Pro Exotics Caught Fire

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

As some of you may or may not know, today was a VERY sad day for the reptile community. I write with a heavy heart that overnight, Pro Exotics' facility caught fire and somewhere along the lines of 3,000 snakes (that's not an exaggeration) lost their lives to the flames and smoke. Pro Exotics is one of the biggest, best names in our hobby and they are a HUGE part of what made our hobby what it is today. They are responsible for so many species being available as CB in the US that otherwise would not have, especially when it comes to asian rat snakes. I cannot even begin to imagine what it would be like to lose that many animals that I have such a passion for and to know that they suffered the way that they did.

Luckily, it appears that their lizards were spared as they were not sharing the same building/room as the snakes did. They even had baby green tree monitors hatching today. Also, miraculously, there was one boa that actually managed to survive! From what I've been reading on their facebook page, the fire actually started in the vacant building/room next to them.

Even thought Pro Exotics does not deal with thamnophis, many innocent snakes suffered today and the people that cared for them have suffered immensly mentally, emotionally, and financially. I ask everyone here to take a moment to reflect on this tragedy and to remember why in the darkest times it is important to remember what it is we love about our passion. We as a community need to remain close-knit. I know I will hold my snakes a little closer after seeing the absolutely heart wrenching photos I am about to share here.

I am going to warn you, these photos are not easy on the eyes or the heart.









http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll86/aSnakeLovinBabe/57f45c32.jpg

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll86/aSnakeLovinBabe/3315540e.jpg

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll86/aSnakeLovinBabe/1aeabb59.jpg

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll86/aSnakeLovinBabe/cae9458f.jpg

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll86/aSnakeLovinBabe/fa2e9870.jpg

Here is the boa that survived!
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll86/aSnakeLovinBabe/be63b733.jpg

Please keep Pro Exotics in your thoughts...

[BlueGarterz]

Soo sad. :( I wish at least a few dozen more snakes survived that huge fire. Alas, unfortunately it didn't happen that way. :(

[Mrs N1ntndo]

oh man that is so so very sad . Youre right..that wasnt easy on the eyes. I tearedd up. How sad.

[katach]

I'm looking at these pictures with tears streaming down my face. What a horrific tragedy.

[guidofatherof5]

That is terrible. Those poor snakes.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

I'm looking at these pictures with tears streaming down my face. What a horrific tragedy.

It's ok... I cried too :(

[katach]

I can't look at those pictures again. It is just unbearably sad. All those beautiful snakes, just.....gone.

[d_virginiana]

I got choked up looking at those pictures... 3000 snakes... That's terrible. :(

[brain]

Very hard to see ... man

[Wyoming]

According to the Pro Exotics Facebook page they had a few other snakes survive.

[infernalis]

I'm gutted... no words.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

According to the Pro Exotics Facebook page they had a few other snakes survive.

I was just on there and caught that as well... 6 ratsnakes and even some eggs! Those are some incredibly lucky snakes...

[drache]

gut-wrenching
my mind does not want to go there

[BLUESIRTALIS]

I hate to hear this Pro Exotics breeds some awesome ratsnakes. I have always enjoyed talking to them and looking on their website. I always hate to hear of any snake dying but they do some great work with rare seldom worked with species and it will take awhile to replace their stock. I feel so awful that this happened guy's Pro Exotics is in our hearts and prayers.

[guidofatherof5]

Looks like Pro Exotics has a Facebook page.
For those members who have a Facebook account it might be nice to post your condolences.
Pro Exotics Reptiles | Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/PEReptiles)

[sirtalis01]

So so sad.....my heart gose to everyone at Pro Exotics...

[RedSidedSPR]

I read that too. Supposedly more than 1 snake survived...

still... I don't know what to say.:( so sad.

[ssssnakeluvr]

That is horrible!!!

[chris-uk]

I don't mind admitting I welled up a bit when I saw the pictures. :( They didn't really stand a chance.

[GarField000]

No words say enough ..... real sad.

