Sylphie's first clutch of Russian Rat Snakes

Sylphie · 03-30-16, 03:47 AM

It already started, the first egg is here, so I guess that I can start a thread now.
The lock was on 17 February, the pairing was Artemis (normal) x Orion (melanistic), so all babies will be normal het. melanistic.

It was the frist time for both of them, and for me, and let's just say that was a crazy journey...

She shed on 12 March, but I'm not sure why I was soo sure that the lock was a few days before that shed, and waited for a second shed as a pre-lay shed... three days ago she started to wander a lot in her cage, and I was still headstrong about her needing to shed the pre-lay shed... Fortunately yesterday evening I decided to check the dates again and noticed that, oh gosh, she should lay a few days ago, no wonder that she's sooo active. We gave her laying box asap, and today morning I noticed the first healthy egg.

But! That's not the end of crazy mistakes.
She decided to "rearrange" her laying box, opened the lid and trashed it away. I guess she prefered the open space to lay, but... won't eggs dry without a closed lid before she'll manage to lay them all? The substrate is vermiculit + water, but the whole tank is rather room-dry (I guess around 40% humidity). Now I'm really afraid, but I don't want to stress her out and cause egg bound with messing in her tank... I guess we just need to wait and see.

I'll post pic as soon as I can, but man, I certainly learned a few things, and it's only the beginning

Sylphie · 03-30-16, 06:39 AM

One quick pic while we checked how she's doing. Excuse the mess!

Albert Clark · 03-30-16, 09:39 AM

Congrats Sylph! Great news. I agree, I wouldn't disturb her while she is laying. As soon as it's over (egg laying) then you can go in and collect the eggs and set them up properly.

Sylphie · 03-30-16, 09:51 AM

Thank you! We're very happy

She now laid 6 eggs, and looks like she has at least 2 more. For now all are looking to be fertile and healthy, so fingers crossed!

And yes, I talked with a breeder of them, one of his females laid in open box too and eggs were fine, so I'm calmer now.

Albert Clark · 03-30-16, 10:01 AM

Ok. Good luck and keep us updated!

eminart · 03-30-16, 10:14 AM

Exciting!

Can I have one.

Sylphie · 03-30-16, 10:43 AM

Eminart, sure! I don't know how I'll transport it to USA, but well, we'll work something out

I'm already having people from UK, France and Italy that want babies too, so USA isn't much harder, hahaha!

eminart · 03-30-16, 11:04 AM

They're beautiful snakes. We don't see many of those over here. Keep us updated on their progress.

toddnbecka · 03-31-16, 12:28 AM

WooHoo, there be baby sneks in them shells, lol. Good luck with the incubating and hatching.

Sylphie · 03-31-16, 05:16 AM

Eminart, I will for sure!

toddnbecka, thank you!

Final score is 9 good eggs and one slug (but I put it in incubator too, I can always throw it after few days). I guess it's a pretty good amount for a first time breeding pair.
Poor Artemis went to sleep immediately after laying her last egg, I guess she was very tired. She'll now be on a fattening-up diet, but I must say that she doesn't seem to lose a lot of it, which is a good thing.

Here is the pic of eggs, incubation temp is 80F, and the long wait begins

In the meanwhile I need to find someone who'll teach me how to probe baby snakes...

Piggybuns · 03-31-16, 03:01 PM

Probing is something I've been afraid of, I went by my corn girl's tail and scales when I looked up a quick tutorial on it. D. I don't have a probe and even if I did I'd be afraid of poking wrong! XD Good luck if you do!

So cuuute! Good luck on the babies!

Sylphie · 03-31-16, 03:10 PM

Thank you Piggybuns!

We're already having a waiting list with people all over the globe (Italy, France, Finland, Canada, UK)... now I need to find some way to ship the snakes, as we're not having any reptile couriers in my country

It's funny how Russians are one of the less wanted snakes in my country and super desirable in other countries. I really didn't expect it, haha!

Albert Clark · 03-31-16, 03:27 PM

Sylph, congrats again. Much easier to "pop" a hatchling than to "probe" one. Much safer too.

Sylphie · 03-31-16, 03:32 PM

Albert, thank you! I don't know why but I'm more afraid of popping... It just looks more complicated... but I have time to find some breeder that will be able to teach me how to sex the baby snakes

trailblazer295 · 03-31-16, 03:41 PM

Good luck on the turn out!

What's common over there is rare in other parts of the world. I don't think I've ever seen one for sale here. No surprise someone from Canada wants one.