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Snakesitter
12-23-14, 02:37 PM
Back in September 2011, Living Gems choose several holdbacks from its 2014B litter -- our only one of that year.

Three years later, it is time to revisit those four snakes to determine who stays.

This will be a two-step process.

For the males, we will decide relatively quickly, with the winner joining the LGR lineup as breeder stock, and the runner-up either being promoted to “show snake” or retired to a pet owner, there to live out his days in serpent luxury.

For the females, after taking input from our customers, both will be bred once to see who produces the better babies as a final decision factor. After taking all of the data into account, the winner will join the LGR lineup as breeder stock, and the runner-up either be promoted to “show snake” or retired to a pet owner.

On the male side, here were our holdbacks at six months’ old:

Everest
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7186/7070627011_a81b1896fa_z.jpg

Kilimanjaro
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7107/7077895623_0eee12ec39_z.jpg

On the female side, again at six months’ old:

Heliodor
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7220/7067593685_8d1b1426c9_z.jpg

Morganite
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5080/6931505064_02dab64b89_z.jpg

A whopping 39 months, 99 meals, and 1750 grams later, here is what those same holdbacks look like....

[continued below...darn picture count limits!]

Snakesitter
12-23-14, 02:38 PM
[continued from above]

A whopping 39 months, 99 meals, and 1750 grams later, here is what those same holdbacks look like. For each animal, the first picture is at age two and a half, and the second one is at age three (looking at the shots now, it seems the camera settings were different between the two sets, so I’ve included both for comparison):

Everest
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7507/15463314954_53ea2ffdfc_z.jpg
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8580/16085619085_f2f1b83d07_z.jpg

Kilimanjaro
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8666/16083722411_3003569e3a_z.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7465/16085639635_9a89e0f166_z.jpg

Heliodor
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7580/15899840667_f31757334e_z.jpg
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8615/15465937343_75c8b0e52d_z.jpg

Morganite
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7519/16084921832_56b1b46e90_z.jpg
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8614/15465966243_2c940959f0_z.jpg

On the males I’m torn. For looks, the two are roughly equal; for personality, Everest is friendlier, but Kilimanjaro has a bit of an “attitude” that might make him an excellent breeder.

On the females, I think Morganite lived up to her potential better. Heliodor is a beautiful animal, and friendly to a fault…but seems to be a slightly less pretty adult. However, she was the more stunning baby, and when crossed with the right male may produce killer kids.

So…looking at the pictures and notes, what do our customers say?

Thank you, as always, for reading.

Minkness
12-23-14, 02:47 PM
Not to sound rude, I just don't have the eye to tell the difference. They are all AMAZING critters though! When I am ready to offer a luxury home to a BRB I know who I'm buying from o.o

Daaaaang those are pretty.....

SnoopySnake
12-23-14, 03:42 PM
I really like Morganite and Kilimanjaro! :)

millertime89
12-23-14, 06:35 PM
I really like Morganite and Kilimanjaro! :)

I second this. I think they turned out the best.

shaunyboy
12-23-14, 08:06 PM
all turned out to be great looking snakes mate...

for me Morganite stands out from the others,she's my favorite...

Helidor is a close 2nd

cheers shaun

kwhitlock
12-24-14, 05:31 AM
Personally I love Kilimanjaro, his dorsal patterns and his side patterns look incredibly clean and he has to me just the right amount of shine to him! Morganite is a stunner as well.

sharthun
12-24-14, 10:21 AM
Wow Cliff! beautiful!!!

Snakesitter
12-24-14, 04:32 PM
Thanks Minkness! It *is* a tough choice! And we will be here whenever you are ready -- if you've not liked our Facebook Page, it is a good way to keep tabs on our babies!

Snakesitter
12-24-14, 04:33 PM
Thank you, Snoopy!

Snakesitter
12-24-14, 04:35 PM
Thank you, Kyle!

Snakesitter
12-24-14, 04:36 PM
Thanks Shaun -- always great to have top females, so no complaints there lol!

Snakesitter
12-24-14, 04:36 PM
Thank you, Kevin!

Snakesitter
12-24-14, 04:37 PM
Thank you, Steve!

Snakesitter
12-24-14, 04:38 PM
Interesting how the votes so far have been consistently for K&M. :-)

bigsnakegirl785
12-30-14, 05:23 PM
I love the darkness of Heliodor and Everest, but they're all so gorgeous, it's difficult.

Snakesitter
12-31-14, 03:36 PM
Thank you, BSG -- and I know what you mean!!!