Profile: Valentine the Voluptuous

[Kaetlinv]

Valentine... The snake we wanted to be a boy but ended up being a girl, and a huge one at that. She started out shorter than my arm, and maybe as big around as a nickel. Nowadays she's thicker than my wrist, and longer than my leg is tall. She's named for the delicate little upside down heart on top of her head. She's only struck once in her life and that was as a babe, and she's never bit. She started off the chain, and she will never be sold unless it's for her own wellbeing. She's my darling, beautiful girl.

These are all chronological. :)

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/167193_10150345577515472_2223572_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/249508_10150629240340472_2196612_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/222504_10150720628045472_6520377_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/558232_10150837667555472_1826682560_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/375899_10150973175665472_26694345_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/549609_10152004061090472_853401000_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/s720x720/546523_10152039531965472_1375457339_n.jpg

[snake man12]

Valentine is quite voluptuous!!

[Pareeeee]

Very nice BP :)

[Kaetlinv]

It kind of shocked me how big she is today.
Saw a post on one of the python breeders i'm following on facebook.... They bred a roughly 550g male to a 1428g female. O.o I look at 1400g and I think it's tiny... Val when I weighed her was near to 1700g... She's less now cause she's been off food for about a month and a half, but she's still huge.

[Hurrok]

Awe, she looks like a sweet heart. :) A very big sweety lol!

[Kaetlinv]

She is a sweetheart, she puts up with so much from me haha. she handles very well, too. My sister, who Val's never been held by before, came over the other day and held her. Absolutely no change - she's used to being maneuvered and messed with hehe. Right now she's taking a nap, it looks like. I've never seen her sleeping so obviously. She's under her new half-log hide and there's just a slight tilt / lean to her head to one side >XD it's adorable!

[Rogue628]

Awww....she's adorable! :D

She's healthy looking

[Kaetlinv]

I like to think i take great care of my girls <3 they have good, whole sheds. They poop and pee regularly, yawn on occasion, eat well, and drink every now and again. Valentine is an active bugger. Just not sure why she doesnt want to eat recently. I think she didnt feel secure. Her rock hide had gotten too small for her but now shes got a huge half log hide that she fits under and shes been under that rather than roaming during the day. Ill try and feed her in a week or so since i tried yesterday.

[jaleely]

Very sweet look lil girl..or big girl *lol*
Our girl is getting there. I need to weigh her.
She's always so docile and curious. She will never be gotten rid of either!

[Kaetlinv]

Im not going to bother with weighing romeo....shes just too little and i doubt she will ever get to a size where i would feel safe breeding her....val will more than make up for it. :) huge bugger will shock us all some day....and i already have a boy lined up for her in a few years. Two boys in fact. One who is a 4ft huge male named medusa (another mistaken gender haha) who is my best friends bp. But she and medusa are out is Massachusetts and im on the opposite coast in Washington. But on sunday....ill be getting that precious male pastel that caught my eye <3

[Kaetlinv]

And she's finished shedding! Her nose is all patched up and no more scuffs on her scales. :) Didn't shed in one piece this time, but she still got it all off. I scoured her body to look for any extra pieces but none were found. No retained eyecaps or the tip of the tail. The humidity must have dropped in the middle of the night - she shed somewhere between 4am - 8am, because I was awake at 3:30am for absolutely no reason and she still hadn't shed. Woke up and she's all bright and shiny again. :)

These are a few pictures of her inside her home, I'll take her out later for outside pictures.

New nose! No scuffs at all, I'm glad that wasn't a permanent issue.
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/s720x720/394404_10152083724825472_304368019_n.jpg

Bright and shiny under her lamp.
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/558591_10152083724995472_1477370523_n.jpg



I'll take more later. :)

[Kavyrie]

Aww she looks great, I love Val <3 And yes Medusa will be one of her boyfriends one day xD They will make awesome babies!

[Kaetlinv]

Two beautiful normals, huge ones too. Who knows? Maybe they'll make monster sized babies...:wacky:

[Kaetlinv]

Prepare for an onslaught... as promised! A post-shed sunlight photo shoot. Some FANTASTIC shots from my phone this time around!

I uploaded 31 of the photos... that was probably 2/3 of them :laugh:

Will post in the next! This is gonna take a while... lol

[Kaetlinv]

These are mostly in order from start to finish, too, and she just got prettier the longer I took photos of her!

