Opheodrys aestivus

This is a drive by post.  I am at my moms with the kids, and the barf virus is rotating through one of us every 48 hours.  I got it the night of opening ceremonies at the Games of Texas which was a real downer.  I hobbled through watching Cody swim in his events.  Thankfully it is a fast and furious virus.  Mia has it now, so the only one left to get it is Cody. 

As for the State meet, Cody placed 6th in 2 of his events!  He was so jazzed.  That’s 6th out of the whole state of Texas!!!!!!  He is one pleased little man, for sure. It was very exciting watching him race, and they did so well. 

From the State meet, the kids and I drove on to my moms house for a visit.  Every time we come here, she wants to buy them a pet.  This time she was convinced we needed a ferret.  Um, no.  I am REALLY sure that we do not want, nor need a ferret.  So guess what we have now…..go on………

If you guessed ferret, you are !!!BUZZZ!!! WRONG! No ferrets, no way, no how. 

If you guessed rough green snake, with his very own 20 gallon high GLASS enclosure, complete with vines, driftwood trees, reptile bark, watering bowl, heat lamp, and 2 dozen live, smelly crickets in their own special habitat, well, you are a genius and a bit scary.

Oh, and we are also the proud owners of 2 Red Efts .  They also have their own little terrarium complete with moss and a tiny little pond.  (I never in my wildest dreams would imagine myself arguing with my 7yo in Petco as he frantically explained to me why his new newts needed….get this….their own miniature fog making machine to make their ‘habitat’ more realistic.)

Imagine the scene I will make while loading the van with all the crap 5 people needed for a week away from home (pillows, stuffed animals, blankets, 3 large duffle bags, camera bag, laptop) plus a 20 gallon snake habitat, a newt terrarium, and a Cricket Keeper. 

Oh yes, there will be pictures.

Oh, and one of the newts is very tiny, so he can’t eat crickets.  When I asked what he should be fed, the reptile/amphibian expert replied "fruit flies".  I said something like, "GET OUT!!!  Are you serious?"  He was.  They come in this little tube, and the maggots are having a party in this blue goo at the bottom of the tube. They grow into wingless fruit flies, and you just shake a few out in front of the lucky newt, and ZAP, out whips a tongue to eat the fly.

Fascinating.