Pet snakes.
On the surface, the phrase seems oxymoronic, simply because most people don't associate the word 'snake' with the concept of 'pet.' Generally speaking, most people are frightened of snakes, believing them to be slimy, nefarious creatures descended from the Serpent mentioned in the Bible, the Serpent that beguiled Eve in the Garden of Eden.
In reality, such attitudes ignore a number of crucial factors. For example, snakes are anything but slimy. Snakes are covered with scales composed of keratin, the same material that constitutes nails and hair. The scales are smooth, sometimes shiny, but dry, just like fingernails. Thus, the quasi-universal attitude toward snakes is not the definitive verdict. And snakes are not nefarious, intent upon attacking humans just for the fun of it. Of the 3,000 species of snakes on the planet, 600 species are venomous, but fewer than 300 of the venomous species are dangerous to humans. Only four venomous snakes are native to the U.S. - the rattlesnake, copperhead, cottonmouth and coral snake. More people are killed by bee and wasp stings than venomous snake bites. In fact, your chances of being bitten by Fido are200 time greater than being attacked by your pet snake.
Like dogs and cats, snakes have personalities. They make excellent pets, taking up little space, eating just once per week and even enjoy being handled. And they don't have to be walked! According to vetstreet.com, in 2013, 735,000 people kept snakes as pets in the U.S. Most of these pet snakes are purchased from pet stores or snake breeders, which number in the thousands. Reputable breeders, like El Segundo Pythons, Prehistoric Pets, Bob Clark and HLH Reptiles, sell high-quality, captive-bred snakes for big bucks. Desirable reticulated pythons go for thousands of dollars, far more than any AKC bred specialty dog. Indeed, the two sub-cultures - snakes and dogs - contain many similarities, the most pregnant of which is the personalities of the individuals involved in the two disciplines.
Speaking psychologically, breeders of specialty dogs tend to be status-seekers who believe their dogs imbue them with a certain aristocracy. Usually, dog breeders are aggressive and have Type-A personalities. Meanwhile, snake breeders and snake owners tend to be rule-breakers who want to be different, people who don't like routine jobs, like working for some mega-corporation.
Subcultures, of course, make life interesting. Almost everyone claims membership in one subculture or another. If they don't, there's probably something wrong with them. They need to visit their psychiatrist, get on meds, join a group and become part of the Great American Society. And because snake breeders are so sui generis, I decided to interview one and find out if being a snake owner automatically guarantees depravity of character or if, perchance, they are actually complex, interesting human beings that have managed to escape the relative ease and facility of orthodoxy, a goal common to most Americans.
To that end, I contacted Jackie Bujalski, owner at Cold Hearted Exotics, located in beautiful Southern California. She agreed to sit down with me and answer my questions. Not too surprisingly, I discovered her to be a personality of overwhelming calm, spiritually tranquil, eloquent and passionate about her chosen endeavor.
Randy Radic (RR): How did you become involved with snakes?
Jackie Bujalski (JB): I became fascinated with snakes and reptiles at a young age, but I didn't get my first snake until I was 21, a gorgeous Coral Albino Red Tail Boa.
RR: Did your involvement begin as a hobby and then evolve into a business naturally or was the intent commercial from the beginning?
JB: It started as a hobby, but very quickly led to much greater things. I obtained a male for the Albino Red Tail Boa after my husband also wanted a snake and looking into the genetic compatibility and what would happen if I mixed morph X with morph Y. The genetic aspect is very intriguing to me.
RR: Who inspired you to breed, and what was your first pairing and what was produced?
JB: Breeding wasn't an inspired decision, it evolved. My first breeding ever was of two Burmese Pythons. Both Albino and the female had an irregular pattern. She had 29 eggs and 30 babies. That's right, my first clutch yielded twins, two snakes born in the same egg. The following year, I found out through breeding that the female carried the trait for another morph called Granite, a pattern reduction trait.
RR: Do you have a background in biology, zoology or animal husbandry?
JB: I have no formal training in biology or zoology, but I do have animal husbandry experience and veterinary skills from being a veterinary technician. I have learned what I know about reptiles by reading and speaking with other keepers and breeders.
RR: The herp world abounds with breeders, some of which border on puppy mills; others are very reputable, for example: El Segundo Pythons, Prehistoric Pets, Bob Clark and BHB Reptiles. How does someone distinguish the reputable from the disreputable?
JB: A reputable breeder produces healthy, parasite-free, quality animals and cares explicitly for their adult animals as well. They also strive to please their customers and offer after-purchase support. A breeder to stay away from has animals of poor health, both offspring and adult breeders alike, and who is more concerned with quantity over quality. There are websites that review breeders and other reptile-based companies that can help warn people of disreputable breeders.
RR: Would you recommend breeding snakes to others as a business (or even a hobby)?
JB: I don't recommend anyone jump into breeding reptiles as a business. They need to be passionate about the animals that they are caring for first, and any hopes for profits come after. I consider having one or two clutches a year a hobby, not a business, so if someone wants to breed every once in a while, by all means, try it out! But be prepared for a bunch of baby reptiles that need to be cared for and may not be purchased immediately.
RR: What types of snakes does Cold Hearted Exotics breed? Do you specialize in any one type?
