New Girl!

[Rogue628]

I wasn't going to do it. I promise I wasn't going to get another animal until I got my retic (eggs were cut the other day....) but I just couldn't pass up the chance to actually see them, hold them, and interact with them. I went prepared to get one, but knew that if I felt it just wasn't the right animal for me, there would always be another chance later.

The guy brought out the girls he had. Two of them were a bit jumpy and one was showing a little bit of defense. However, the one girl that immediately caught my eye was just kind of doing her own thing, not being bothered by the big humans that were handling her. She showed no fear, no defensiveness or anything. It wasn't until after I saw a bit of her personality that I noticed her colors and pattern.

OMG is this girl stunning to me! Now, I don't know much about the different morphs of the borneos or bloods, but this girl has a really long stripe down her back with colors that just screamed at me, as well as some speckling toward her belly. The guy says she's het for granite, but I don't know enough to begin to know if he told the truth lol. I don't care but if it's a visual trait, I'd like to know if that's what makes her look like she does.

Anyway....without further ado, meet my new little one. She's unnamed but I'm open to suggestions. Right now I have her in a tub I hope is small enough as from what I understand, they like small spaces at this age. I'll offer food tomorrow since she is due to eat. Then I'll let her settle in better before any more handling sessions. But she promises to be a great pleasure to have and work with. :)

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g191/SVRogue/20130217_175800_zps0c92c494.jpg

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g191/SVRogue/20130217_175809_zps001c2b1f.jpg

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g191/SVRogue/20130217_175749_zps1bec159e.jpg

[marvelfreak]

Very nice. Not sure about the het Granite but loss like some kind of striped Borneo.

[Ms. Medusa]

She definitely is a real looker! Congratz!

[guyabano]

Beautiful specimen, dude.

[Trent]

Congrats!!

[Aaron_S]

Nice borneo short-tail! I'm a sucker for the pinky/peach coloured cheeks.

As for the stripe, I believe yours just has a wicked cool stripe. I don't think it's genetic in the sense of recessive, co-dom or dom.

There is a genetic stripe borneo mutation though. I don't think yours is it but I could be wrong.

[aaron_cg]

That's very pretty!

[Rogue628]

Thanks! A couple of breeders on the blood forum to which I belong say shes definitely het for granite....the speckling is a true visual of the gene. They agree shes quite a looker with that stripe (not genetic), clean pattern and the het gene. I think shes the most beautiful animal Ive owned to date. Ive never had one with such coloration and lines. I hope her disposition and temperament will become as beautiful as she is. :)

I cant believe how lucky I was to find her so close by and at such a steal!

[Rogue628]

Success!!! She ate for me and its only been 24hrs since I claimed her!

[marvelfreak]

Success!!! She ate for me and its only been 24hrs since I claimed her!
Congrats! What did you feed her?

[Rogue628]

I fed her two fuzzy rats which was the closest I could find to appropriate size. Didnt leave a bump that I can see either :shocked:

[marvelfreak]

I fed her two fuzzy rats which was the closest I could find to appropriate size. Didnt leave a bump that I can see either :shocked:

Takes quite a bit to leave a bump with Bloods.

[Rogue628]

They looked like two would leave something. I cant even tell she ate. :( Ive found another food source Im going to call tomorrow that has a better variety than my current one for f/t so I hope next feeding Ill have something more size appropriate. Going off what Ive told what do you suggest? And how quickly do they move up in food size?

[cossiecraig]

Congrats :)

[Terranaut]

She makes me wish you had a better camera ;)
Very nice!!

[Rogue628]

Terranaut, they were quickly taken with my cell phone. When she's more settled in, I'll take some better pics. :)

[marvelfreak]

They looked like two would leave something. I cant even tell she ate. :( Ive found another food source Im going to call tomorrow that has a better variety than my current one for f/t so I hope next feeding Ill have something more size appropriate. Going off what Ive told what do you suggest? And how quickly do they move up in food size?
From what you said and the size of her in the pictures i would say she should be able to take a small rat no problem. Mine reds moved from rat pups up to med in the first year and were eating a large some times two by a year and a half old. How old and how long is she?

[Rogue628]

I'm guessing she's close to 6 months of age. The guy I got her from only had her for about 3 months. She was part of a breeding project he wanted to do, but was too busy with his other breeding endeavors and decided to get rid of the borneos (1.3 total) He got her from a breeder in OKC...I had met him at the reptile expo I went to....but the guy I got her from is not clear on her exact age. (I think that's weird, especially coming from a guy who's breeding...) The squares in the pictures are 9x9 so I'm guessing she's around a 18' or so long. If she can take a small rat, then I've underestimated what size prey these little ones can take.

What's the general rule of thumb for these guys when eyeballing prey size? 1 1/2 times their size or larger?

[marvelfreak]

What's the general rule of thumb for these guys when eyeballing prey size? 1 1/2 times their size or larger?
This is what i do sometimes even a little bigger. If she six months she should be able to take a small or maybe even a medium.

[Rogue628]

Doesn't she look a little on the small size for that age though or is she about right? I'm definitely getting her a small adult next week and see how that goes. Even if she's a little undersized, it definitely wouldn't hurt!

[marvelfreak]

Doesn't she look a little on the small size for that age though or is she about right? I'm definitely getting her a small adult next week and see how that goes. Even if she's a little undersized, it definitely wouldn't hurt!
Yeah she does look a bit thin for that age.

[Rogue628]

Then I'll do my best to get her to her proper size! :D

[marvelfreak]

Then I'll do my best to get her to her proper size! :D

I am sure you'll have her at heathy weight in no time.

[Metalserpent]

Nice pick up. We love the Borneos.

[Aaron_S]

Doesn't she look a little on the small size for that age though or is she about right? I'm definitely getting her a small adult next week and see how that goes. Even if she's a little undersized, it definitely wouldn't hurt!

She actually looks healthy to me. Not thin at all.

Everyone needs to realize they aren't meant to be porkers but a nice, robust snake.