Appreciations

This page is intended to be a place for us to thank at least some of the people who have been most helpful and supportive to us over the years in our efforts to be good herpers. Towards that end, we say a loving and appreciative "thanks" to....

Dave Barker - Together with his wife, Tracy, Dave owns and operates Vida Preciosa International. They are two of the original herpers in this country and Dave has been very generous over the years in answering our many questions about animal husbandry. Dave is a wealth of information and has freely given his knowledge to others. They also have one of the world's premier snake breeding facilities at their home in Texas.

Charles and Betty Criswell (Tim's parents) - They supported Tim's love of animals throughout his life and put up with a bedroom full of critters for years. Betty was even an unwitting participant sent to pick up a "California two-striped garter snake" that Tim (who was 14 years old at the time) had ordered through the mail. After finding out what he'd done and what was in the box she'd brought home from the package delivery service, she still let him keep it.

Shawn Criswell (Tim's wife) - Shawn has supported our efforts throughout the time we've been involved in herping. From helping give injections to sick snakes to helping out at our booth during local herp shows to photographing animals to helping design this website. There's nothing she hasn't been willing to do and we wouldn't be where we are were it not for her help and support.

Dr. Doug Dix - Doug owns and operates Deer Fern Farms in Washington state. He is one of the world's foremost breeders of uromastyx lizards and is a wealth of information on a variety of herp-related topics. He has been more than generous in answering our questions over the years. He's also a really nice guy.

Inset: A female three horned chameleon.
Background: A female mossy leaf-tail gecko.