First Official Lock (Also hello and thanks bp.net for helping me get here :p)

[d.gilly]

Hi all I've been checking out these forums for almost a year now but I only recently registered and I figured I'd share my great news with all you guys, it's nothing special but it's a step in the right direction! I have kept and worked with animals my entire life and I'm currently studying biology to hopefully continue down that path. I have always loved snakes but was never allowed to have one as my mom was terrified of the connotations behind a python or boa, she doesn't mind a Garter Snake slithering by her but it's still not coming in the house .

Well I haven't lived at home for a few years so after much research last summer I went to purchase either a male pastel or orange ghost from a small breeder in my area, I couldn't decide so he offered me a great deal on both so I took it. At this point breeding was just thought in the back of my head. A few months later and after lots of reading and thinking I decided breeding was something I at least wanted to try down the line so I purchased a female pastel het ghost and a female spider. Well a few months have passed and I now have 8 snakes and I'm sure it will be double that this time next year . I've learned a lot reading these forums and I've come to regret not paying enough attention to quality in my first purchase as well as buying 2 single gene males off the bat, but hey I wasn't thinking very far ahead at that point. Since then I've smartened up and picked up some stellar examples of a few more morphs such as a stellar Enchi male (with no spots ), a much nicer orange ghost male to replace the one I purchased initially and a female medium white sugar.

Okay I'll get to the point of this thread....Initially I had planned on this coming September to be the beginning of my first breeding season to allow me to grow out some younger males acquire a double gene male as well as a few more larger females that will potentially be ready for next year. I've begun to get my incubator and plans for a hatching rack together already (this might turn out to be a good thing). About a week ago I purchased a 2010 0.1 Sugar-1500 G and a 2010 0.1 Yellow Belly-1700 G. The previous owner was moving for a promotion and had to sell his collection, he had recently purchased a proven breeder orange dream and was pairing it too both females but had no observed locks. Well I was cleaning my male pastel's tub so I threw him in with the yellow belly so I didn't have to hold onto him, by the time I was done cleaning his tub he was all cuddled up to her so I decided to leave them for the night. The next day I woke up to this....


Initially the female yellow belly was laying on her tail so I couldn't see that well what was going on, even in this picture I had a hard time telling, however a few hours later they moved a little bit and it was quite obvious what was going on! I'm surprised anything came of it seeing as the female had recently been moved and it is so late in the season, I realize still nothing may come of this but I'm hoping she goes late this spring. I've tried to palpitate for follicles but haven't been able to feel anything, mind you I've never done it before and I'm quite new to this whole thing. My fingers are still crossed on a double sired clutch from
the Orange Dream .

Anyways Thanks for looking,

Cheers

[PigZilla50317]

Wow congratulations new friend and let me say a big Welcome to you and your Family.

[The Serpent Merchant]

Wait so you put one of your established snakes in with a new snake? That's a major no go. You need to quarantine new snakes at least 90 days before even thinking about doing something like that.

[d.gilly]

Haha I thought someone would bring up quarantining and your completely right, to be honest I wish I could quarantine but unfortunately I live in a one bedroom apartment, its really too small for separating new arrivals effectively, and anything in the living room or bedroom isn't ideal as the ambient temperature fluctuates greatly due to being heated by baseboards. My rack takes up essentially what is the only suitable available space around, a storage closet. I am aware this is not the most ideal situation and that a quarantine is really a necessary process but I can't see moving new arrivals 10 feet away making much of a difference for any snake related sicknesses past mites and even they can get pretty far. This leaves me in an unfortunate situation and I realize that it puts my whole collection at risk when I introduce a new snake. Thus I am left with the options of buying off of reputable breeders, and being very selective about who I purchase snakes from and hoping for the best.

I don't want to start an argument about quarantining, as from what I have read and come to understand is that short of having sealed off rooms or having them on separate floors and still being very careful about not mixing any equipment or moving from room to room there really aren't many other successful methods of reptile quarantine. If anyone had any ideas to how I can quarantine in an extremely small living area I would be all for hearing it.

I do however appreciate your advice and I agree with your comment.