Two New Additions (..And Another on The Way)

I went to the San Diego Super Show today, (not as super as I had expected) and came home with two Nelson's. :oops:
Though, I had already been planning on picking these two up for over one month now from another member on this forum. I am already in love with them, their colors are gorgeous.
They're still squirmy, little worms right now. I do not know much history on these two. Sex and age is unknown, but by size I'd say no more than one year old each. The Albino is nearly twice the length of the normal, I anticipate him/her growing up to be a good sized Nelson's!

Now, quite frankly, I know nothing about colubrids other than proper care. I was told these were both Nelson's and that's what I assume they are, but considering I've heard of so many localities being crossbred I'm not sure exactly how to tell. The normal is significantly shorter in length than the Albino, yet they have the same size girth. Also, when I took them both out I realized their patterns are so drastically different in comparison to each other. So, if anyone wants to point out whether one or both may not be Nelson's, go right ahead!

Also, to those familiar with Milk Snakes, specifically Nelson's, should I go ahead and add an uth on each of their tubs? I only ask because my room is heated to a constant 85degrees (coldest it drops is 82 at night, it's meant for BPs ;)). With such a warm room I am not able to create much of a temperature gradient throughout the Milks' tubs, so I do not want them to be too cold to eat but also do not want to overheat them by adding an uth.

Without further ado,
The NoNames:

My favorite, the Albino.
I've seen many, many Albino nelson's Milks at the shows I've been to and I must say, this is the nicest. The "yellow" bands are almost white they are so pale. :love:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...r13/albino.jpg

And, the tiny normal.
Love this one's black belly!
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...13/nelsons.jpg



Also, I spoke to someone at the show today and will be either picking up or getting shipped a beautiful little Brazilian Rainbow Boa. (Who's enclosure has already been set up for nearly one week :oops:)


EDIT: Photo credit to BigFatSmellyCat, the person who gave me these Milks. :)

YAY they are gorgeous, congrats on the new additions! You're such an addict :D

Very nice! The colors on them make them look fake (that's a compliment). Congrats on your new additions.

Very nice.... I love the albino.....:D

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Originally Posted by LGray23

YAY they are gorgeous, congrats on the new additions! You're such an addict :D

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Yes, yes I am. :oops:

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Originally Posted by MarkieJ

Very nice! The colors on them make them look fake (that's a compliment). Congrats on your new additions.

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Thank you! When he had first sent me these pictures I assumed the camera was just making them appear brighter than they actually were. It was a pleasant surprise when I opened the bags and saw how beautiful they are. :) These pictures are just about as close to their actual color as they can get.
Most adult Albino Nelson's and Sinaloans I've seen appear to turn more yellow with size, even in the white areas, so I'm hoping this one will hold most of that bright, clean white!

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Originally Posted by dragonboy4578

Very nice.... I love the albino.....:D

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I hate to play favorites, but I do agree! The Albino is my favorite.

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Originally Posted by Kymberli

I hate to play favorites, but I do agree! The Albino is my favorite.

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There is nothing wrong with playing favorites..... I have my favorites....:D Those are the ones that I post the most pics of....

I love my 3 year old Nelson, had her since she was a hatchling.

I am not into Albinos, but the Albino Nelsons are absolutely gorgeous. I may have to add one of those to my collection.

I would say you SCORED...

NICE, I ENDED UP GOING ALSO AND PICKED UP A ORANGE GHOST MALE AND AN ALBINO FEMALE BP,:D IT WAS REALLY PACKED WITH PEOPLE THO:mad:

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Originally Posted by knox

I love my 3 year old Nelson, had her since she was a hatchling.

I am not into Albinos, but the Albino Nelsons are absolutely gorgeous. I may have to add one of those to my collection.

I would say you SCORED...

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I've never really been a fan of any Albino animals (not even BPs), but this Milk Snake is great. :)
I just can not wait until they both reach their full potential size.
I definitely scored today, trust me, you have no idea!

