our discussion from "head shots"

[Ch^4]

Originally Posted by infernalis

That one was here almost the whole two months, it had already been putting on some size.

I had them all housed in poly tote boxes each one with the business card taped to the lid so the bloodlines would not get mixed up. (hets all look alike, so if you mix them it's over)

That snake was trying to escape the tote, got its head wedged in the seam and then twisted it's own neck trying to free itself.

the escapee in the top picture (illustrated by the arrow) squeezed through one of the air holes in the cup.

It all started when I answered an ad for "non feeding snakes" sent me 17 ("junk" hets to him) for nothing more than the shipping fee. The day they arrived, I called him on the phone and said "I thought you told me they would not eat", he replied with "what do you mean" and I said they all just ate for me. I was then immediately asked if I would take on a couple thousand dollars worth of snakes, get them eating and return them.

In exchange for my efforts, I got to cherry pick a few snakes for myself.. Suddenly I found myself in the "snake whispering" business.

The following breeding season was when the huge numbers started.

Sneaky little buggers! Great story though, thanks for sharing!

Originally Posted by infernalis

It's really tough at first, but then (I hate to say it) you will grow thicker skin.

Wait until the day when you start finding the more unusual problems.

It happens, in nature they simply die and either become food or simply return to the soil.

Some babies will be born so deformed, you will wonder how it lived long enough to be born at all.

I saw a snake once that was born with no lower jaw, it died very shortly after it was born.

I have a snake here that was born with a deformed skull and only one eye, she eats fine, she seems to be doing alright, but I am already "braced for impact" if she does not make it to adulthood.

I think that this aspect of breeding will be the most difficult for me to overcome, once I start my project a couple years from now.

I'm glad to hear the one-eyed girl is alive and healthy! It would truly be a great thing if you manage to raise her through to adulthood...I wish more of the breeder's had as kind of a heart as you. I know this can't always be the case though and do not oppose their actions. I'd follow in your footsteps and try to give the little gal as good as life as possible too!