[snakehill]

So very sad!!! Don't know what to say!!!:(

[guidofatherof5]

I have no idea how this fire started but I for one am checking all my power strips, surge protectors, heat pad and heat tape for anything that could cause a problem.
Check and re-check.;)

[MasSalvaje]

I have no idea how this fire started but I for one am checking all my power strips, surge protectors, heat pad and heat tape for anything that could cause a problem.
Check and re-check.;)

Not a bad idea to do on a regular basis. That said I heard this fire started in the building next to the one seen in the pics and spread into Pro-Exotics. I have worked with them in the past and they are up there with anyone in the business. They have the best most healthy animals and they always find a way to take care of the customer. I hope they can recover from this blow.

-Thomas

[jitami]

It really is gut wrenching. I knew how well respected they were in the reptile community and after following along during/after the fire yesterday I have been so very impressed with how well the owners are handling this. Seems like those who have dealt with them would expect nothing less, but I am still amazed. They seem like genuinely good guys and I hope they can overcome this.

[infernalis]

I am almost as sad that so many people don't realize exactly who pro exotics is or what they have contributed to our hobby.

Chad and Robyn are leaders in the industry and MANY of the new BP morphs over the last several years were the result traveling to hand picking animals.

Truly a sad sad loss....... There were snakes in that collection that could never be replaced with any amount of money.

[RedSidedSPR]

I'm guilty of not having a clue, other then they were a big company. I had seen their website, but it was just this kinda boring one... not much info. So I never really looked at them...

But now that i know it really reall sucks.. And like Wayne said, the snakes that can't be replaced...

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

I am very sad for the loss of all of those rare rat snakes. That is a crushing blow to our hobby... I am not a ball python person but I am even more sad because no matter what kind of snakes they were, they all suffered equally...

[BLUESIRTALIS]

I am almost as sad that so many people don't realize exactly who pro exotics is or what they have contributed to our hobby.

Chad and Robyn are leaders in the industry and MANY of the new BP morphs over the last several years were the result traveling to hand picking animals.

Truly a sad sad loss....... There were snakes in that collection that could never be replaced with any amount of money.

They also do shipyourreptiles.com.

[infernalis]

A fundraiser to help them is found here.....

FundRazr on Facebook | Facebook (http://apps.facebook.com/fundrazr/activity/3a20174ff3704aa8b39241e69a888147)

[Sonya610]

While this is certainly a horrendous tragedy there is also good evidence to show snakes do not feel pain from burns, or even feel alarmed by it. Hopefully the animals did not suffer.

(BTW I have never heard of Pro-Exotics, I do hope the company had good insurance).

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Ever seen a snake accidentally brush up against something hot? Instant recoil... They definitely can feel it :(

[zooplan]

I have no idea how this fire started but I for one am checking all my power strips, surge protectors, heat pad and heat tape for anything that could cause a problem.
Check and re-check.;)
That´s the reason, why my main set up is built of glas and aluminium, with very few heat sources.
I don´t like to think too much about the anguish of those poor snakes.

[Sonya610]

Maybe different animals react differently?

Snakes commonly sustain serious burns when they contact unprotected or malfunctioning heat lamps or other heat sources (including hot rocks). Interestingly, snakes tend not to move away from the heat source inflicting the injury. This makes the wound considerably more serious. http://www.animalhospitals-usa.com/reptiles/snakes/snake-diseases/snake-injuries.html (http://www.animalhospitals-usa.com/reptiles/snakes/snake-diseases/snake-injuries.html)

[kibakiba]

Perhaps they were in a deep sleep or had other problems. My snakes react to heat by rolling and then coiling up. Mama touched the lamp and did just that once, they can feel it.

[Stefan-A]

Hopefully, the smoke killed them long before the heat could.

[infernalis]

Hopefully, the smoke killed them long before the heat could.

I'm with you on that.

I have seen exactly what overheating a snake looks like, and it's not pretty.

It would be inappropriate of me to describe it in this thread.