Chronology

[Stefan-A]

For no particular reason, I've decided to share a few snake pictures and how I got started with snakes.






My first snake and my all time favourite, a male Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis. This picture was taken when I first brought him home, on May 30, 2005.



Taken later the same day.




Then, roughly 14 months later, I brought this little monster home:





..and there was much rejoicing. A female of the same subspecies. About as long as the male and twice as heavy. Those two pictures were taken a few days after she arrived.

[Stefan-A]

The two got along well.













Then, in March 2007, this girl moved in:





While her temperament was wonderful and never had any problems eating or shedding, she turned out to be a bit of a disappointment. She was out of the house by the end of July. I regret that decision just one tiny bit. Not much, though.

[Stefan-A]

Then, about a month later. The male died.






This picture was taken just a couple of days before he died. (More about that drama in the thread 'Dingleberry')

Then, on September 17, a couple of days after a certain 'Terraristika' in a certain German city, these two girls arrived:





..and there was much rejoicing.



They grew.



..and they grew.

[Stefan-A]

Then on one fateful night in late November 2007, I noticed an ad for a female '07 Thamnophis sirtalis "San Francisco", also known as T. s. tetrataenia. I quickly put two and two together, made an offer close enough to what I knew was the original price, to guarantee I'd get it and a few days later I was the proud owner of a new snake.



About a month older than the vagrans twins, but half their weight at this point.





And the girl had a temper. After musking me the first time I moved her, she resorted to intimidation and finally she finally tried to bite me. Too cute, coming from a snake thinner than my shoelaces.

[Stefan-A]

So, here we are now:





The big girl, despite having been picky for more than half a year and off feed for almost three months, she once again eats whatever she thinks might be food. Hopefully, she's gravid, or at least still carrying the dead male's genetic material.


The twins have outgrown their cricket box long ago.







And the tetra is still musking, threatening and biting, although not as easily as the first few times.

[anji1971]

Stefan, what a great story/picture combo! Thanks for posting that, it's always fun when people share how they got into keeping snakes, and the great pics don't hurt either!!

[Sid]

Stefan, after thunder stroms, heavy rain and tornado warning all day, I really needed that. Thanks.

And great photos too.

[drache]

thanks
what a wonderful story
I love snake stories
real life ones especially

[adamanteus]

Good thread, Stefan. Interesting to read the history of your addiction too, although I am already familiar with it. Those vagrans girls are growing very nicely!

[Stefan-A]

You're probably more familiar with it than I am, James. I know you can piece together the same story from my posts, but putting it all in one place presents a person with the problem of keeping the story straight. Remembering the whole thing correctly can be tricky. I don't think I've ever told a story exactly the same way twice.