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Originally Posted by killerphade310

NICE, I ENDED UP GOING ALSO AND PICKED UP A ORANGE GHOST MALE AND AN ALBINO FEMALE BP,:D IT WAS REALLY PACKED WITH PEOPLE THO:mad:

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Very nice! Yes it definitely was packed. I was only there from about 10:30AM til just before noon. The two hour drive each way was terrible. This is the third time in the last couple months I've had to drive to San Diego for snakes, lol. I hope it's the last!

Nice pick ups!
Never had a milk snake, but have to admit, they are eye catchers.

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Originally Posted by Jason Bowden

Nice pick ups!
Never had a milk snake, but have to admit, they are eye catchers.

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I had honestly never considered getting one, because of how small they are, but after seeing their potential size I think they've been under appreciated. I'm glad I lucked out and was offered these two. :) Great start to a nice little Colubrid collection.

Congrats! They are both really pretty.

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Originally Posted by DellaF

Congrats! They are both really pretty.

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Thank you! I've been terribly busy the last couple days but I keep finding myself opening their tubs to check on them. I'm so used to using paper towels as substrate with my BPs it's very strange having aspen that the Milks can bury themselves in. I've realized they've actually created solid tunnels throughout the aspen because I made it so thick. :P
They're great but the normal gave me a heart attack the first night I had it home. They're in a melamine rack with 12qt tubs and I pulled its tub out to check on it.. pulled up all of the hides and it was gone! Then I realized it was under the aspen under the ceramic water bowl. :rolleyes: With a couple inches of aspen in a 12qt tub, these little noodles have a large range of space to hide in. These tiny snakes are going to be the end to my sanity. So easy to lose track of.

those really beautiful

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Originally Posted by womsterr

those really beautiful

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Thank you! I think so too. :)

I almost made the trip myself (8 hr drive) to the SD Show.. Why were you dissapointed? Just need confirmation to not feel so bad for not going now :)

BTW, beautiful NELSONS!!!

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Originally Posted by cdavidson9

I almost made the trip myself (8 hr drive) to the SD Show.. Why were you dissapointed? Just need confirmation to not feel so bad for not going now :)

BTW, beautiful NELSONS!!!

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I was told by someone who came to this Super Show in the past that a few years back it was in another part of the building and was about four times the size of this one. It was a lot smaller than I had expected, seeing as it was labeled as "the world's largest reptile show". Also, it was extremely crowded which made browsing very difficult.. I have high anxiety so the pushing and refusal of people to allow me to come up to the booth to see the animals made me nervous. I talked to some great people, as usual, and talked to the guy I will be getting my feeders from in Vegas for the second time at a show. It was fun, but after such a long drive and also having to pay for gas, parking, and entry I just wanted to get my snakes back home and take a nap, hahaha.

I just thanked you for the response, but just thought I'd thank you again. :) Much appreciated Kymberli!

BTW, have you figured out the horse situation yet?? did you get them to Vegas yet? Or have you not moved yet? I really hope everything works out for you.. keep working at it and stay positive.. things always come together if you do!! GOOD LUCK!!

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Originally Posted by cdavidson9

I just thanked you for the response, but just thought I'd thank you again. :) Much appreciated Kymberli!

BTW, have you figured out the horse situation yet?? did you get them to Vegas yet? Or have you not moved yet? I really hope everything works out for you.. keep working at it and stay positive.. things always come together if you do!! GOOD LUCK!!

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I'm trying to sell one of them and three of my miniature donkeys, but it's going to be difficult. It's about $3,000 to move them all and get proof of health certificates form the vet. :(

Just to echo Kymberli's thoughts about the crowds... it was ridiculous! I couldn't get a good look at ANY booth, and possibly missed out on a potential buy. I didn't bother looking at TSK's booth, and wanted to chat with Jeff Luman (since I bought a ball from him at Pomona), but just decided to get my feeders and get the heck out of Dodge. It's a shame for the sellers, as I had a fat stack of cash in my pocket.

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Originally Posted by MarkieJ

Just to echo Kymberli's thoughts about the crowds... it was ridiculous! I couldn't get a good look at ANY booth, and possibly missed out on a potential buy. I didn't bother looking at TSK's booth, and wanted to chat with Jeff Luman (since I bought a ball from him at Pomona), but just decided to get my feeders and get the heck out of Dodge. It's a shame for the sellers, as I had a fat stack of cash in my pocket.

