My Collection Post Leaving Venomous Hobby

[basin79]

The zoo is about 800kms from me unfortunately, in South of France. Yeah, they have offered lifetime visitation rights and I would do that once a year at least. This is quite hard on the entire family as we are super used to the little guy. Even my 9 month old wants to crawl to his cage sometimes .

Is it a well respected zoo? Are all the animals given a suitable enclosure both in terms of size and enrichment (if needed)?

If you feel you're able to give him everything he needs to have a great life then keep him. He's obviously very well taken care of and is the picture of health.

 

[Najakeeper]

Is it a well respected zoo? Are all the animals given a suitable enclosure both in terms of size and enrichment (if needed)?

If you feel you're able to give him everything he needs to have a great life then keep him. He's obviously very well taken care of and is the picture of health.

I have checked into them and they are quite legit. They have sent a photo of the enclosure, it is room sized with a giant pool. They used to use it for Caimans but they created a huge swamp display for them so the space is available. I don't think he would get the personal time he gets with me but I would never be able to give him that kind of space. Need to think a bit more but I am leaning towards the zoo.

 

[basin79]

I have checked into them and they are quite legit. They have sent a photo of the enclosure, it is room sized with a giant pool. They used to use it for Caimans but they created a huge swamp display for them so the space is available. I don't think he would get the personal time he gets with me but I would never be able to give him that kind of space. Need to think a bit more but I am leaning towards the zoo.

That sounds like it'd be a fantastic home for him.

And no he'll not get the same interaction with humans probably but he'll probably not miss that when he's lazing in his pool or wandering round his huge enclosure looking for buried roaches.

 

[pyro fiend]

man ill give you credit. i woudlnt be able to do it.. even if they payed the price you payed, free admission etc.. i get reptile and keep it for a few months i get hooked..
theres a zoo nearby that contacted us about one of our large anacondas [we do some school and nature seminar type things] and they wanted to adopt.. we have 2.3 they wanted any sex of our larger [20"+] for a large display with a large 900ish gal pool.. we just couldnt do it..even tho its a great one.. wev raised these girls and guys sense they hatched [2 greens 3 yellows] and to me they are family big, goat/pig eating family lol some of these girls i just let roam around the room wiel i clean a cage as aposed to the standard transfer to a clean prepared cage because they are just so calm. i just couldnt do it props man for even considering more then a day lol i gave it about 2 thoughts one was "well we have an extra female yellow.." soon to be interupted by another thought telling me to stop being stupid XD

 

[Najakeeper]

man ill give you credit. i woudlnt be able to do it.. even if they payed the price you payed, free admission etc.. i get reptile and keep it for a few months i get hooked..
theres a zoo nearby that contacted us about one of our large anacondas [we do some school and nature seminar type things] and they wanted to adopt.. we have 2.3 they wanted any sex of our larger [20"+] for a large display with a large 900ish gal pool.. we just couldnt do it..even tho its a great one.. wev raised these girls and guys sense they hatched [2 greens 3 yellows] and to me they are family big, goat/pig eating family lol some of these girls i just let roam around the room wiel i clean a cage as aposed to the standard transfer to a clean prepared cage because they are just so calm. i just couldnt do it props man for even considering more then a day lol i gave it about 2 thoughts one was "well we have an extra female yellow.." soon to be interupted by another thought telling me to stop being stupid XD

I totally understand, for me it is not easy at all either. I have spent about 9 months with this guy since he was a hatchling. Now he is approaching a meter and is quite tame. He also walks around the house when I let him, which is at least every other day. The only reason I am saying yes here is that it is 100% certain that he will have a better life than I can provide him even though what I can provide is also adequate. I would surely make more money if I wanted to sell him in the open market so it has nothing to do with that either. He is going to live in a giant enclosure and will be admired by folks all that every day, which is what he deserves...

 

[basin79]

man ill give you credit. i woudlnt be able to do it.. even if they payed the price you payed, free admission etc.. i get reptile and keep it for a few months i get hooked..
theres a zoo nearby that contacted us about one of our large anacondas [we do some school and nature seminar type things] and they wanted to adopt.. we have 2.3 they wanted any sex of our larger [20"+] for a large display with a large 900ish gal pool.. we just couldnt do it..even tho its a great one.. wev raised these girls and guys sense they hatched [2 greens 3 yellows] and to me they are family big, goat/pig eating family lol some of these girls i just let roam around the room wiel i clean a cage as aposed to the standard transfer to a clean prepared cage because they are just so calm. i just couldnt do it props man for even considering more then a day lol i gave it about 2 thoughts one was "well we have an extra female yellow.." soon to be interupted by another thought telling me to stop being stupid XD

Being a pet owner you've got to ultimately do right by them. Be that having an ill animal put down or giving one up if a phenomenal opportunity comes their way.

