimes beyond imagining It's time to pay the price You better step back son Give the man some whacking space You know this might get messy MorphWhacker's on the case ____________________________________________________________________________ M/O/D/P ps - "Holy crap..........he's posted another song.........who the hell does he think he is??" pps - "Well, he's no 'Morph Millionnaire', that's for sure!!" ppps - "What kind of a freak makes fun of 'millionnaires', for cryin' out loud??" pppps - ppppps - "Cork Bark" pppppps - "How To Put A Stick In An Aquarium.........parts 1-18........"

I think I just proved the undeniable existence of a "drooling smiley" ....... As far as your moving into the snakeroom, Mel, I have Coachwips in both rooms now (adults downstairs, CB 2008 babies upstairs........so you'd likely have to shuttle between the two facilities . Of course, you'd have to put up with a lot of these guys....... Regards, D. ps - I'm away from the computer for a couple of days.......doing snake stuff.......See you all after the weekend .

Good point, Chris..........this Thread needs some colour . Do these pics fit the bill? Adult male Pituophis d. jani, still in hibernation...... A few old shots showing his true colours...... Regards, D. ps - "Real Colour" pps -

Bien, Maya, j'espère que vous aimerez ces serpents noirs autant que les autres. Ils sont des "Melanistic Garter Snakes", ont trouvé naturellement dans beaucoup d'endroits dans Ontario du sud. Ce sont certains de mes serpents préférés à trouver en nature. I have been thinking about this silly "debate" on the validity of keeping snakes in "aquariums", and it occurs to me that perhaps one of these dull-witted, pompous "experts" should join Repticlic, come on to this Thread, and state his or her "informed opinion" about this strangely (and suddenly) contentious subject, and then attempt to defend this "expert" opinion with either myself or Master Debator Jon Davidson. I don't know about the rest of you, but I like a good debate, especially where the opposition is doomed by his own stupidity from the get-go. I particularly enjoy reading Mr. Davidson's always concise, to-the-point responses. Something about all that blood on the floor that never fails to make me smile......... . Regards, D. ps - "Banned" pps - Offering help to people who don't really want to change is a waste of time, I have found. Let them live in their extremely narrowly-defined universe, I suppose. It just gets tiresome doing this all the time.........

Hahahahahahaha!! I haven't logged in for a few days, I see this poster, I can't stop laughing now Mr. P., please help me, I'm confused , and I don't want my snake to suffer in a 40 gallon tank if she would be better off in a tiny plastic box with a layer of newspaper. Your advice would be appreciated, sir. Nice to see somebody found that poster funny........or revealing.......I think what you're really asking for, Steven, is another "poster".........so here's another poster..... And another....... That's enough of the funny stuff. Although there will be more to come, I assure you all. I really love those shots from "pool" of the "used-to-be-an-Elaphe-but-it-isn't-anymore-snake".......interesting contribution, to be sure! And thanks to Jeremy for the evil Black Pine pics........thanks also to Cool Snake Chick Melanie for the VBB shots . "AlexG", of course, totally rocks here. The same could easily be said about "Nir" with his Spilotes pics. Keep up the good work, you guys! As far as the debate (such as it is) on "aquariums" goes........well, let's just say that if you have kept snakes for your entire life, you will have made use of an "aquarium" or two.......or three.....or ten...........in your time. I'd be wary of accepting any "advice" from anyone who clearly spends all day on the "internet" monitoring one Low-Rent Website for prospective sales. This includes, of course, "financial advice" of the sort that tells you to "buy lots of Ball Python morphs" to "secure your financial future". Anyone here ever look up the defintion of a "pyramid scheme"??? I think I can safely say that (a) Not all snakes belong in little plastic drawers, and (b) for many smaller species of snakes, especially diurnal ones, an "aquarium" is the ideal enclosure. I use "aquariums" for ALL of my small diurnal snakes, including Garters and Coachwhips. Whoever this twit is, I rather doubt he knows anything about herps other than how to propagate one species of deformed snake for his own fun and profit. What that has to do with "Herpetology" or "Evolutionary Biology" is beyond me. Regards, D. ps - "Don't take those guys too seriously. I know I don't" pps- To "Spankenstyne".........Oprah is currently eating me out of "house and home". The snake, not the obese talk show host, silly......

Wow, it seems pretty clear to me that Jeremy just doesn't know how to follow the rules here........I mean, he's posting "lizard pics" in the "Colubrides et Autres Serpents" region!! Why isn't there a "mod" right on top of this terrible situation?? Shouldn't someone be intervening here to tell "JSI" how "bad" he is?? Or how she can "see right through" him "like my front window"?? Doesn't this guy deserve to be "banned" here too? What is this here, some kind of "Moderator-Free War Zone????" .........Just askin'......... Thanks for the photos, Jeremy........Your photography skills keep getting better with every post. The Blacktail shots are really good .......so are the snakes themselves, as you already know. Do do you see a problem with snakes being fed exclusive diet of rodents. If varying is advantageous, what type of prey can we use. Well, now that you mention it, Nick............I do think that this ridiculous Pet Trade Nonsense about "all snakes should be trained to take rodents" is just that. Nonsense. Yes, some snakes are exclusively rodent feeders...........we all get that..........but this notion that ALL snakes must consume ONLY lab-chow-fattened rodents that you purchase from the Pet Store is not only inaccurate, but in some cases injurious to the snakes' overall well-being, and maybe even bad for their reproductive systems in the long run, in some cases anyways. Many snakes are in fact dietary generalists, and since they have evolved over millenia this way, I think it's best we as keepers tried to accommodate them as best we can. Some snakes eat almost anything meat-or-meat-related that the keeper puts in front of them. These Drymarchon in particular seem to benefit from a varied diet I think. Mine here eat rodents, snakes, farm-raised rabbit parts, lean beefheart, tuna (!), but NEVER, never "Shopsy's" brand all-beef wieners. That would just be wrong . Indigos react to beefheart like Oprah reacts to a dozen donuts floating in a taureen of pork gravy!! Just looks at the pics, man....... ......... Here's the store-bought chunk. The outer "fat" layer must be removed for our purposes........Sorry, Oprah ...... Recently-mauled-by-the-male Yellowtail Cribos like to too! Buuuuuuuuuuuuuurp!!!!! M/O/D/P ps - I do know what a "TFSA" is, Jeremy. It's what the "Investment-Quality-Investment"-types SHOULD be doing with their money...........but they're NOT.........check out this shiny-noo poster...... pps - ppps -

It's true. Snakes are not meant to emulate Oprah Winfrey, or her opulent "lifestyle" ......... This is exactly what I have been advocating for years now, Nick. I think we should keep ALL captive snakes "Lean and Mean" .........All of these snakes we keep have evolved over millennia to thrive under more-or-less adverse conditions........then some of us take them and put them in little plastic boxes and feed the hell out of them. They get all the lab-chow-fattened rodents that they can possibly digest, and because they are genetically programmed to eat when food is available, they oblige the keeper........so when in so many collections they get merely "fat" or often even "morbidly obese", no one should be surprised. In Nature, life is a constant struggle for snakes. When we change this in captivity, we fuck with Nature. Probably a losing proposition, long term, I'm thinking. Try explaining that bit of wisdom to some "investor" who needs to pay off his "investment" by feeding his deformed pets every 3 or 5 days.....and then breeding them at 18 months..........this is the part of the Hobby that I decry.......... Here are some more recent pics of captive Indigos to illustrate my points, and to offset the pain of reading my "opinions" here . M/O/D/P ps -