Something's Different Here

[coolballsdave]

Hey everybody, I just wanted to show you all a few pictures of the latest addition to my collection. She hatched out about a week ago and is fresh out of the egg.

Do you see anything different?


What about here, anything different?


How about now?


Okay for anybody who didn't catch it here is the obvious picture

[angllady2]

Odd that her head is so narrow. I wonder why ? Do you anticipate it will cause any feeding problems, or is it too early to say?

Gale

[Mike41793]

Its like the bigger jaw muscles that should be at the back of her mouth are towards the front of her mouth

[coolballsdave]

Here is the story... Two years ago we rescued a very old snake. Her name is Harriet. She put on weight quick, so we bred her to our mojave. She laid 9 eggs and every one of them miscarried.

I credited the miscarriages to her age. I thought I'd give her one more chance to breed, and paired the same mojave with her this last breeding season. She laid 9 beautiful eggs. Six survived. We got two mojaves and 4 normals. This narrow headed mojave is one of the mojave's we got from her.

The reason why I tell you the mothers story is because I am pretty certain that, as with all animals, the older they get the more chance for failure during embryonic development. As such, this mojave is likely the result of non-lethal mitotic failure. I'm thinking there is a trisomy disease here such as trisomy 21 in humans (down syndrome).

She has never flicked her toungue and her behavior obviously points to mental retardation. She is a sweetheart but I still don't know if she can open and close her mouth.

Has anyone else seen this?

I'd love to hear your input!

[angllady2]

Poor little lamb.

What will you do with her if she can eat ? Especially if you believe she might be mentally imbalanced.

My heart aches for her, such a sweet little baby.

Gale

[Mike41793]

If she cant eat i would think that culling would be the humane option here

Ive never seen this before. I think your theory does make ALOT of sense though Dave

[coolballsdave]

Poor little lamb.

What will you do with her if she can eat ? Especially if you believe she might be mentally imbalanced.

My heart aches for her, such a sweet little baby.

Gale

She really is a sweet little baby. The clutch offspring are still together in their little tub and she is so different than the rest. She doesn't spend much time in the bunch pile with the others. She is very inquisitive but can't flick her little toungue. She has a sweet little spirit that's grabbed my heart. I will do whatever I can too keep her kicking. Even if it requires extra money and more effort.

[Punkymom]

Best of luck with her! I think you should name her Ducky.

[coolballsdave]

If she cant eat i would think that culling would be the humane option here

Ive never seen this before. I think your theory does make ALOT of sense though Dave

I hope it doesn't come to this, but if all is tried with no success I will not let her starve to death.

[coolballsdave]

Best of luck with her! I think you should name her Ducky.

Hah... that's perfect! Ducky it is!