Today's Reptile Shows

I just got back from doing two shows at Deep Wood Elementary School in Austin. One tortoise, one gecko, eight snakes and over 400 kids...lots of fun!

One crazy logistic I had to overcome: the temperature at our house was in the twenties this morning, which isn't great for cold-blooded creatures. So I bagged and boxed all the snakes and put everything into one giant Rubbermaid box, put Titus the tortoise on top in a laundry basket covered with towels and brought them all out to the truck which I had warmed up earlier. Once at the school I made a beeline to the building to minimize the animals' exposure. Problem solved.

There were two new snakes on the lineup for today's shows: a San Diego gopher snake and an albino Honduran milk snake that I just hatched late last year. And Smaug, the carpet python, was his usual self...eight feet of jittery muscle. Today he got nervous during the second show and firmly locked his lower coils around my left leg while waving his front half around while I struggled to support him somewhere in the middle. We were a great spectacle, I'm sure, as I trudged around the room.

Thanks to the teachers, staff and PTO of Deep Wood for having me and my scaly friends!

Blaze Goini/Brooksi Kingsnake Project

Just a little update on the blaze goini cross project. The male, pictured above eating a pinky mouse, and the female, are doing well and growing fast! With the most recent shed his color has started to change from his original tomato red to this dusky orange. His color should fade gradually to a rich brown color as he matures. Take a look at this post for my first photos of this cool pair.

Snow Corn

Here's one of the snakes I brought home this Christmas. He's a snow corn.

A snow corn displays the albino (amelanistic) and anerythristic traits simultaneously, meaning he has no black or red pigment, leaving only a little yellow. This guy is a great eater and is really laid back. Christie has already named him Bowie, so I guess he gets to stay. 

He looks kinda cool slithering around the Christmas tree.

A Brand New Year

I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays! We were super busy visiting family, working, opening presents and, of course, taking care of our pets. 

It looks like 2011 will be an exciting year. Here's a look:

Three Anti-pet Bills Dead in Congress

The three bills that would have dealt a severe blow to reptile keepers throughout the country, S373 and HR2811 (The "python ban") and HR669 (the Non-native Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act"), all failed to pass the 111th Congress and are officially dead. Just in time for Christmas!

Three Homeless Snakes Find Shelter This Christmas...At Our House. 

Two boa constrictors and a snow corn snake had been turned over to a rescue who didn't have room for them. Of course my weakness for unwanted reptiles kicked in and they ended up coming home with us. Our little GMC Envoy was so packed with presents, after-Christmas-sale-knickknacks, our dog crate and a sick cat that that there was no room for the snake cages. So I left the cages and put the snakes in pillow cases for the ride home. I'm still not sure if we're keeping them, but my wife has already named the corn snake Bowie. All three snakes are really pretty and very sweet. I'll post some pictures soon.

Time to Heat Things Up

All fifteen of the snakes that were cooled for the winter are out now and warming up. In a few days I'll turn on their heat pads and offer food next week. As soon as the females shed it will be time to introduce them to the males for another breeding season. Up this year are: Honduran milk snakes, California King snakes and Florida (Brooks) King snakes. 

Reptile Presentations

My first reptile presentation of the year is coming up soon! Students of Brushy Creek Elementary will see me and my reptiles at Science Night. I'll do two 30 minute shows including snakes, geckos and my tortoise. I can't wait!

USARK Victorious in 111th Congress

Kingsnake.com - Herpforum - USARK Victorious in 111th Congress

Snakes on a rope: Researchers take a unique look at the climbing abilities of boa constrictors

ScienceDaily (2010-11-30) -- In the wild, how does a snake climb a vertical surface without slipping? To find out, researchers sent snakes climbing up varying widths and tensions of ropes as they explored snake movement in relation to their musculoskeletal design and variation in their environment.

Read the full story here.

Flying snakes, caught on camera

ScienceDaily (2010-11-23) -- New video analysis and mathematical modeling by engineers reveals how certain types of snakes can "fly" by flinging themselves off their perches, flattening their bodies, and sailing from tree to tree.

Read the full story here.