Do you give your annies large pools or are they kept with a water bowl? I know most annie keepers keep them like retics. For me I'd give up an annie if it was going to be given a huge enclosure complete with a large pool/pond they could get in.

 

[basin79]

I totally understand, for me it is not easy at all either. I have spent about 9 months with this guy since he was a hatchling. Now he is approaching a meter and is quite tame. He also walks around the house when I let him, which is at least every other day. The only reason I am saying yes here is that it is 100% certain that he will have a better life than I can provide him even though what I can provide is also adequate. I would surely make more money if I wanted to sell him in the open market so it has nothing to do with that either. He is going to live in a giant enclosure and will be admired by folks all that every day, which is what he deserves...

Put agree but I'd have also liked to been able to give you a like and love too.

 

[pyro fiend]

I totally understand, for me it is not easy at all either. I have spent about 9 months with this guy since he was a hatchling. Now he is approaching a meter and is quite tame. He also walks around the house when I let him, which is at least every other day. The only reason I am saying yes here is that it is 100% certain that he will have a better life than I can provide him even though what I can provide is also adequate. I would surely make more money if I wanted to sell him in the open market so it has nothing to do with that either. He is going to live in a giant enclosure and will be admired by folks all that every day, which is what he deserves...

i guess i can kinda understand that.. but unless something came up, i dont think i could do it =\ i hope you find a smaller species you wish to keep tho

Being a pet owner you've got to ultimately do right by them. Be that having an ill animal put down or giving one up if a phenomenal opportunity comes their way.

Do you give your annies large pools or are they kept with a water bowl? I know most annie keepers keep them like retics. For me I'd give up an annie if it was going to be given a huge enclosure complete with a large pool/pond they could get in.

oh yea our annies have pools, may not be 1000 gallons. most have a "kiddie" sized pool thats been modified [so they can be fully submerged] but the females cages even have anough room for a male to soak with them if they wanted. i know some keep them in boaphiles and whatnot but i just cant do all that i feel like thats like puting you in a prison cell and saying flourish i like for my girls to at least be able to stretch out all the way without touching their tail lol

 

[basin79]

i guess i can kinda understand that.. but unless something came up, i dont think i could do it =\ i hope you find a smaller species you wish to keep tho




oh yea our annies have pools, may not be 1000 gallons. most have a "kiddie" sized pool thats been modified [so they can be fully submerged] but the females cages even have anough room for a male to soak with them if they wanted. i know some keep them in boaphiles and whatnot but i just cant do all that i feel like thats like puting you in a prison cell and saying flourish i like for my girls to at least be able to stretch out all the way without touching their tail lol

Phenomenal to read. Really, really is. I wish all annie keepers provided the same as you do.

 

[Najakeeper]

i guess i can kinda understand that.. but unless something came up, i dont think i could do it =\ i hope you find a smaller species you wish to keep tho




oh yea our annies have pools, may not be 1000 gallons. most have a "kiddie" sized pool thats been modified [so they can be fully submerged] but the females cages even have anough room for a male to soak with them if they wanted. i know some keep them in boaphiles and whatnot but i just cant do all that i feel like thats like puting you in a prison cell and saying flourish i like for my girls to at least be able to stretch out all the way without touching their tail lol

That is awesome. This is one thing I hate with python keepers as their snakes live their lives in cabinet size enclosures. This is illegal in Switzerland and if you want a large animal, you need to be able to prove to the authorities that you have the means to do so. It is great to see that your anacondas have pools and space.

 

[pyro fiend]

Phenomenal to read. Really, really is. I wish all annie keepers provided the same as you do.

Thanks man! We appreciate that we strive to keep them in actual livable areas and not keep them ti frank out babies (our largest girl was bred once and only after we had 30+ people interested in babies because we wantvthem homed properly)

That is awesome. This is one thing I hate with python keepers as their snakes live their lives in cabinet size enclosures. This is illegal in Switzerland and if you want a large animal, you need to be able to prove to the authorities that you have the means to do so. It is great to see that your anacondas have pools and space.

Oh wow realy?thats crazy our anacondas take up about as much room as most peoples master bedrooms lmao..
I know what you mean. we have some of our ball pythons in a rack here but its a much biggger then your average breeder would use most use 32qt but we use a like a 80 something for most of them nowadays (babies excluded) with hides, sure they done seem to use it but at least they could if they wanted to!.. it urks me to see a a ball/royal in a naked tub or a 20ft retic or bermese in a 8x3x2 tub.. Iv refused sales over that nonesense..sure it may take a while to clean out the cages, and we have to filter the pools but if i see those cooped up herps i always think "hes in it for the money not the animals"

 

[Najakeeper]

Thanks man! We appreciate that we strive to keep them in actual livable areas and not keep them ti frank out babies (our largest girl was bred once and only after we had 30+ people interested in babies because we wantvthem homed properly)


