Interview with a Keeper – Colin Ray – Rays Reptiles

What started your passion for reptiles and getting involved in the hobby?

I was born into a family that kept birds, lizards, and marsupials, so it wasn’t a big leap to start keeping pythons. My first snake was a spotted python named Fang. I kept cages in my bedroom, until it was hard to get out the door. Once I fell in love with the species it seemed natural to want to breed them. I began attending the Victorian Herpetological Society meetings at the age of 12 with my father and uncle, who both supported my growing interest and financially supported my reptile passion.

What age did you start your journey?

My first memories of owning a lizard was at the age of 6. It was a stumpy tale lizard. We kept him in one of my father’s aviaries. My first python was purchased at around 10 years of age, which was before there was licencing in Victoria. All you needed was a permit to keep a spotted python.
At the age of 13 I began my breeding journey, with a pair of Childrens. Seeing the babies hatch from that first clutch ignited a passion for breeding pythons that has never ceased. 

In my mid 20’s I became a committee member with the Victorian association of amateur herpetologists were I held that position for roughly 8 to 10 years. During that time my wife and myself would be the editors of the crocodilian magazine and club website. I was lucky enough to have 2 great mentors in my early years of learning they were always there to help out and answer any questions I had. They were Roy Pails and Neil Soneman. Thanks Guys.

What species do you keep?

My main focus is mainly on morphs and locality specific in the Antaresia species. But I also keep and breed albino carpets and woma’s as well as hooded scaley foots. Over the years I have keep other things like Shinglebacks, Bearded dragons, Jacky dragons, Eastern and Gippsland water dragons, Blue tongue skinks, Diamond pythons, White skinks, Striped skinks and Water skinks.

What is your favourite species and why?

Without a doubt it would have to be the Antaresia species. They are a good-sized python that does not need to take up too much cage space or cost you a fortune to feed. Most of the time their nature isn’t too bad but yet again a bite from one of these guys isn’t going to need medical attention like some of our big Australian pythons. I also think we are just at the tip of the iceberg with the amount of new morphs being produced within this species.

Do you breed your animals, and what is your secret?

Yes, I breed my pythons. I feel there is no real secrets to breeding them. It’s probably more about being very thorough with your husbandry, being consistent year after year with the process that you chose to breed your reptiles and don’t change that it. Your animals will breed better in a consistent breeding process. Every body’s reptile room is totally different so do what suits your room’s requirements not what joe blow off Facebook told you. During breeding season I keep the room at approx. 32 degrees during the day and approx. 21 during the night.