Finally! Babies!!

[Oliverian]

Well after coming home yesterday and checking on the pregnant female ribbon, I saw a liiiitle tiny baby with a big head looking back at me! So I watched her have the rest and she ended up with 7 little crawlers! They're the neatest little guys!

I noticed that when they were born they were already shedding their skins. (basically a few seconds after they were born) Has anyone ever heard of that before? I thought most snakes went a few days at least before their first shed. Are live bearers different?

So today I put some little worms, a slug, and a live little guppy in the cage (they're all together in a seperate cage from the adults). So far no eating, but I'm hoping it won't be too difficult getting them started. Anyone have any experience in this area? Vanan?

I'm exited. Some of them are noticably larger that the others. They all kind of look like mom though, they have the interesting white-to-orange line on the head. Most of them have a head spot too. And they were born WAAAAY later than I expected, partially because I counted the wrong number of days the first time, and then when I counted the right number, she was due on the 14th.. of May.

It's going to be very busy around here pretty soon. Not that it wasn't already! I'll post pics when I get a friend's camera on tuesday.

-TammyR

[Tim and Julie B]

Congrads Tammy that is awsome. They must be quick. Good luck on getting them to eat. It shouldn't take long.

[vanderkm]

That is so exciting - congrats on the new ones - looking forward to some photos,

mary v.

[Katt]

WOOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Definitely cool!!

I can't believe how far that girl has come. From a pet store, to our hands, to Damon to you! AMAZING!! Big time congrats!!! They are a least a year if not more in captivity, and you actually got babies!!!

Big time congrats, you should be totally proud of yourself!

[Vanan]

Oh wow!! Rock on Tammy! Way cool!!! Glad to hear everyone (Mom and babies) are well.

As for feeding, I'd recommend getting nightcrawlers (not the red ones) from your local bait shop, and coating them with calcium powder. Baby Thamnophis seem to go nuts over earthworms! Only problem with that is that they're nutritionally pretty devoid. Another thing you could try doing, after they've had their first meal, is to try scented pink parts. Didn't think it would work, but J. Crowe (thanks man!) recommended getting my baby plains onto earthworms scented pinky parts (yes parts, i.e. ripped off legs and smaller chunks) a few years ago, and it worked! They grew to a manageable size faster too!

Good luck and lemme know if you've got problems. You've got my email.

[Oliverian]

Awesome. Yep, I was thinking of scenting pinky parts, but I figured I should get them eating SOMETHING first, and then try getting them to eat what I want them to. I had regular earthworm pieces in there and I don't think they ate any, but I put a baby guppy in the water bowl and its gone.. don't know if it jumped out and I threw it away when I changed the paper towel or if they ate it. I put another one in there so if it's gone too, i'll know they're eating them.
If I can't get them on fish i'll try the nightcrawlers, but I don't know if we have bait shops like that around here. I could always take a trip up to Penticton though, it's not far. Oliver's so small it doesnt even have a bowling alley.

So the plan is to get them eating live fish, then dead fish, then my trout/rat blend. The adults love it and they seem to be doing really well on it. Only problem is I have to get out and catch more trout, we're right out.

Julie, they actually aren't too fast surprisingly! They try hard to get away, but they're so small that it doesn't take them far!

Thanks for the congrats. They're so cute!

-TammyR

[Oliverian]

Actually, was that Tim or Julie? You guys should sign your posts so we know who we're talking to!

-TammyR

[Simon Sansom]

Good stuff, Tammy! Good luck with them.

As to your question about the babies shedding immediately after birth; just as a point of interest, neonate Jamaican Boas do exactly the same thing.

Cheers!

Simon R. Sansom

[TheRedDragon]

Congratulations! This time of year is always so exciting. Good luck with your new little ones.

[Edwin]

Congrats, Tammy! Cant wait to see pics of them.

[munchy]

congrats on the babies. garters and ribbons rule!

[munchy]

Originally posted by Oliverian


So the plan is to get them eating live fish, then dead fish, then my trout/rat blend. The adults love it and they seem to be doing really well on it. Only problem is I have to get out and catch more trout, we're right out.

-TammyR

is that where you grind up the fish/rat and mix it with gelatin and freeze it?

lol the only PROBLEM??? i love fishing in that part of bc. we were at galagher lake a few weeks back and caught lots of trout, perch, bass and sunfish. good times.

[Oliverian]

Yup. Makes the blender smell sick if you don't get all the fish out. I don't think I'll be using it for milkshakes anymore...

I actually don't use the gelatin though, I find it works with just the fish, the rats and vitamins. You know these guys though, they don't need there food to be solid to eat it!

Yea, the fishing up here is great. I live like half a town away from galagher lake, you should come by sometime. It's an awesome spot eh?

-TammyR

[munchy]

Originally posted by Oliverian
Yup. Makes the blender smell sick if you don't get all the fish out. I don't think I'll be using it for milkshakes anymore...

I actually don't use the gelatin though, I find it works with just the fish, the rats and vitamins. You know these guys though, they don't need there food to be solid to eat it!

Yea, the fishing up here is great. I live like half a town away from galagher lake, you should come by sometime. It's an awesome spot eh?

-TammyR

haha yeah id probably want to have a separate blender for that kind of stuff. i read about that garter food and it sounds like a good idea. plus its an excuse to do more fishing.
when i eventually get my group of some kind of cb garters i think ill try it out. sounds convenient and cheaper than other items. is it easy to get them onto it from whatever you were previously feeding them?

galagher lake is great. we usually stay at the little resort/hotel place right on the lake. i love the view from the balcony in the morning of the lake and that crazy mountain at the end. one of the sweetest things ive ever seen.

[Simon]

Congrats~~!!

Now for some pics~~