Conversations with Shantrell McDaniel

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shantrell McDaniel.

Hi Shantrell, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I have always been an animal lover. I believe in respecting and appreciating nature and wildlife and taking measures to preserve its well-being.

Growing up, I cared for the “typical” animals that many families allow, however, my family is terrified of reptiles. So when I purchased my home I was finally able to get my first snake. Then another. Then another and so on. It’s sort of an ongoing joke in the reptile community that you cannot have just one reptile.

Initially, I didn’t intend on breeding snakes but the more knowledge I acquired, the more fascinated I became and it all just seemed to have a snowball effect that manifested into a full-blown passion.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not exactly. I lost my mom last year to ALS and it was really difficult to keep going.

Of course, with any business or hobby, there will be hiccups but when you’re suffering from severe depression while simultaneously caring for living animals that depend on you, they become your drive and purpose to push forward and keep going. In many ways, my animals were and still are my therapy.

Aside from that, there are certain hurdles to overcome with government regulations. I would highly recommend that anyone willing to learn more about the ongoing fight for our right to keep these amazing creatures should visit https://usark.org/ and consider supporting their fantastic work.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
When my partner and I started Sacred Serpents we wanted to breed snakes that everyone could enjoy whether you’re a casual keeper, hobbyist, or full-time breeder.

We strive to breed quality animals with unique and interesting genetic combinations. We keep a variety of different reptiles from ball pythons to various colubrids, boas, and geckos.

However, our current main focus is ball pythons.

We’d love to hear what you think about risk-taking?
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. With anything you do in life, there will always be risks.

I don’t necessarily consider myself a risk-taker but I don’t believe you can accomplish much without some level of risk. I think that you just have to decide if the risk is worth the reward.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.morphmarket.com/stores/thesacredserpents/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesacredserpents/