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My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
I first started pairing this girl in early September, and have gotten many locks in since then. The pairing is a 1.0 banana yellowbelly to a 0.1 pastel het VPI axanthic. Hoping for pastel bananas, mostly! That poss het axanthic might also make for some cool breeders if they prove out (banana axanthic looks cool tbh)
Here’s one of their more recent locks:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...f625b163d8.jpg
She started showing a visible build around January 26th, and that’s also around the time she went off of food. I haven’t really seen much of the “cool seeking” but for a short while she kept pushing her water bowl into the back of the tub.
Here’s when I first noticed the build:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...cafad48cf2.jpg
Versus today:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...1a2351e374.jpg
I know there isn’t any “set” timeline, but would anyone have a guess as to how long it could be until she ovulates, based on the given info? I’m getting so antsy waiting for that big moment!
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
She ovulated on the 26th [emoji16]
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...05702be556.jpg
I’m hoping she lays a nice perfect clutch for me! So excited!
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
Another update on this gal! She’s now going into her prelay shed [emoji16]
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...45e2c6d4f0.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...7334fd0b2e.jpg
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Looks great. Very exciting!
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...719bf8e9b5.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...5ac9317411.jpg
She shed, right on schedule! Didn’t come off all in one piece but it wasn’t stuck shed either... so I guess that’s good!
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
This girl was due today, and looks to be working on moving her eggs down to her cloaca as of right now. She’s been a bit restless as well.
There appears to be a vaguely egg-shaped lump near her tail end, anyways:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...be0beaf25d.jpg
A bit closer pic:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...07a4cbdd38.jpg
Hopefully I’ll wake up to her being coiled on a pile of pearly whites in the morning!
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
Still nothing from her. She did pass some urates yesterday (which we cleaned up of course) and a couple days ago I did the “tilt trick” where you flip the female from head up to head down to see the eggs moving.
I did indeed see eggs moving, it was pretty weird to watch since her tail would shrink drastically when facing head down. She’s holding out on me though [emoji23]
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...907f32cd7a.jpg
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
We finally have eggs!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...6e42529324.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...7d3e1b5177.jpg
8 pearly whites, no slugs! All had good veins and they’re now in the incubator.
Momma has been cleaned off and swapped with another female’s tub with fresh bedding. Hopefully she doesn’t give me too much trouble going back on food [emoji23]
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
Nice!
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
She took a small rat for me right away so I think getting her back up to weight for next season won’t be an issue. Woo! [emoji16]
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...553a76f3a1.jpg
Two of the eggs looks to have gone bad. The top one I’m holding started smelling rotten and there’s no visible veins inside (though it’s reddish colored) and the bottom one looks yellow inside like there were no veins to begin with.
The other eggs are doing great, and have strong visible veins. I somehow put a hole in one while drying off a bit of water a week or so ago and put a bandaid on it, and it’s still doing good. I’ll be happy with 6 babies from this clutch!
I also removed the press n seal I was using since I’ve heard it was unnecessary.
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
A third one went bad, but looking at the embryo inside it doesn’t seem to be horribly deformed or anything. So I don’t think it died due to anything I did.
I think the reason the survival rate has been a little lower is because the male is younger... his sperm probably wasn’t as strong. He started breeding at around 500 grams, but is nearly 800 grams now.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...9b8f39cc36.jpg
Hopefully posting these pictures of the contents is okay. They’re kinda grody!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...515706e806.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...c381bff671.jpg
The remaining eggs still look healthy with solid veins, so with them being at day 40 I am confident they will all make it to term.
The other clutch I have in there from a proven breeder super mystic male x butter female are nearly 4 weeks in and are healthy as can be. Which is why I suspect my little banana yellowbelly male just wasn’t packing enough quite yet [emoji23]
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
An update!
I cut the eggs on day 53, and unfortunately it looks like 2 more weren’t viable and died shortly after. One had severe kinking in the neck and tail.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...c5b0bb33ed.jpg
The other only seemed to have a kink in the tail:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...28c3da0b82.jpg
The remaining 3 are still alive and came out of the eggs on their own, and are now set up in a tub until they shed:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...cdbe4e99ff.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...aa54c335e0.jpg
All 3 have slight kinking and deformities right before the vent, so I don’t think it would be wise to breed them.
I believe one is a pastel yellowbelly, and the other two bananas (I’m not sure if either have yellowbelly as well, but I’ll be taking a closer look once they have their first sheds)
The pastel yellowbelly will be going to my sister as a pet only, and I will likely sell the others as pet only as well.
