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.



















Here is the boa that survived!


Please keep Pro Exotics in your thoughts...