Eyeless Piebald Clutch

[mykee]

I have no issue with not throwing an eyeless snake in the freezer, but breeding an eyeless snake is terribly irresponsible.
To toss that additional issue into an already compromised gene pool is deplorable.

[Mike41793]

I have no issue with not throwing an eyeless snake in the freezer, but breeding an eyeless snake is terribly irresponsible.
To toss that additional issue into an already compromised gene pool is deplorable.

Freezing shouldn't be used to cull snakes. There are more humane methods.

[dillan2020]

It was a very hot summer in the states this year i wonder if that contributed to all the eyeless clutches that seem to be popping up.

[mykee]

Do you guys incubate your eggs in the backyard?
I incubate my eggs in an incubator where I control the temps, not the environment...

[don15681]

I had a clutch a few years ago that had one eyes no eyes and some with eyes. my incubator had stable temps, not saying that temp spikes couldn't cause this condition, I talked to a lot of breeders in my area that been breeding snakes for decades. many things can cause this. you will never know for sure. they all said I had a weak clutch, it happens. never got the eyeless snakes to feed. there were more issues than no eyes. just because mine wouldn't feed, and I tried, even assist feeding. doesn't mean yours won't. the female was a normal breed to a lesser. this is the first year that I placed a male back in with her, she now has 24mm follicles and hopefully has a healthy clutch in a few months. I did breed the male lesser after that without any issues. I could of breed the same 2 snakes again and never have another problem or they might not of been compatible with each other raising the risk of defects. good luck with your hatchlings, I hope everything turns out well. Don

[satomi325]

Do you guys incubate your eggs in the backyard?
I incubate my eggs in an incubator where I control the temps, not the environment...

Not saying the OP did this, but many members do maternal incubation.
Not all maternally incubated eggs are as controlled as in an incubator. Not to mention, I doubt Africa is a place where the temps stay the same for 60 days.

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breeding an eyeless snake is terribly irresponsible.
To toss that additional issue into an already compromised gene pool is deplorable.

I doubt anyone will breed an eyeless snake based on ethics. But if incubation is the cause of eyelessness, then it wouldn't matter if it breeds since it isn't heritable. However, heritable eyeless snakes are a different matter....

[reptileexperts]

Breeding non-eyed snakes is not heritable, so it is not an irrespondsible act. It's letting these snakes have a full and healthy life, while giving them the opportunity to continue their genes existence. The Culling of snakes should not be done in instances where they have a great chance at a healthy life. There has been many hognose snakes pop up this month with no eyes or one eye. It seems to be something that is happening nationwide right now. When I picked up my new albinos recently, I got to see some of the defected offspring. A local breeder here produced a 1 eyed Albino hog, and the same week, a breeder with the same lines of snakes up north in Dallas, produced a no eyed hog. Snake eats, drinks, and thrives. There are plenty of people who would love to provide a caring home for a no eyed snake, they make the sweetest pets, and can be powerful ambassadors to the benefit of the reptile community.

[DooLittle]

This ^^ I would actually like to have one with no eyes, I have a soft spot for the animals that need extra love. . I would welcome one to my collection. I only have breeding plans for half of them, other half purely pets, so it wouldn't matter to me. Especially an eyeless pied, as I would like a pied, but have zero intentions of any sort of recessive breeding projects. So who's to say they can't thrive and find great homes?

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[angllady2]

I have a number of eyeless snakes. One adult and three babies. It does seem to be quite prevalent this season, but I think it's more due to increased flow of information, and perhaps a reduction in the stigma attached to hatching less than perfect snakes making people talk about them more than any real issue.

While some low-lifes will always cull an imperfect animal no matter how minor the flaw, if the snake can feed and shed and defecate and grow normally, I see no good reason to end it's life. Heaven knows I adore my adult female eyeless, and she makes a great ambassador for people who are uncomfortable with snakes.

Of course the decision is yours to make, but I do sincerely hope you will at least give the babies a chance to see if they can thrive or not. Believe it or not, there are a number of people who are willing to give these wonderful animals a home if you decide not to keep them. Several do educational programs with them, and many just want a companion animal.

There are arguments on both sides for breeding these animals or not breeding them. I think it would be mostly a matter of personal choice. If I do decide to adopt my eyeless babies instead of keeping them, I am going to request the adopters not breed them. Of course, I have no way of making sure they do not, but I believe by voicing my thoughts on why they should not be bred, I can get a good idea if potential adopters will or will not breed. I have been asked a number of times about breeding my eyeless adult. And while I believe her condition was caused by an incubation issue and should not be passed on to her offspring, I personally choose not to breed her. I have other breedable females in my collection, and I am not comfortable with the risk however small it might be, of harming her or her potential babies. There is simply no need for me to try and breed her.

I know how you feel about this clutch. One moment so excited and thrilled, and the next your hopes dashed and the crushing burden of guilt that comes with any problem with a hatchling. The endless questions that follow. Did I do something wrong? Could I have prevented this? Should I breed these animals again or not? What will I do if the babies can't survive on their own? Should I tell people this happened? What kind of person/breeder will they think I am if I do tell? Oh believe me I know. The eyeless babies I hatched came from my favorite female. I bred her to my fire male, and I was so excited to get babies from her. I just knew they'd be beautiful. And the first three were everything I had hoped for. Then that first baby with no eyes poked it's head out. I was devastated. Then a second one. Then a third. After everything I had waited and hoped for, to have that happen was almost to much to bear. However, since I was fortunate enough to have adopted an eyeless baby and watch her grow to adulthood, I was a little bit better equipped to deal with it than most, so my babies and I are learning together. If everything goes well, and they continue to feed well, then I will make the choice to keep them or adopt them to the wonderful and willing people here who have already expressed interest in them.

I wish you and your babies all the best.

Gale

[mbgirl17]

I hope they do well for you!