Who is Canada's most accomplished reptile breeder?

[BoidKeeper]

Rather than set this up as a poll and list only some that come to mind and risk forgetting someone and offending them, I thought I would just leave it open to all of you to name who you think is the most accomplished Canadian reptile breeder.
Before we begin however, we must first agree upon the definition of accomplished in this context. I believe that for our purposes in this thread it should mean who has bred the longest, the hardest species or the rarest species. As well as the greatest variety of herps.
I think it should be open. Not just the most accomplished turtle breeder or python breeder but breeder period. If someone wants to make a spin of thread latter on asking who is the most accomplished snake breeder or Gecko breeder then please by all means do so but for now I think it should be most accomplished reptile breeder.
Thanks,
Trevor

[Scales Zoo]

Don Patterson

[Invictus]

I would think that honor would have to go to Don Patterson. You name a rare species, he probably has it. He's been around for a long time too. I've never personally done any business with him, but when I am looking for some more expensive stuff, he'll be the first on my list.

[David Kwok]

Yeap

Don "the hermit" Patterson

[Scales Zoo]

The majority of longer term snake breeders seem to turn to hermits. I am practising to be a long term snake breeder.

Actually, I think there is something to that. Sheila and I don't come out of our hides much, except to go get food. Leaving the house isn't so much of a problem, it is leaving the yard. Maybe it is what having expensive snakes does to a person, maybe that is it.

Ryan

[Corey Woods]

I'd say Roy Stockwell. He pioneered breeding a lot of hard to breed reptiles and his passion for reptiles has spanned 20 years. Roy was one of the first breeders to produce CB Ball pythons in the late 80's and early 90's as well as working with a lot of rare or hard to breed/keep species. One of his more recent accomplishments was producing Schnider Skinks a couple years back and if memory serves on a handful of people have ever bred Schnider Skinks. For years he supplied Jamie Quick (USA) with numerous colour mutations of colubrids (one of which he originated, the vanishing patterned Honduran Milksnake) as well as numerous pythons and boas.

Corey

[Scales Zoo]

I'd have mentioned Roy, but I'm trying to suck up to Don.

Ryan

[Katt]

I'm with Corey, on Roy. Roy has been an unkle to so many young herpers. I think that's more important than who breeds/has bred, the most expensive reptile or rarest for that matter. Rare doesn't necessarily mean difficult. Roy has definitely been a pioneer in herpetoculture in Canada. He breeds whatever catches his fancy, even if it's some cheap $10 skink, but the fact is, how many others have bred it as well?

Roy's greatest accomplishment I think is touching so many young herpers and giving so much advice. Roy was there when I got my first snake, and didn't want to breed, and he was there when my breeding attempts failed and it got me down.

[Vanan]

I'll have to finally agree with Corey on something. That Roy is my choice for most accomplished breeder. Roy has been a great asset to Canadian herpetoculture and I'm sure many of you can attest to that. Don't mean to step on toes but breeding expensive and rare species is not all what herpetoculture is about.

My 2nd vote would go to Dr Phil.

[BoidKeeper]

Only cause Roy has been around sooo long to be everyones uncle and has done some pioneering work with and with out legs I'd have to vote Roy too. Although Don is neck and neck with him.
Be interesting to hear what they have to say. I know they'll both read it! hee hee
Cheers,
Trevor
PS
I'd also like to see their list of what they have bred.

[morph]

impossible to say

[beth wallbank]

I think in honor to a friend and passed on herpetologist, Ken Taylor needs to be mentioned here as well. Though Roy, Don, Henry, Corey, Marcus,. and countless others need to be named for breeding successes, you need to all remember Ken.

[Invictus]

I'm so sorry about forgetting about Unky Roy. Maybe a dead-heat tie?

Corey, you're not exactly an un-accomplished fella yourself, at least as far as your area of specialization goes. Your line of red axanthics is utterly stunning... but I'm still not gonna buy one. I'm poor.

[Matt.B]

What about Dan Uremovic? He may breed leos but he also breeds pythons and boas. He has bred the first giants and if not the first definetly one of the first to breed Bling Blizzards. Without him I can tell you that I would still be keeping one or two leos and nothing else.
Just my 2 cents
Matt

[BoAddict]

my vote go's to Roy Stockwell for all the reasons mentioned above.

i also have to put 1 out for grant crossman for running an amzing store pcpc where i got all my animals in my early days of keeping, and for all he has done for the comunity.

Mike