Snakes From Years Past

 I have been interested in snakes for pretty much my whole life. It is hard to remember a time in my life where snakes were not a huge interest. Like most snake geeks I got my start catching wild snakes near my home. I loved identifying them and researching the various species which a young kid could find in Missouri where I spent a lot of my years as a kid. I caught and kept rat snakes, racers, and garters. My parents were not exactly fans of snakes so I had to keep them in the garage. Generally I would catch them, keep them a week or two to observe them, and then release them where I found them. 

Eventually I got a job and moved out. I bought my own house when I was 20 or 21. At this point no one (parents or landlord) could tell me I couldn't keep snakes. One of my buddies had a brother who owned a large redtail boa and needed it rehomed. I gladly stepped up and in a couple days I had a huge enclosure and one huge snake. She was an awesome snake too. This was way before everyone had camera phones and unfortunately I don't know if any pictures of this snake exist which is unfortunate. She was a beauty. I in turn had to rehome her as well due to joining the military.

I was snakeless for a good number of years until I was working with gal who had a ball python that her kids seemed to have lost interest in. So I took her in and gave her a good home. I really enjoyed keeping this snake. It was very chill and a manageable size. For a ball python it was also a pretty reliable eater too. The ball python morph craze was just kicking into high gear. And I thought I really liked balls so thought I should get some morphs. I had an amazing looking female bamboo, pinstripe, pastel, black pastel, possible yellow belly. I had an albino female. I also had a champagne, het albino male as well. 

After a while I kind of realized ball pythons were not really that interesting to me. Sure they come in some amazing morphs and combos, but they just could not hold my interest. Eventually I started falling in love with kingsnakes. One of the first I acquired was a hybino FL/eastern king cross. He was pretty awesome.

And so the story goes, I rehomed my ball pythons and expanded my kingsnake collection. And there my focus has remained for the last several years. And I don't anticipate that changing anytime soon. Ball pythons are great snakes, just not for me. I have always been the type to do my own thing. Walking around any reptile show it becomes pretty clear Ball Pythons are the main focus and have done great things for our hobby. But I enjoy being the guy who does what interests me.