....that you come across an old snake! I went to a pet store today to have a look at the reptiles (of course!) They had a sandboa ,age 30 years old!! WOW!! But her colour was very faded,but still she was lovely!
Just wanted to share this.Never met an old snake before.

Jacky, did ya take any pics, lol. Thats awesome, glad you were able to view an older snake.

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MARSHA

:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!

wow that is an interesting find.

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yes i am a she ^_^

~My Babies~

1 Rosy Boa (male) Chaos
1 Snow Corn (male) Blizzard
1 Anertherystic Corn (male) Bullet
1 Senegal Parrot (male) Shadow
2 dogs (male) Spot and Bear

Sorry Marsha,no pics.But the woman who owns the store was a bit strange.When I asked the price of this snake,she told me that 'this old lady' will only be sold to experienced snake keepers,and she made it sound like I wouldn't be good enough.Well,I wouldn't have bought the snake anyways!
But tell me my friends,when can you call yourself an experienced snake keeper? I bought my very first snake on January 17.'05. I wouldn't call myself experienced,but I think I learned a lot about snakes in that short time.

Ah but you have to give the lady credit! This snake has been around a long time and the lady wasn't going to hand it over to just anyone.
What a refreshing attitude to find in a pet shop!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Wow, that female does not have much longer to grace this earth. I do agree with Merlin......I am sure that women did not mean anything by it. Lets hope to a good home for that retired sand snapper.
-jason

Do you know what the average life expectancy is? I would have thought around 20 years.

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Val
www.reptilerescuerichmond.org

Perhaps she equated your excitement about snakes to inexperience. Or perhaps she meant "experienced with sandboas".
Try not to take it personally: I'm sure she had the best interests of the boa in mind. (As someone here once told me -- was it Merlin? -- sometimes "animal-people" just don't have the nice social skills to deal with people well.)

When is someone an "experienced snake keeper"?
I think that's a difficult question and I don't think it can be measured solely in months or years, but in the "experiences" dealt with as well. Every new challenge: feeding issues/fasting, parasites, illness/injury, brumating, breeding, incubating etc. adds something to the ever-expanding mountain of experience. Also the types of snakes one has experience with, I think, would be a factor.
IMO: It's the "going", not the "getting there" that's good. (BECOMING experienced is the interesting part! )

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Andrea

Esbat, usually the normal is in there teens. 30 years is an old sand boa no doubt but not unheard of by far.

Well put Andrea! expirience insnt measured with time but with...well expiriences.

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-Ron

If Im not back in five minutes...just wait longer!
-Ace Ventura