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/s720x720/386342_10152084599025472_1293489239_n.jpg

Just love that speckling she has...
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/391585_10152084598855472_1667708768_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/488369_10152084598730472_1675076799_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/603308_10152084598650472_2013723911_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/223949_10152084598435472_1890351954_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/303663_10152084598275472_2016071949_n.jpg

No scuffed nose!
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/421611_10152084598065472_657339025_n.jpg

This is pretty close for my phone... later on one photo is closer! Guess the right lighting allowed it to focus better.
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/310377_10152084597935472_1696710218_n.jpg

[Kaetlinv]

size comparison... big girl.
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/644217_10152084597830472_771625268_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/295242_10152084597660472_1371837776_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/395351_10152084597490472_448426783_n.jpg

"Alright, enough... can we go back inside now? I don't like this."
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/418691_10152084597350472_1698636483_n.jpg

She didn't want to roam around at all at first, she's hardly ever outside. But it was pretty warm out, and the asphalt wasn't scalding to the touch, just warm.
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/581443_10152084597160472_88199474_n.jpg

In love with that beauty mark on her cheek..
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/386022_10152084597065472_153355105_n.jpg

She looks like she has honey buns in this picture..."Help me, help me obi-wan... she's taking pictures of me!
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/310460_10152084596960472_1857936072_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/549537_10152084596860472_529651779_n.jpg

[Kaetlinv]

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/391643_10152084596795472_948006082_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/418744_10152084596670472_1953773797_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/392028_10152084596125472_536129815_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/557308_10152084594840472_716328036_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/644254_10152084593330472_1512906239_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/576996_10152084591205472_811441195_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/534364_10152084590415472_1377239928_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/527128_10152084590160472_471992003_n.jpg

[Kaetlinv]

OMG SHINEY! the iridescence... goodness me..
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/561738_10152084588350472_279805631_n.jpg

She got a taste of grass today. Not for long, but she seemed very interested in it!
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/399578_10152084588050472_2086134685_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/392486_10152084587005472_272398031_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/s720x720/281956_10152084621370472_1999916161_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/s720x720/320245_10152084621825472_1729319197_n.jpg

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/423942_10152084623270472_1603716688_n.jpg

She's gotten so big...
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/316814_10152084623625472_1189004520_n.jpg


And here is the closest my camera has every let me get a 'focused' picture.
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/s720x720/538378_10152084627240472_1417144223_n.jpg

[Kaetlinv]

Valentine was playing hide and seek / peek-a-boo with me this morning...

I'm sitting halfway across the room plugging away at my laptop. Out of the corner of my eye I spy her peeking out of her hide. it looks cute so I hop on over slowly to snag a pic. I get close and she dives back into the hide. I huff a little and snap a pic anyways.

Well I get comfy at my laptop again and I look over and she's peering out again! This time I get my camera ready before moving and get a shot of her looking out. After I got it she dove back under. I find this hilarious... She's always been a very curious snake, likes to 'watch' me while I'm sitting in front of her tank. Like she 'watches' T.V and my computer screen while I'm in the room. :) It's adorable.

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/262934_10152086003225472_543694081_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/262282_10152086003640472_971623968_n.jpg

[Kavyrie]

Lmao I love Val so much. Medusa couldn't be bothered to care what I am doing xD I wish I had my camera last night, Azrael burrowed into his substrate (no idea why, he has plenty of places to hide) and had his head sticking out watching me. It was adorable to say the least. Hoping that he does it again so I can get some good pictures of him!

[Kaetlinv]

I've heard of ball pythons 'periscoping' and the only time Valentine and romy have ever done it is when they're on my shoulders! Little brats :P I can't take pictures of them being adorable when they're on my shoulders!

[Kavyrie]

It was the funniest thing to see him do xD I really hope I catch him doing it again. He was doing it at night, so that's when I'll check for him doing it.

[Kaetlinv]

How are the night temps? Maybe he's burrowing cause he's a little chilly and the substrate is holding temps better than the air? just curious. :)


Thinking about taking Shanti out later today in the afternoon for a sunny shoot like I did with val! Definitely will with Romeo post-shed, whenever she gets done. Should be in the next few days. Romy's always had pretty quick sheds

[Pareeeee]

Love the outdoor pics!