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I heard it calmed down a few hours into the day, and I'm sure it was better on Sunday, but Saturday morning was insanity. Hopefully it went better for the sellers than it did for some of the potential buyers. :)

I almost went since i was in Phx this past weekend but decided not to...of course the last show i went to was pretty dead and im wondering if people are just staying away from shows and doing more breeding on their own or getting from reputable breeders instead. I know i have gotten more than half my stuff thru breeders online then at shows.

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Originally Posted by Kymberli

They're great but the normal gave me a heart attack the first night I had it home. They're in a melamine rack with 12qt tubs and I pulled its tub out to check on it.. pulled up all of the hides and it was gone! Then I realized it was under the aspen under the ceramic water bowl. :rolleyes: With a couple inches of aspen in a 12qt tub, these little noodles have a large range of space to hide in. These tiny snakes are going to be the end to my sanity. So easy to lose track of.

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Hahaha the exact same thing happened to me when I got my first snake (my creamsicle corn) years ago. I seriously thought she had managed to escape somehow and I dug out all of the aspen bedding and hides, etc and then ran around my apartment searching frantically... and then finally decided to lift up her water dish... and there she was, coiled up and looking at me like "wth I'm trying to sleep here" :P

Anyway, congrats on the new pickups!! They are absolutely gorgeous, and I have to agree that the albino is stunning :gj: I'm sure you haven't had the chance to handle them yet, but do they seem like typical flighty milks? The few I've had the pleasure of working with were the craziest snakes I've ever seen and never held still.

Also, that's so awesome that you're getting a BRB!! They are amazing snakes and I couldn't be happier with my little guy :love: Can't wait to see pics!!

Nice pick ups:gj:
Congrats

Congrats! Both are stunning little snakes. :) It's amazing that something so bright and colorful (the normal Nelson, not the albino) can survive in the wild, but that's batesian mimicry for you.

I've heard that milks are super nervous and active when handled. Are your two like this?

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Originally Posted by blushingball419

Hahaha the exact same thing happened to me when I got my first snake (my creamsicle corn) years ago. I seriously thought she had managed to escape somehow and I dug out all of the aspen bedding and hides, etc and then ran around my apartment searching frantically... and then finally decided to lift up her water dish... and there she was, coiled up and looking at me like "wth I'm trying to sleep here" :P

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Lol, yes, it's going to be difficult getting used to these ones. I am so used to my Ball Pythons who are always in their hides and are on paper towels as substrate, so I can't possible lose track of where they are. I have to do some digging around to find these thin little noodles.

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Originally Posted by West Coast Jungle

Nice pick ups:gj:
Congrats

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Thank you very much! :)

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Originally Posted by blushingball419

I'm sure you haven't had the chance to handle them yet, but do they seem like typical flighty milks? The few I've had the pleasure of working with were the craziest snakes I've ever seen and never held still.

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Originally Posted by SoFarAway

I've heard that milks are super nervous and active when handled. Are your two like this?

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I actually have handled them a couple times since bringing them home. Their previous owner said they have great feeding responses, so I didn't worry too much about stressing them out to the point of refusing food. The normal is much smaller (most likely younger) and is quite flighty. S/he hides under the substrate 24/7 and is very nervous when I pick it up, so I've kept the interaction with that one to a minimum. (Which is killing my younger brother, because I told him he could have that one as a graduation gift ;)) The Albino is much longer, most likely older, and is not as anxious to get away as the normal. Of course, it is much more active when being handled than my Ball Pythons are. When feeding, the Albino comes straight out of hiding to grab its food. The normal required me taking it to a separate tub to get it to eat, then tried to escape when putting it back, but they are both a bit calmer than I had expected.
I'm just not accustomed to their speed! They are insanely quick little snakes, it's shocking! I'd be afraid to drop one because they would be out of site in seconds!

Congrats! They are beautiful :)