It has been over a year and half since I wrote a blog post and boy have there been some huge changes!!!
When I say huge changes I mean HUGE changes. We are in a new location, with new set ups, and I even have a brand new career. Yet... we still have the same progressive ethic toward captive animal management and breeding.
New Location
We are in a new location! And that means, adjustments...adjustments...and more adjustments. If you've had any type of reptile or any smaller animal that basically lives within a contained environment such as an aquarium or terrarium then you know that the parameters inside the enclosure are always impacted by the environment outside the enclosure. Of course that makes sense from a birds eye view right? An enclosure placed in a cold room may take longer or more heat energy to maintain certain specs whereby an enclosure in a hot room may take less or even need more air flow to keep it cool. Well, moving an entire collection out of one facility that had been tinkered to perfection over several years into a brand new space is....ummm.....a challenge.
Everything is a learning curve. Sure the animal needs haven't changed however learning how the airflow in the new facility impacts temperatures in open air enclosures (tortoise tables for example) takes time and tinkering. Learning how moving animals from one type of set up into premium PVC enclosures with custom background and the highest quality of lighting is also a learning curve.
I often get asked in the comments on YouTube if "such and such bulb on such and such tank" would work. Well... I usually reply with, "it depends," because some people live on a third floor apartment where all the heat rises and they cannot afford to keep their air conditioner running at 70F for the summer so their room is 78F. "So what?!" some might say, but the truth is that 8 degrees can impact how that bulb heats the enclosure. It affects the cool side, the warm side, all the sides..ha! It also depends on how many other items are around like other enclosures with heat elements as well.
Bottom line, everything impacts everything. Thus, I've been a tinkering machine with this new move. Sure thermostats help but they are not a cure. They are absolutely needed but again they are not the cure. Anyway, its been a fun adventure here getting everything settled in and working effectively. The animals certainly seem to have adjusted faster than even I did...ha!
Downsizing was essential
I downsized my collection a significant amount. I'm sure that some folks will take that to mean I wasn't "truly dedicated to the skink cause" or I traded off my family members like tokens at an arcade...simply discarded, not loved like little companions or children. Sigh....
While I do love these creatures so much so I will go to great lengths to ensure their best care. Yet, they are not my companions nor are they my children. They are reptiles. I do not connect emotionally with them. I just don't and that is okay. It is also okay for those who DO emotionally attach to their animals as long as captive care/ welfare is not impacted. It's just not for me....
I'm sure some people will be upset that I "re-homed" some animals (man, I despise the term "re-homed"...makes me puke). But lets be clear. I love my animals. Some of these animals have lived years even decades in my care and can thrive just as well living in another person or institution's care. Like anything in life ,things change and we have to adapt. I've never been the type that will let my reptile collection define me or my life. I understand some perspectives whereby folks truly have formed an identity based on their pets. That's great for them. That's not me.
I refused to be defined by what I do, be it a job or a hobby. I'm in control not my collection. Therefore, if something comes along that requires change...so be it. I will do so with care and responsibility. I get the issue with some folks not truly taking the responsibility of their pet seriously, I do, but I've been a working with reptiles for pushing 40 years now... I'm not those fly by night fad chasers. So to those internet trolls that scoff at people who don't keep their reptiles (some that live 50+ years) for life, shame on you. That attitude is self righteous (yep I said it.... if your feelings got hurt right there...use the back button and go elsewhere...k bye). The fact is that even the world's best zoos re-design exhibits, close exhibits, and move animals from one institution to another. As long as the animals are cared for well it doesn't matter. Keyword...well.
As for me, I always ensure every creature I work with is well cared for and treasured regardless if they remain in my facility or get transferred out. Anyway, over the past few months many of my skinks were loaned out for breeding or transferred to fellow breeders whom I personally know and respect for being ethical animal keepers. Some skinks were also transferred to AZA institutions for education and exhibit. I'm honored and excited to be able to travel the US stopping at some of the zoos and aquariums along the way to see my animals thriving under professional care.
Also, I am still maintaining a few snakes for breeding and enjoyment and I am working a bit more with a few tortoise species that are either endangered, vulnerable, or near threatened. I feel a strong need to work with and support the captive maintenance of assurance colonies for these amazing animals that are disappearing from our planet.
What started the big change?
Two years ago I left my professional career in healthcare after the horrible sage we all know as "the pandemic." I was miserable in my career before the pandemic and boy I tell you what, that damn season made it worse....and I knew that if I stayed in that profession I would continue to decline in all aspects of my life including my health. The environment I was in was toxic and it was killing me...literally. I was convinced staying would have caused an early death.
Thus, I had to break free and pursue a dream. And no, that dream was not to be a full time reptile breeder or anything in the reptile industry..haha. I never wanted to have my livelihood rest on the production and sale of living creatures. I know that when push came to shove, corners that could be cut, would be cut and that is a line I just would never wanted to cross. Instead I chose to pursue a dream job I've wanted since I was a little boy but had always been too afraid to speak about let alone try and pursue. Rightly so, its not the safest of careers and even some of my family, like I feared, were discouraging. But I didn't listen to them!
And thanks to my lovely girlfriend I had the courage and support to try. Not only did I pursue the dream, I attained it! Yes, I am fully serving in my dream job!!! Not only am I thrilled that I was able to pursue and conquer the challenge but I feel more alive and healthy in mind, body, and spirit than ever before. Even, my friends and kids can see my light is back!
My new career (I won't say what online for security reasons) takes a considerable amount of energy (in a good way) and therefore I did not have the bandwidth to maintain a large collection of breeders and manage the sales to the public like I have previously. At least not on the same scale. Therefore, I have cut back on the number of animals in the collection and slowed my breeding production down to a slow, very slow, crawl.
Well, I wanted to share with you all what has been going on over the past couple years and what the future might look like for Reptile Mountain.
The Future...
My hope for Reptile Mountain is to continue as a small batch breeder with a focus on progressive keeping, breeding, and conservation. I may go back to making a random YouTube video here or there and I do intend to breed blue tongue skinks and other reptiles going forward. However, my focus will be even more on progressive captive animal management and conservation both through financial support and captive propagation of endangered species.
Thank you all for your support.
Opinion is not fact,
TC