The Evolution of Evolution Exotics
In February of 2016 I started an endeavor into the world of reptile breeding with Leopard geckos. I have tried several species over the years like Knobtail geckos, Flying geckos, and African Fat Tail geckos, but I honestly just love Leopard geckos. Their personalities are the absolute best that I have found to make excellent pets. They are some of the easiest pets to care for and make great pets for kids. So I started my business, Terraria Geckos, and proceeded to work with them exclusively. I am very proud of the work that I have done these last few years.
In 2017 I started researching snakes. I had spent most of my life afraid of snakes. My mom's motto was "a good snake is a dead snake" and after having a traumatic experience as a kid where I was almost bit and chased by a black racer, I had a healthy fear of them. However, hanging out with the reptile folks at the local conventions, I started coming to understand them. The reason we fear is because we do not understand, or have had a bad experience, and I couldn't say "I love all animals" and hate snakes. So I started doing research. I was always afraid of being bit. Growing up in Florida, we are taught from a young age in school that there are several species of snake to avoid, because they are venomous and can hurt. We learn the phrase "Red on black is a friend of Jack. Red on yellow is a dangerous fellow" because of Coral snakes. And we learn to stay away from the diamond shaped heads of rattlers and moccasins. Because my mother grew up on a farm that raised chickens, snakes were a regular thing that they had to kill or else they'd eat the chickens or the eggs. So I was raised in that household of fearing snakes. My biggest fear was being bit. I'm a person that is very sensitive to pain. So I started researching on what type of snake is less prone to bite, and I came across the Western Hognose. So after months of research, in September of 2017 I acquired a pair of Western Hognoses. It took me awhile to gather my courage and get used to them. They are a finicky snake that likes to hiss and fake attack. So I had to gain my confidence around them. Now I absolutely love their pissy little behaviors and find them absolutely adorable.
On Christmas Eve 2017 I noticed someone had some Ball Pythons for sale. Now I knew Ball Pythons were more prone to bite, but I really started getting into snakes and doing tons of research. So I sent a message to the seller and asked if he would be wiling to trade for leopard geckos. He said yes, and that's when I picked up my first three Ball Pythons. They were juveniles and had good attitudes. After a couple of weeks I was cleaning in one of their bins and I noticed the girl was watching me like a hawk. I knew it wasn't a matter of if I get bit, but when. I also wanted to get it over with. I've been bit by geckos and those hurt a bit, and I was told that most people don't even feel the snake bite. So I figured, she looks like she's about to bite, let's get it over with. Sure enough, she struck and I literally laughed. For all of my life I've feared snakes because I was told their bites hurt and it's dangerous and all of the usual fear-mongering. And it didn't even hurt as bad as a paper cut. I've been bit several times since, and not one of them has hurt worse than any of my gecko bites. I conquered my fear, and I love telling this story to people because we get so afraid of things that really aren't that big of a deal. Since then I have acquired several more snakes and have a total of 17 Ball Pythons and 4 Western Hognose. And as of October 2019, I have my very first snake eggs. I changed my name to Terraria Reptiles in early 2018 to signify that I was doing multiple reptiles now and not just geckos.
When I got into snakes I knew I'd need to feed mice to them. And Hurricane Irma taught me that I can't always depend on stores to have frozen mice in stock. As we were out of power for 6 days and no one had frozen mice for several months after because the demand was so high. So I started breeding mice. I didn't want just the basic feeder mice, so slowly I started adding more pet quality mice to my bins. And through selective breeding I have been able to create some absolutely beautiful varieties that I sell as pets and/or feeders. I have pieds, bandeds, brindle, satin, agouti, angora, argente, dove, and more. My favorites are the argente, and even though I use most of them for feeders, they are treated like royalty until they are humanely fed off. I love all of my animals.
In 2018 someone was looking to trade some birds for some reptiles and I had a plethora of leopard geckos that I needed to sell, so I picked up a few birds. Parakeets and a parrotlet. I have found that I absolutely love them, especially the parrotlet. So I have added a few more to my aviary and have started breeding parrotlets. I am super excited to do this. I never thought I'd enjoy birds as much as I do, but you never know until you try. I had always wanted birds since I was a kid. I'm having a blast taming them and learning all I can about them. I never knew just how smart they could actually be. My first clutch of parrotlet babies was born in early March and I am having a blast raising the babies.
So because of my broad interests in several species I decided to change my name from Terraria Reptiles to Evolution Exotics. I wanted to signify my Evolution as a breeder, but also I wanted to change to Exotics so that it would cover all of my animals, and not just reptiles. And also, after having read an article on how closely related to dinosaurs that birds are, I really wanted a logo to signify that evolution as well.
Unfortunately in 2019 I had to make the tough decision to stop breeding reptiles and rodents and sell them. Unfortunately I was allergic to them, and the feeders that I had to feed them. I sold them all except my favorite leopard gecko, Orion, whom I’m keeping as a pet. It pains me to no longer be able to keep and breed them, but I have enjoyed every moment I've had with all of my animals and highly recommend reptiles as pets. Unfortunately my health had to come first, and I had to do what was best for me. Now I’m exclusively going to be breeding parrots. Parrotlets, Budgerigars, and I just acquired my first Indian Ringneck, a Violet Female and hopefully will be getting a mate for her in the coming months and will be breeding them in late 2020 or early 2021.
