Several years ago, my good friend Matt Crews of Victory Reptiles, bet me that I couldn’t stick with just one venomous specie
because of the abundance of many other beautiful, venomous species available. Well, he was both right and wrong. There are many beautiful
snakes out there, but after all this time, I still only keep one: LEPIDUS, with one major concentration…. KLAUBERI.
My first klauberi
were a pair of CBB Magdalena Mountains from Solenoglyph stock, and very soon after that came CBB Organ Mountains and CBB
Black Range. At first it seemed to hit me like an addiction, but I soon realized it was a healthy passion. Passion is what drives
us to reach even further, to learn more and to obtain more knowledge. Addiction makes us do something because we need to, not because
we necessarily want to. While building my locality breeder stock and voraciously reading any material available, I realized more than
any other venomous snake, klauberi and locality went hand in hand...and in a very big way. The first question a buyer asks is "What's
the locality?". And, with good reason because of the subtle, yet complex differences in physical characteristics of each locality.
In May of 2005, I went on a lepidus excursion with Tim Cole, and on those remote, desolate , western Texas roads we both began to have
the same thoughts....
I discussed with Tim the need to have a group, a special society for lepidus enthusiasts; more so for the
passion of the specie. However, it was agreed that the principles of the society would need to be guided by the highest standards
of integrity, honesty, character, ethics, and the advocation of captive bred & born lepidus specimens. Thus, The Lepidus
Klauberi Society was launched, and was made official in January of 2006. Tim has been a true friend and has given valuable time and
effort in launching the society.
By no means do I proclaim myself a klauberi expert. In fact, I would argue that no one is an
expert in anything. Some people just have more experience and knowledge of a particular subject than others. To me, an expert knows
everything imaginable about a particular topic. I’ve had much success, but I am still learning the wonders of this great “Montane
Gem”.
Favorite klauberi Localities: Magdalena Mountains, Franklin Mountains, Peloncillo Mountains, Organ Mountains
Favorite lepidus Localities:River Road, Chinati Mountains, Davis Mountains
First klauberi Locality: Magdalena Mountains
Localities I am Seeking: Mimbres Mountains,San Cristobal, Peloncillo Mountains
Klauberi Goals: Albino? To be known for passionately advocating responsible klauberi husbandry.
As for me personally...I live in northeast Florida, work in executive management, and enjoy many things outside of
the klauberi world; my family, hiking, digital photography, Napoleonic History, auto racing, woodworking, NFL and college football,
and reading. One of my most recent joys has been working on the website. It’s been a lot of fun….though I wish I knew how to start
my own klauberi forum on this website. Maybe one day I’ll figure it out.
Finally....I enjoy breeding and keeping klauberi just for the pure pleasure of it. I do not and will not do it for the money...as if anyone could make a living breeding klauberi.
For the most part, I trade babies (when available) for other locales that I am seeking.