West African Gaboon Viper (mount photos)

[CROW]

I received this viper from a herper who breeds all varieties of venomous snakes.  She was pregnant and died from complications due to the pregnancy.  I've been doing taxidermy for 16 years and have done snakeskins but never a full mount.  And honestly, I didn't care!  But when approached with this opportunity I could not pass it up.  Gaboons are a wonder of nature!   

I flocked to taxi-net and Tom Voyer blasted my brain with shotshells of knowledge and I have to say he helped a first timer take off.  For that I say thanks Tom!  I wanted to get this right and your knowledge was very helpful. 

I carved the body out of dense blue foam.  But they wanted it in an oval shape which required me cut and carve the form in four different pieces.



I made a rubber mold of the head (I know more expensive version) and cast in plastic.  Attached to wooden dowel, screwed and glued to the form.  I used Fish Form Prep to finish the form.


I hand painted the eyes with a boars hair.  Tanned the skin with Rittels Snaketan.  Thoroughly enjoyed working on this snake!  Thanks again Tom.

[wetnwild]

Beautifull Job!! Very very nice!

[Kerby Ross]

Saweeet!



Kerby...

[Joey P Holmes]

Good job!  You should be proud of that one!

[Redwolf]

VERY nice.

[TwistedSerpent]

Wonderfully done!  A beautiful speciman and great representation of the species, She still looks gravid too!

[jeremy]

ZOINKS...... Thats is SAAAAAWEEEEEEET. Nice job!

[Brian Jones]

Beautiful snake, great job

[Plaisance]

Great job

[CROW]

Thanks fellas!  I truly appreciate the compliments.  You know how it makes you feel! 

I dropped her off tonight and received smiles and hugs so...I'm happy!  However.....apparantly I had her pink sidebars a little too light.  Should have been a touch darker but they were pleased.  I can live with that.  They gave me a tour of their home with a room set aside just for their snakes.  But every room had snakes in them.  ALL VIPERS of all flavors.  They had about a dozen Gaboons (East and West African) and others I've never even heard of, nor can remember.  I do remember the Rhinoceros Viper and I expressed interest in mounting one.  Absolutley gorgeous snake!  But the Gaboons are my favorite. 

They offered to take my business cards to herp shows and plug my business.  They said other taxidermists turned them away.  They also offered to send me the vipers that expire.  I politely accepted all offers! 

I had NO INTEREST in snakes for the 16 years before this Gaboon.  I don't know what's going on, but I'm excited about snakes now!?!  I think perhaps I've been "bitten" by the snake bug!  I've been trying alot of new things lately, in every aspect of my life, that I never had interest in before!

Thanks again!

Corey

[agave]

VERY NICE!I have kept a lot of the vipers and did get bit by one a large gravid gabby.I still keep and enjoy the big fat species for the color and size and respect the captive housing and nature of the reptile.Your mount is quite nice!Richie

[Jim B]

Nice job.You sure have a knack for it.Hard to believe that's your first.Hope to see more.

[RTtaxidermy]

Very nice

[DDavis]

Nice job

[boblou3]

Nice Gabby! Although I am partial to this Gabby, because she belongs to me and is now at rest on my bed. Thank you Corey 100 hundred times over. I know I gave you the 3rd degree when we first brought Rosie to you. She was my baby, you know that now. Most of our critters that we lose for whatever reason, usually end up in the trash. BUT not Rosie, no way no how. Ben asked me what are we going to do with her? My response, "Well, they freeze poodles, don't they"? I am so glad we found you. As you said , no other taxidermist was willing to take her on. You did an awesome job and I have my Rosie-O back! She still freaks me out for about one tenth of a second everytime I walk into my room and catch a glimpse of her out of the corner of my eye! Thinking, "who is that and how in the hell did they get out of their cage" !  Then I realize its just my Rosie-o ! I never thought I would be attached to any of the critters, like i was with her. I lost a childhood dog one time and that was terrible. We have lost many reps over the years, and well, we just go on and take care of the rest. But this was different, thank God you were willing to take her on and expand your horizons with reps! I am totally satisfied with her! Even my friends that dislike our hobby think she looks alive and still will not get close to her! That has got to be one hell of a compliment to your work!