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While I was working with my previous employer, I had a good friend, Tanya, who was into raising bearded dragons.  Besides having a really cool name, bearded dragons are awesome lizards that grow to ~1 ft in length.  Also, they are tame and can even be trained to ride shoulders, sit with their master, and, if the sales dude can be believed, use a “lizard door” to defecate outside.  Pretty cool!

Anyway, I have been really wanting one of these for quite a while and finally convinced Crystal that we should have one.  Trekking out to our local pet shop, Fins and Skins, we when in to go get my bearded dragon… 

…  and walked out w/ a red-tailed boa constrictor.  XD

Yes, I mean one of these:

Just like this (in about 7 years):

So, the inner-Timmy in me has always wanted a snake for a pet (as a child, I caught many pet snakes but ultimately had to let them go within a few days).  When we walked into the store and I started salivating over the snake cages, Crystal turned to me and delivered her sternest, “NO!”  I even went so far as to give her the sad-panda face to no avail.  Then, the pet guy and I spoke – at length – and I ended up convincing myself (and eventually Crystal) that a boa would make a great pet. 

This tells me 2 things about myself First, that I am a creature of whimsy.  (Though I could claim that I have wanted a boa for a longer time than I wanted a lizard)  And second, that my powers of persuasion must be even greater than I originally thought (or, maybe, I managed to catch Crystal in a weakened-pregnant state and pressed the advantage).

Anyway, a few stats about caring for the snake:

• Currently, I only feed the snake ~ 1 time / week.  He/she eats small frozen mice.
• Yes, they can bite, but those are generally due to mishandling or confusing my hand for food. 
• Females can get 7 – 8 feet long and, at that point, will eat frozen rabbits ~ 1 time / month.
• Cages need to be sanitized 1 time / month – otherwise you scoop like a litter box.
• I am probably missing more points here but I am still learning! Finally, below are a few pics of the new critter.  I am still more than a little skittish of it, but we are learning to tolerate each other.  Mainly, it is the head of the snake that scares me, as he frequently stays in a “striking” pose, though I do not think that the threat is completely intended. 

Aren’t snakes just cool? 

EDIT:  I forgot to mention that, as of yet, I don’t really know what the snake’s sex will be.  Typically, the females in this species get quite a bit bigger than the males, so I am gunning for a female.  Towards that goal, I have named her Lillith.

Posted By: nblevins in Around the House, Blog
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