My respect and love of reptiles came in my teenage years. At 15, I wrote a 4 page paper to my parents. The paper gave reasons why I deserved to have a pet snake, and ways that I would provide for the snake. After 3 weeks of sucking up, begging, pleading and doing TONS of chores, I was given permission for a snake. I bought Saffron, a beautiful baby ball Python. He was so small when I brought him home, and I absolutely adored him. Saffron was an amazing creature with a shy personality and cat like curiosity. Saffron was only the beginning of my journey with reptiles.
My second scaley child was Satyr, a baby bearded dragon. He was cute, tiny and much more active then Saffron. He would spend most of his days basking on a branch, observing everything that went on outside his tank. It wasn't until meal time that he would really act out. He would run laps around his tank scooping up as many crickets as he could get in his little mouth. He would gorge himself, often eating 20-30 crickets in a sitting.
Syida, was my third pet. She was a beautiful, albino, leopard gecko. Unlike my other two masculine pets, Syida was dainty, sweet and gentle.Syida would lay on your chest for hours, if you'd let her. And if you put your lips to her face, she'd give you a kiss! At meal time, she was hand fed crickets.
Asher was a generous gift from a good soul. Asher, had been previously abused by his owner. At 4ft long, and as round as a softball, not many people were willing to buy a brutally scarred python. However, I was more than happy to bring him home. Despite his disadvantages, Asher was very loving. He shared a 75 gallon tank with Saffron, and was often seen curled up napping with one another. At meal time, Asher was given special attention. I never left him alone with a live rat, since a rat had nearly killed him with his previous owner. I had 4 beautiful pets that took a lot of my devotion. All 4 are no longer with me. Their stories are sad but peaceful, and will be left for another day.
Amiri, was Ben and I's first little lizard. I had always wanted a Uromastyx and was absolutely thrilled to get one. He was SO cool! Uromastyx has turtle like heads, and spikey tails and cool personalities. Amiri wasn't with us for very long. Shortly after we got him, he passed away. We believe something may have been wrong with him when we bought him.
Jabba was a hatchling from our first clutch of eggs. I had decided to keep one from the clutch, because they meant a lot to me. Ben and I never expected to breed our dragons, and keeping a baby from the first time was sort of sweet. Jabba was the biggest baby out of the clutch. Much fatter then the rest. His passing was very very sad and unfortunate. I will miss the little guy very much.