I believe this clutch had so many problems due to me messing with them too much. I’m going to take this as a learning experience and be a little more mindful on how often I check the eggs.
I still have another clutch in the incubator that is still healthy. They’re on day 46 and only have just started having some eggs dimpling (though I believe it’s due to being close to hatch day and not because of any issues, I’ve candled the eggs and they all still have good veins)
I also have two more clutches on the way, so not all is lost. I have plenty of chances to get it right! [emoji16]
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
Best you can do is leave those eggs alone, kinking issues are caused by fluctuating temperatures during incubation. I would not cut your other clutches until you see the first one peep. Cut day depends on the temperature you set your incubator to. I believe you had a viable clutch that had to overcome human error. I'm sorry but it should not be down to i'll have plenty of practice to get it right, these are living beings. Good luck in the future.
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
Thanks for twisting my words into something it wasn’t.
I do care a lot about these animals and I feel horrible that they came out the way they did. Especially since I’ve realized I did the one thing I had kept telling myself not to. Don’t mess with the eggs. I learned the hard way and will now be more careful with the remaining clutches I have coming.
Rather than throw a pity party and play the “woe is me” game, I’m trying to be more upbeat with myself and keep my eyes forward.
I did not say I have “more chances” as if I was being careless. I want to get things right and make sure I’m doing what’s best for the eggs.
I already planned to wait until at least the first egg pips with the other clutch, and was going to do the same with the others.
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
Quote:
Originally Posted by trnreptiles
Thanks for twisting my words into something it wasn’t.
I do care a lot about these animals and I feel horrible that they came out the way they did. Especially since I’ve realized I did the one thing I had kept telling myself not to. Don’t mess with the eggs. I learned the hard way and will now be more careful with the remaining clutches I have coming.
Rather than throw a pity party and play the “woe is me” game, I’m trying to be more upbeat with myself and keep my eyes forward.
I did not say I have “more chances” as if I was being careless. I want to get things right and make sure I’m doing what’s best for the eggs.
I already planned to wait until at least the first egg pips with the other clutch, and was going to do the same with the others.
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A medic once once told me. Unfortunately, To get good a few people might have to die. Mistakes are part of life and ok. As long as you learn from them. I hope to start breeding in a couple of years.
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
I appreciate the kind words. It’s not like I’m disregarding these snakes as living creatures at all, it came down to me making a rookie mistake that I know plenty of others have as well.
I’m just not gonna let it deter me from moving forward, which from what I’ve heard unfortunately happens with a lot of newbies. Something goes wrong and then they give up and sell off their collection.
I’m not gonna be one of those people. That’s all.
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My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
Last update on this...
the only baby that ended up surviving was this little banana male. We named him Kichi. He’s shed twice now. I’ve had to assist feed him two times, the first time was nearly a force feed (I had to shove the rat pink all the way down, just far enough for his mouth to close) and the second time he actually ate it on his own without me having to push it in too far. He was able to pass the first one without issue so I think his digestive track is functioning as intended.
I will note that I attempted several feedings between the two assist feedings, waiting a few days between each offering. I did leave a live rat pup in overnight a few times, and even a mouse hopper once or twice. He did not show any interest in either, and at times would be looking to escape his tub like he was scared of it.
I’m hoping he will start strike feeding on his own soon, I hate assist feeding. He’s a really sweet snake though and seems to be doing great even with the tiny kink in his spine right before the vent.
Natural sunlight through the window
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...4cc9f779c9.jpg
His little poop
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...d77ebb9f3b.jpg
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
Absolutely stunning !!
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My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
For what it’s worth I used the natural method and just left mum on the eggs under a hide on the warm side of her viv ( huge viv ) .. I surrounded the hide and under the edges with moss and sprayed it daily . All five hatched and survived perfectly.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...3ff2fdc1b0.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...4f1f7b1b3d.jpg
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zincubus
For what it’s worth I used the natural method and just left mum on the eggs under a hide on the warm side of her viv ( huge viv ) .. I surrounded the hide and under the edges with moss and sprayed it daily . All five hatched and survived perfectly.
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Did you have a maternal incubation thread started by any chance showing your progress? Would love to check it out!
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zincubus
I feel like I would mess up maternal incubation somehow, which is why I’m real hesitant to try it. Otherwise I would just do it all natural haha. It’s definitely a valid way to do things if you are able to pull it off correctly and give the female the proper conditions for it.
