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Trivial Pursuits
 Cold-blooded creatures warm alumna’s heart
.jpg "Jodi") Photo by Emily Cook Jodi is one of 17 ball pythons in Emily Cook’s collection. By Monique Bos Published: Friday, May 26, 2006 In July 2004, Emily Cook purchased her first ball python, Nellie, at a reptile show in South Carolina. Less than two years later, Cook, a Savannah College of Art and Design alumna (B.F.A., graphic design, 2000), has expanded her exotic reptile collection to include 17 ball pythons, more than 55 crested geckos, and several geckos from other subspecies — including Spud, a giant gecko who will measure approximately a foot and a half when he reaches adulthood. She has launched a business, Cook Reptiles (www.cookreptiles.com), and spends 15-20 hours per week operating the business and caring for the animals. Her breeding projects include crested and leopard geckos — she has 30 crested eggs slated to hatch over the next two months — and she expects her first clutch of ball python eggs to hatch this summer. Cook has always enjoyed snakes, lizards, frogs and similar species, and she’d had several lizards as pets. However, her decision to purchase a snake was what catapulted her into the world of exotic reptiles and breeding. “I went to a local reptile show, saw ball pythons and fell in love with them but decided not to purchase one spontaneously,” she said. “So I did a lot of research, found a breeder in Charleston, S.C., and finally purchased my first ball python from him at a show.” Ball pythons grow to three to six feet, unlike the better-known Burmese pythons, which can grow to around 20 feet. The ball pythons’ size and temperament make them suitable for novice snake owners. “Burms don’t necessarily make bad pets, but they do make bad pets for the beginner,” Cook said. “Ball pythons are different from the normal pet, and although they are snakes, they are extremely docile, friendly and inquisitive.” Interest in one reptile led to another, and by October 2004 she had diversified her collection. “During my research, I joined a ball python forum (www.ball-pythons.net) and a member there got me interested in crested geckos,” she said. (She has since become a moderator on the forum.) “Cresteds are extremely popular in the gecko trade right now, and I just fell for the cuteness and the infinite possibilities with breeding them.” She has built her collection by attending reptile shows in Georgia, North and South Carolina, and Florida, as well as through online breeders. Buying an exotic animal via the Internet might sound risky, but Cook said buyers who do their homework shouldn’t have problems. “You have to research the breeder,” she said. “Buy from someone who is well-known, who can provide you with references and who has been in the business for several years. There are a ton of online resources available for researching breeders, so there is no reason to buy without being informed first.” Shipping the animals also is less risky than it sounds. “If you buy from someone with a good reputation, shipping should be no problem,” said Cook. “It is done overnight via UPS or FedEx with insulated boxes and heat or cold packs, and, if done correctly, is quite safe for the animal … It is extremely common.” Her interest in ball pythons and crested geckos continues to grow. “Both are extremely addictive,” she said. Cook foresees adding more morphs (animals with genetically determined characteristics, such as certain colors and patterns) to her collection and working with other breeders on various projects. She is enthusiastic about her animals, her interactions with others in the herpetological community — and sharing her hobby. “I enjoy educating other people about reptiles, showing them what rewarding and fun pets they can be, and breaking down the myths that snakes and geckos are gross, slimy creatures,” she said. “I also enjoy the individuality of each animal and the challenge to create something new and different with each breeding pair. They are all unique and rewarding to work with.” |
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