[Kaetlinv]

thanks! I wish I had clean grass to put her in. :/ my backyard is rather nasty as we don't really use it. There's a little grass along our driveway but it's rather dry and browned out, lol

[Kaetlinv]

her size never ceases to amaze me... The tank is 4ft across, and she can touch end to end if she's totally straight.

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/s720x720/526974_10152089409285472_2114439782_n.jpg
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/s720x720/526971_10152089411510472_605289370_n.jpg

[Kaetlinv]

I just found all my 'baby' pictures of Valentine! I've been hunting for these for ages, I'm so giddy right now! I found a BUNCH of photos, but I'll try and not post too many of them.....Sorry that some are out of order!

The picture that inspired my water color painting of her in my 'Kaetlin's Art' thread!
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/431643_499111406774842_483368847_n.jpg

Even as a baby she had that bright little heart!
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/246513_499111473441502_1880522697_n.jpg

Always been such a curious snake...
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/553470_499111503441499_1892198437_n.jpg

I've always loved her scales, so beautiful.
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/302189_499111530108163_1468935237_n.jpg

I love watching her 'grow' in pictures...
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/389407_499111576774825_1188288355_n.jpg

One of the only times i have ever witnessed Valentine drinking!
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/554345_499111590108157_907154847_n.jpg

One of the times I had caught her in shed;
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/302556_499111600108156_797798040_n.jpg

And after!
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/576456_499111616774821_1819401731_n.jpg

[Kaetlinv]

Big girl loves coming out and saying hi!
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/308000_499111630108153_1688231900_n.jpg

This used to be one of her favorite 'activities'
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/229889_499111640108152_393991647_n.jpg

this was her first or second rat pup, she never refused / couldn't eat / regurged a meal. Her first refusal was a few months ago, I'm still offering her food on a regular basis and I can't feel her ribs. She'll eat when she is ready.
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/543410_499115720107744_1681154217_n.jpg

she likes to play 'peekaboo', squeezes her way under my limbs and then gives me a look as if to say "What are YOU looking at, human?"
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/429189_499115823441067_1676756970_n.jpg

[Gungirl]

Do you have 2 snakes in a fish tank in the picture below? I see the BP on the vines.. then another snake below just to the right..




The picture that inspired my water color painting of her in my 'Kaetlin's Art' thread!
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/431643_499111406774842_483368847_n.jpg

[Kaetlinv]

This was a LONG time ago, gungirl, back before I even knew the more nit picky aspects of husbandry. This was Valentine (the BP) and a BCI in the same tank for a week, while my uncle / coucin (owner of the BCI) moved out. We didn't like having them in the same tank but my uncle was not the smartest and didn't prep and have a tank ready for the boa. At the time we knew that one could eat the other, but we had no other option due to irresponsibility.

I would never repeat this. I can't believe we ever did it in the first place D:

[Gungirl]

Ahh I gotcha, Just figured it was worth asking about. Glad you have learned about all the fun stuff now and wouldn't do it again.

[Kaetlinv]

No worries, i was prepared to answer about it. :) I actually forgot Rosie (the boa) was in that picture.

The only other time I considered putting two snakes together was when I first received Romeo. I'd considered putting romeo in with valentine (which now, knowing romeo is indeed male... might have ended up with unwanted eggs. yikes!). I did a lot of research and decided that it wasn't worth the risk, and the only time I'd ever put any snake together was for breeding purposes (which won't be for many years yet for me!).

All that was before I joined sSnakeSs though. My snakes only ever meet outside of their homes and under close supervision, and not for long as most of the time they will slither away from each other. The other times.. Well I separate them cause it seems like Ashanti can get very interested in valentine, and I do NOT want breeding to happen. The last time I took them out I noticed the change in behavior and I am not taking more than one out at a time now.

(Change in behavior being that they wouldn't let each other go, although their tails never met they would use the ends of their bodies to hang on and refused to let go. They would also play 'follow the leader' with their heads, or go rubbing their noses up each others' bodies. i don't know if this is typical behavior when snakes are interested or not but I didn't want to chance it.)

[rmfsnakes32]

Very pretty shiny girl!

[Kaetlinv]

thanks, Rmf. :)

She's absolutely gorgeous... Can you believe I got her from a pet store, not a breeder??

[Aaron_S]

thanks, Rmf. :)

She's absolutely gorgeous... Can you believe I got her from a pet store, not a breeder??

Yes. Yes I can.