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
Quote:
Originally Posted by trnreptiles
I feel like I would mess up maternal incubation somehow, which is why I’m real hesitant to try it. Otherwise I would just do it all natural haha. It’s definitely a valid way to do things if you are able to pull it off correctly and give the female the proper conditions for it.
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Well she was lying over the eggs , under the warm hide ... I checked the temps with a temp gun and they were fluctuating between 88F and 92F so I put a good layer of damp moss all around the hide and a under the edge then kept it damp by regular spraying .. that was it ..
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My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
Another update!
I’ve assist fed this little guy two more times:
- Second time I only had to push the prey item about halfway down before he took it on his own
- Today, the third time, I did not have to push it in at all. I just placed it in his mouth, set him down, and he got to work all on his own. He even wrapped it up after a few seconds!
The rat pink wasn’t all the way dead so I think the pink’s heartbeat triggered him to wrap it.
Here’s a timelapse I posted of him eating, though I had stopped it since he coiled it up:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFAlynYs...=1btbmdlf0tmi0
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...ece7a0fa85.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...8bb0424b61.jpg
He’s making such good progress and I’m so happy!
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My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
Great news !!!
Are you feeding evenings ..
Now you’re making progress maybe next time consider feeding in dim light - wait until it’s settled under a hide and give the rat pinky a good blast with a hairdryer then instantly dangle it in front of the hide entrance. ..
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
I’ve offered in the evenings, overnight, in the mornings... hasn’t made much of a difference with him yet. He does have a hide so I’ll see if that trick works on getting him to strike feed, if I can’t get him to do it using my normal methods.
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
Quote:
Originally Posted by trnreptiles
I’ve offered in the evenings, overnight, in the mornings... hasn’t made much of a difference with him yet. He does have a hide so I’ll see if that trick works on getting him to strike feed, if I can’t get him to do it using my normal methods.
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Thing is they are nocturnal and as such hunt / feed in the evenings. Their heat pits kick in better in low/dim light plus they’re more confident on general in dimmer light . Switch a bright room light on and they all disappear out of sight .
Incidentally all my Royals will only strike from under their hide ..
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
I have over 20 ball pythons and have no issues feeding them in the afternoon when there’s still light out. Mine don’t ever refuse food except a few individuals when they’re in shed, and during known reasons such as the breeding season.
All of my other hatchlings besides two have had to be assist fed so far. The rest have taken at least 1-2 or more meals.
I also feed live, which is controversial in itself but I will not argue about that.
What works for you is fine, and you should keep doing that... but don’t make judgments on others for doing it differently if it works for them, and their snakes are healthy.
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My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
Quote:
Originally Posted by trnreptiles
I have over 20 ball pythons and have no issues feeding them in the afternoon when there’s still light out. Mine don’t ever refuse food except a few individuals when they’re in shed, and during known reasons such as the breeding season.
All of my other hatchlings besides two have had to be assist fed so far. The rest have taken at least 1-2 or more meals.
I also feed live, which is controversial in itself but I will not argue about that.
What works for you is fine, and you should keep doing that... but don’t make judgments on others for doing it differently if it works for them, and their snakes are healthy.
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Who’s making judgments ??
Certainly not me ... last time I looked Royals were regarded as shy and reclusive, nocturnal species so I’d say my comments were fine .
Mine don’t even show their faces until around 7pm so it makes perfect sense yo feed them when they are alert ..
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
Perhaps I was being a little too defensive there, I’m sorry. I’ve dealt with a lot of people in this hobby that would jump on the opportunity to attack me for doing something differently lol
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
Quote:
Originally Posted by trnreptiles
Perhaps I was being a little too defensive there, I’m sorry. I’ve dealt with a lot of people in this hobby that would jump on the opportunity to attack me for doing something differently lol
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No worries .. I’m more defensive than anyone around :)
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So basically you went headfirst into breeding with no training or experience and killed a bunch of snakes in the process. A+ job.
This is why we need rein in the breeding trend. These inexperienced keepers think it'll be cool or profitable to breed snakes and have no idea what they're doing which just leads to dead snakes or snakes with issues that end up being sold and bred to create more issues. The fact that you're so okay with just one surviving baby is disgusting to me.
And no, we're not "jumping on you for doing something differently". We're jumping on you for doing things that endanger living animals. Snake keeping isn't art, you don't get to have your own unique spin on it. They have very specific needs and if you don't meet them properly you don't deserve to own snakes. Your mishandling of this clutch and the fact that you feed live despite knowing it poses a danger to the snakes is absolutely unacceptable.
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
Wow. One clutch went bad, I’m the most horrible person in existence now.
