Repticon Nashville! New additions!

[Minkness]

The con was great in my opinion. About as big as the last one I went to and git VERY crowded after the VIP hour was up. Lots of snakes, probably about 80% ball pythons. Yet...there weren't any OMG good deals on the types I was hoping to find (ivory, lucy, other white morphs, or plain bananas). They were ALL 600+ with the exception of one or two that were still very young and priced in the 500 range. Other than that there were lots of kings, rats, corns, milks, and so on to choose from. Only 2 tables had hoggies though, and they were online breeder prices. I should have taken more pics but meh...I was a kid in a candy store with my nose smudging all the glass lol.

As some may know, I have been SUPER torn up about choosing between a hoggie or possibly a BP as my next snake. I generally wanted to stay away from BPs because I feel they are too common and have heard so many issues regarding feeding, humidity, stress levels, shed, ect. But...well...I wanted a heftier snake without going huge and also that was calm. BPs just fit the bill.

So...I walked and walked and walked around, being prudent of price and quality. My first purchase was a completely unexpected find! I found a lovely gravid female lavender tug snow leo. I hasn't been looking for one per se, but, she was perfect for my project this year and a killer price at only 40$! Usually they go for 125-150$ soooo...MINE!

Next, I was looking, hunting even, for a nice snake. Either hoggie or BP or...nothing. well, I happened by a table that was half leos, half cresteds. And off to the side as if they were an after thought...3...tiny...hoggies! All male. One was a high yellow, one was a green, and one was a high red. I held the high red and instantly fell in love. Asked all the right questions about his feeding schedule and such, and was told that the one I liked is 2 months old (the youngest he had) and a ravenous feeder that already was on frozen thawed. He was also very chill to hold while the other 2 were a bit flighty. The real seal on the deal, was the price. 50$!

Ok...I got a nice leo female, and a beautiful hoggie male. I'm totally done and just need supplies...right?

HECK NO!

Now I'm just looking around and kinda sad that I couldn't afford the BP I wanted. But hey, I should be happy that I got 2 other amazing reptiles for less than 100$. Then it happened. I saw a beautiful male BP. He was active and bright eyed. I got talking with his seller. I didn't even show real buying interest because his price was 245$. More than I wanted to spend. I did as to hold him though. And then it happened...heart melting, ooey, gooey love must have been in my eyes. The seller (again, I was upfront that wasn't going to buy) slashed the price. How much? 180$! I looked at the man like he was crazy, but nibbled the bait. The snake is almost a year old, lesser spider bee with high white sides. He's an established mega eater, and I could tell by handling him that he was an active, yet relaxed snake. No "omg get away!" Or balling up. He even pulled a scale out and weighed him right in front of me! (364 grams AFTER he released pee and poo all over me lol...). I was srill unsure though. He wasn't the morph I wanted...not even close...but...he WAS pretty, healthy, chillax...the seller saw the torture on my face. Without me asking, he said this. "Hey...take a walk...think about it, look around and see what else is out there. I'll hold him for you at that price for 30 minutes." Wow...is this guy for real? So, I took a deep breath and handed the Ball back, and did go look around. I scoured the tables, asked sellers if all stock was out, found a few I liked and tried to haggle, no one would budge. Found one younger that was very much like the one I liked, but it was still on live pinkies. So....needless to say...I returned in about 25 minutes to that seller and now I'm a very happy Ball Python parent!

I also picked up supplies. 2 new zoomeds for my cresties that will be arriving soonish, corkbark branches and rounds, small critter keepers for future crestie babies, food for the new snakes, eco earth for the cresties, pine shavings, water dishes, the list goes on lol. The only thing left to buy is a locking tub for the BP.

No pics of the female leo, but here are some picks of my new boys! Name suggestions much loved!

p.s. If I don't post in a while...it's because my mom killed me ^_^;; being almost 30 may not save me lol

[Sylphie]

I really envy you that hog, and ball is super cute too!

[Minkness]

I just hope both snakes are as good eaters as the sellers said they are!

[EL Ziggy]

You're so bad Mink. Way to take it slow. I like it but mom is gonna get you! Congrats on the nice new additions.

[Minkness]

I know, right?!

And I have 3 more cresties waiting for shipment that I ordered well before repticon lol. I did have some self restraint tjough because I'm very crazy about cresties and they had some AMAZING creams but they were males. They were priced low too. I COULD have gotten one...but I didn't lol. So...that's a win right?.....right?...^_^;;

[EL Ziggy]

Spoken like a true reptaholic Mink.

[Minkness]

Ok, got the BP tub set up and the hoggie um....thing...the critter keeper is technically labeled as a breeder size but it seemed a good size for the little guy.

The BP was hassled a bit because I had to find temp housing for him before the tub, and he got cozy in a heated tank (saving it for baby leos) and so i hassled him a few more times before getting him in his tub. The last time I went to pick him up he gave a mighty hiss, and *** I was moving some of the substrate around to fit his hide and water dish (a tupperware for now) he decided to go all RAWR on me and tried to strike several times, but missed....not gunna lie, it rattled me o.o Even my MBK has never tried striking, no matter how I fuss with her. Even after handling her feeders she doesn't try to strike. I hope he settles down to the nice guy I met at the show. I know the pic of the BPs tub doesn't have his water dish. That's because I figured I'd harassed him enough after putting it in and fluffing the aspen that I just put the lid on and slid him under my desk lol. I promise he has a good sized water dish though. ^_^

Also, grabbed an in hand photo before he got crabby to show his size!

Anyway, here's their set ups!

[toddnbecka]

Can't decide between a hoggie or a BP so just get both? You're hopelessly too far down that slippery slope now, no way back... LOL.

[Minkness]

Lol! Honestly, if the seller with the BP hadn't been so dang awesome, I'd have gotten a clean getaway! But all well.

My mom was at work and called me on her lunch. She knew by my voice what had happened. She was surprisingly not angry, just did the whole 'I'm disappointed in you' schpeal. Then...she said she wanted to see them! I think I felt the earth stop spinning for a second....lol

[Pareeeee]

Congrats! Great looking snakes

[Minkness]

Thanks! Took more pics of them today because I'm a terrible meddlesom person lol

Will be trying to feed them tonight and see how it goes. =)

[Minkness]

The feeding went great with the hognose (who is still nameless) but Moko (BP) decided to waste a rodent... =(

Nothing new there for a BP I suppose.

The hoggie was great though! He ate the whole pinky (was told that I may have to cut it up @_@) and it was so cute because on his last swollow he did the death roll! Lol.

[Sylphie]

Hahaha, that "i'm dead but i'll eat him, so leave me alone" is sooo cute!

[EL Ziggy]

Congrats on the successful first feeding Mink.

[Jrich]

Nice finds! That reminds me of the time I went to a show intending to get just ONE milk snake and came out with two milk snakes and a tri colored hognose. Sigh. It happens to the best of us. On the other hand, your BP might need some time adjusting to his new home so that may be why he's being a grump and wasted a meal. That whole scenario played out for me two weeks ago when I brought home my new BP but she finally adjusted, ate and calmed down. Best of luck with your new critters, great deal on that hoggie!