JB: I work with a dozen species of boas, pythons, and rear-fanged snakes at the moment, some common and some rare. I specialize in high-end python morphs from Burmese, Reticulated and Carpet Pythons, as well as a possible new line/morph of False Water Cobras.
RR: How large is your breeding facility? How many snakes do you have? Are they all for breeding purposes or are some simply pets?
JB: The facility at Cold-Hearted Exotics is about 400 square feet and holds 60 breeder animals and their offspring. The vast majority of my animals I consider pets that happen to be used for breeding purposes. They all have names, and I know their personalities. There are a few animals that I do not breed and are strictly pets, one being an Argentine Black and White Tegu and a huge Albino Burmese Python.
RR: Apparently, most breeders are male. Why is this, in your opinion?
JB: That is a very tough question to answer, with a lot of facets. While most big name breeders are men, I have found that women keepers and breeders are becoming very popular and more accepted. Some of the big name breeders have been around for years and most are popular, reputable, and experienced, with many achievements under their belts, which makes it difficult for women to compare to. Likewise though, there are many women breeders who have produced exquisite animals. A good part of it though is the portrayal of archaic gender roles, where men play with snakes and dirt, and women play with make-up and hair, which is fortunately being phased out of our society.
RR: As a woman operating a business in a discipline that is dominated by men, have you experienced any discrimination or difficulties?
JB: As a woman in this industry, I have experienced some difficulties and discrimination. I've been assumed to be a "booth babe" at conventions and shows, at my own booth. I have been called derogatory names. I've been questioned on my knowledge of genetics and husbandry, and have even been told that "I don't know what I'm talking about." Often times though, one of my fellow breeders will intervene and correct the person's wrongful accusation. I have noticed that there is much more discrimination depending on which species is in question, as some species' discussions have a sort of "boys club" atmosphere online and in person.
RR: From what I have gleaned, you are one of the few breeders that have Boelen's Pythons. Will you be attempting a breeding? If so, are there any specific problems that confront such a breeding?
JB: I do plan on breeding my Boelen's Pythons in the very near future. There are lots of problems that happen when trying to breed, as the requirements to breed these rare animals would be lethal to other animals, as their husbandry in the winter season becomes very chilly. I hope to be the first woman to breed these fantastic animals.
RR: What is the most beautiful or stunning morph that you were the first to make or you've seen?
JB: I cannot think of a specific animal morph that captured my eye, but I can think of a few from different species that have ensnared me. I have always loved the Hypomelanistic Granite and Labyrinth Burmese. I own a Hypo Granite and will be producing Hypo Labs in the future. I am hoping to prove out my black Carpet Python as a genetic melanism, the first in the US. I have also just produced some False Water Cobras that have been losing their patterns a little more with every shed, which makes me very hopeful that it may be a new morph, but only time and selective breeding will tell.
RR: What snakes do you foresee being in demand in the next 3-5 years?
JB: It's very hard to say what is going to happen to the industry and hobby as a whole in the next 3-5 years especially with the current attempt by USFWS, HSUS, and PETA to allow a massive government overreach on our pets using exaggerated and falsified information that real scientists have concluded as bogus. There is a high demand for Reticulated Pythons and other large species of constrictors, and if these zealots at HSUS and PETA had their way, all reptiles would be placed on the Lacey Act as injurious and removed from loving homes. USFWS is trying to twist and reinterpret the Lacey Act in their attempt to make the ownership of these beautiful animals impossible, as the media's fear-mongering stories have depicted necessary.
RR: What is the one thing that you've been surprised to see change over the years in regards to keeping snakes as pets?
JB: I'm surprised that in such a short a time - in the last decade - reptiles have become more widely acceptable as pets. It's not as frowned upon to have these animals as pets as it was several years ago. While the general public still scoffs and doesn't understand the allure or doesn't believe that these animals have personality, I know from experience that once they meet them, they are much more approving and less scared of them. That's the whole reason why people don't like reptiles - fear. But this is a learned fear, not a natural fear. Humans have a natural fear of heights. But most children willingly approach and want to pet reptiles. It's the parents that tell the children they are scary animals.
RR: What is the most exciting thing that has ever happened to you as a reptile breeder?
JB: I am excited about almost every aspect of reptile keeping, but what excites me the most is every time a clutch is laid. It's like having to wait till Christmas. Baby snakes all wrapped up in pearly white shell wrappings, not knowing exactly what's inside! Especially if you bred more than one male to the female or it's a pairing that's never been done. The anticipation kills me!
RR: Do you or have you worked with venomous species?
JB: I currently work with False Water Cobras, which are rear fanged venomous snakes indigenous to Eastern South America. They are not a true cobra. They have a hood to make themselves look bigger, but cannot stand erect while hooded. It's just a defensive characteristic. Their venom is mild and non-lethal.
RR: YouTube abounds with videos on topics such as: The 10 Best Snakes for the Beginner; How to Handle an Aggressive Snake; Pythons as Pets, along with a plethora of 'feeding' videos. Some are excellent, while others are tasteless and dispense faulty information. Does Cold Hearted Exotics produce videos? If not, why not? And would you ever consider it?
JB: Cold-Hearted Exotics currently has snippet videos on our Facebook page of various things from feeding, shedding, egg-laying and just showcasing some of our different animals. We do not have a YouTube page, but we are thinking of expanding to take videos of egg hatching, and to provide husbandry tips and much more!
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