Yet my second clutch is healthy and all eating. My third and fourth clutches are doing great in the incubator and should be hatching soon.
What’s disgusting is your accusations and judgments towards me as a person. I was and still am absolutely devastated that most of the clutch didn’t make it, why can’t I be happy that at least one baby survived and is doing well?
Somehow I “don’t care” because I’m not letting it ruin my motivation and love for these animals?
I could have sold my entire collection and quit on the spot because I failed, but instead I chose to take it in stride and learn from my mistakes. Not everyone gets it right the first time. Stop acting like you’re so much better, it makes you look like a prick.
Either be respectful in sharing your knowledge and what your opinions are, or don’t bother talking to me at all. I don’t listen to people who use insults and ad hominem attacks to try and convince me differently.
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Namea
So basically you went headfirst into breeding with no training or experience and killed a bunch of snakes in the process. A+ job.
This is why we need rein in the breeding trend. These inexperienced keepers think it'll be cool or profitable to breed snakes and have no idea what they're doing which just leads to dead snakes or snakes with issues that end up being sold and bred to create more issues. The fact that you're so okay with just one surviving baby is disgusting to me.
And no, we're not "jumping on you for doing something differently". We're jumping on you for doing things that endanger living animals. Snake keeping isn't art, you don't get to have your own unique spin on it. They have very specific needs and if you don't meet them properly you don't deserve to own snakes. Your mishandling of this clutch and the fact that you feed live despite knowing it poses a danger to the snakes is absolutely unacceptable.
Are you sure you can actually see any of us here from all the way up there on that high horse of yours...?
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
And for the record — I am well aware of the risks associated with live feeding. Hence why I don’t feed anything larger than a weaned/small rat, and why I closely supervise each and every snake I feed, so I can be quick to intervene in the case of a bad strike.
The only time I leave a rodent unsupervised is with young rodents such as rat pups or mouse hoppers, because I know those can’t hurt the snake.
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Bro your on the right track, most people don’t get it perfect the very first time. How do u get any experience if u don’t do it. You don’t do everything that I do and I’m ok with u as long as the animal is being treated right, most people would have just lied about it if they had this happen. So I see the right thing being done when u said u can do things better and learn from it
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Danger noodles
Bro your on the right track, most people don’t get it perfect the very first time. How do u get any experience if u don’t do it. You don’t do everything that I do and I’m ok with u as long as the animal is being treated right, most people would have just lied about it if they had this happen. So I see the right thing being done when u said u can do things better and learn from it
Thanks man. I did do a ton of research and planning ahead of time before I jumped into breeding, so it’s not like I didn’t have a single clue what I was doing.
And the thing is, I’m still not 100% sure if the babies not making it was because I was checking on the eggs too often. I wasn’t checking them like every day, but it was more like once a week or so. A bit more often when I was monitoring the dying eggs, but still.
I’ve learned to just “forget” about them, now I only check a week in to make sure they’re still good, and then at 30 days, and again closer to hatch date to monitor them.
My tiny 3 egg clutch from my pewter female that’s due to hatch in the 29th of this month has started dimpling, which is expected, but the eggs are still healthy.
My nice 10 egg clutch from my spider female are also doing great, and they’re due to hatch on October 13th.
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...3ba56dce2b.jpg
Speaking of, Charlie’s clutch just started pipping yesterday.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...086436a3d1.jpg
All look healthy and beautiful! Charlie is a pewter, and she was paired to Peanut, my butter spinner.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...97399cafa8.jpg
The first one to pip was also the first one out, and it’s a little boy. I think he’s a butter spider.
The other two I believe are a cinnamon pastel spider, and a pastel butter spinner. Just guesses based on some research I did [emoji23]
Gwen’s clutch is also still doing fine, all 10 eggs are healthy with good veins. Some are dimpling, but they are on day 44 now so I know it’s just because we’re getting closer to their hatch day.
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...fbe9b5daf2.jpg
Last clutch started pipping today.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...aecaad9976.jpg
So we cut all of the eggs, and all the babies look healthy as can be. Got plenty of bananas!
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Re: My first attempts at breeding are going well, I think!
Another update!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...b5cda16abc.jpg
These three shed out and look absolutely gorgeous! Cream, the one on the right, took a rat pup as her first meal already.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...338db68bd9.jpg
All of Gwen’s babies have hatched out! 10 healthy little noodles!
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...d78d5d8f77.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...6ea58d150f.jpg
Separated them into two tubs so they wouldn’t be overcrowded. Will give one last update once they shed out, as I’ll likely need help identifying if any of them have yellowbelly.
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