Oh wow realy?thats crazy our anacondas take up about as much room as most peoples master bedrooms lmao..
I know what you mean. we have some of our ball pythons in a rack here but its a much biggger then your average breeder would use most use 32qt but we use a like a 80 something for most of them nowadays (babies excluded) with hides, sure they done seem to use it but at least they could if they wanted to!.. it urks me to see a a ball/royal in a naked tub or a 20ft retic or bermese in a 8x3x2 tub.. Iv refused sales over that nonesense..sure it may take a while to clean out the cages, and we have to filter the pools but if i see those cooped up herps i always think "hes in it for the money not the animals"

We are not allowed to keep snakes in racks. I had huge rack spaces for ball pythons and I got fined for that.

By the way, check out this beautiful green tree python:

 

[pyro fiend]

We are not allowed to keep snakes in racks. I had huge rack spaces for ball pythons and I got fined for that.

i kinda wish they did the same here -.- people that pick up feeders or breeder loans always try to say we overkill our space -.-

 

[Najakeeper]

i kinda wish they did the same here -.- people that pick up feeders or breeder loans always try to say we overkill our space -.-

I have heard major snake people claim the animals don't use the space when given and retreat to hides. Biggest BS ever! My ball pythons would always roam their cages at night.

 

[basin79]

I have heard major snake people claim the animals don't use the space when given and retreat to hides. Biggest BS ever! My ball pythons would always roam their cages at night.

They just tell others and themselves that to make what they do seem acceptable.

Give a royal a 2ft high viv with branches and it'll climb.

 

[pyro fiend]

I have heard major snake people claim the animals don't use the space when given and retreat to hides. Biggest BS ever! My ball pythons would always roam their cages at night.

oh boy do i know that my 300g fm bp is in a 50 gallon breeder tank and uses ever inch.. trust me iv cleaned poop from every corner lmao

 

[Najakeeper]

Very difficult weekend for me.

On Friday, I took my beloved Henry out of his terrarium, played with him a little bit and let him swim. Then I broke our trust and put him in a pillow case. After a 7 hour drive, he was taken out of the pillow case and put in a bathtub again for a warm swim. Then he spent the night in a large plastic box for the most amount of comfort he could have in a hotel. Another swim in the morning, some last interactions between keeper and lizard, then back to the dreaded pillow case. The couriers took him from there for another 7 hour drive and he made it to Bordeaux. No photos yet but I have confirmation that he is very healthy albeit somewhat angry. He is settling in his giant new paludarium as we speak. I will get photos soon and post them here, I will also visit him in summer. We have spent about 9 months together and I will miss this one...

But the zoo had an extra yearling Varanus pilbarensis so as a gesture of goodwil, I got him to come home with me :

Meet Bikgi!

He is no where near tame as Henry but we will build trust with this little boy. All in good time...

I also got a few Leopard Geckos, the male is the highlight of the group:







Photos of the females will follow...

 

[basin79]

Very difficult weekend for me.

On Friday, I took my beloved Henry out of his terrarium, played with him a little bit and let him swim. Then I broke our trust and put him in a pillow case. After a 7 hour drive, he was taken out of the pillow case and put in a bathtub again for a warm swim. Then he spent the night in a large plastic box for the most amount of comfort he could have in a hotel. Another swim in the morning, some last interactions between keeper and lizard, then back to the dreaded pillow case. The couriers took him from there for another 7 hour drive and he made it to Bordeaux. No photos yet but I have confirmation that he is very healthy albeit somewhat angry. He is settling in his giant new paludarium as we speak. I will get photos soon and post them here, I will also visit him in summer. We have spent about 9 months together and I will miss this one...

But the zoo had an extra yearling Varanus pilbarensis so as a gesture of goodwil, I got him to come home with me :

Meet Bikgi!

He is no where near tame as Henry but we will build trust with this little boy. All in good time...

I also got a few Leopard Geckos, the male is the highlight of the group:







Photos of the females will follow...

A MASSIVE well done for being the best keeper you could possibly be.

And a fantastic bonus too.

Obviously not as much as yourself but I can't wait to see the pics of him in his mansion. Complete with indoor pool.

 

[Xenodamus]

I know how hard it can be, but Kudos on doing what was best for your animals man. I raised my Varanus albigularis ionidesi from a 10" baby to a 4' 10" beast. He was, and still is my favorite animal to date. Spent 1.5 years building trust, but had to donate him eventually due to unforeseen circumstances. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done.

 

[Najakeeper]

Thanks guys... Still waiting for those photos.

In the meantime, here are my three leo girls for that male:

Still not feeding well after a week spent in their new enclosures. They lived in racks their entire lives and now they are in glass aquariums, which might be the problem. Any good ideas?