Fresh Pics

toddnbecka · 10-10-15, 02:50 AM

I had one of my 2 year old female DRMB's out for a bit tonight. She chilled on my hand for some time after I snapped a few pics, until my hand got tired from holding her up. She's showing some great colors now, about as bright as the other pair of 2 year olds from a different line/source. Looking forward to seeing them all at full adult size in a few more years or so.

Not sure what the spot on her head is. Reflects the light a bit oddly, but when zoomed in really close doesn't appear to be a rub or missing scales.

Oddly enough, both the females are happily chowing down fuzzy mice, while the males insist on quail, though the male of the other pair will also take rat pinks. The larger sub-adults (4'+) are all taking fresh killed mice or f/t fuzzy rats if the mice are low, may have to start using f/t quail to scent mice for the younger males when the supply starts getting low.

For reference, here's a pic of the same female when she arrived a year ago. They do show different colors between day and night, and apparently depending on other factors as well, but they are becomng brighter red as they grow:

Albert Clark · 10-10-15, 06:17 AM

Extremely nice. Very unique also. Great work.

Sylphie · 10-10-15, 06:28 AM

Wow, she's beautiful. I love her big dark eyes and the shape of her head. Do you have any pics of the adult ones?

toddnbecka · 10-10-15, 06:32 PM

Here's a couple pics of the parents from the seller, the father is the lighter shade:

Mother is a more typical high red:

Parents of the other 2 year old pair:

**EL Ziggy** · 10-10-15, 06:42 PM

Beautiful critters TnB.

Pogie · 10-10-15, 10:03 PM

Oh that color is something else! Very nice

toddnbecka · 10-11-15, 12:17 AM

The colors of the high reds are outstanding, but the DRMB's disposition is even better. They simply never show aggression or defensive behavior aside from musking, regardless of their size or age. That combination was what drew me to them in the first place when I was researching snakes, looking to get back into keeping (and eventually breeding) them. Not all of them are the high red color, there are also a variety of brown and even gray colors and combinations, but they all have the same nature regardless of their appearance.

**Tsubaki** · 10-11-15, 09:14 AM

absolutely beautiful

prairiepanda · 10-11-15, 12:22 PM

I love this species! It's amazing how much they change as they grow. Stunning little boas. I'd love to get a pair some day.

Snakesitter · 10-12-15, 02:03 PM

Wow, great color!

**Pareeeee** · 10-13-15, 06:43 AM

Love these guys! Don't see them much in the hobby.

Pogie · 10-13-15, 03:04 PM

I love the colors on that snake. Nice

MM1 · 10-13-15, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toddnbecka

The colors of the high reds are outstanding, but the DRMB's disposition is even better. They simply never show aggression or defensive behavior aside from musking, regardless of their size or age. That combination was what drew me to them in the first place when I was researching snakes, looking to get back into keeping (and eventually breeding) them. Not all of them are the high red color, there are also a variety of brown and even gray colors and combinations, but they all have the same nature regardless of their appearance.

You're definitely right on the disposition. Although I've been musked quite a few times, I've never been bitten or even struck at by my 'regular' Hispaniolan Boa, Rudy ( there's a couple of of threads here with pics of him) in 33+ years. Maybe a testy hiss on a couple of occasions, that's it.

dave himself · 10-14-15, 03:13 AM

Thank you for sharing I had never even heard of these before, they are absolutely stunning

toddnbecka · 10-14-15, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave himself

Thank you for sharing I had never even heard of these before, they are absolutely stunning

I'd never heard of them either, not a common species in the hobby. They weren't easy to find, but I was fortunate enough to source high red yearlings from two different lines while the weather was still good for shipping last year.
Then I ran across some sub-adults earlier this year, though not high reds, and figured they'd get me into breeding a bit sooner while I wait for the younger ones to mature. From what I've gathered they'll all produce some high red offspring, but breeding two high reds together will produce about half, while the other color phases will produce fewer high red offspring.
I ended up with 4m/2f sub-adults of varying colors and patterns, with one of the males being a high red. Not sure if that one will breed though, because he had a prolapsed hemipene that had to be removed by a vet. (I've read that snakes have two hemipenes, so still possible for him to breed? If not, he's still a great pet snake.) About 3/4 of the tissue was dead. He'd been in that condition for weeks before I got him, and wouldn't eat until it was taken care of. After surgery and antibiotics he seemed a bit more active, but still wouldn't eat until I used anoles to scent mice for him. After a couple feeding like that he was willing to take plain mice along with the rest, and has gained a good bit of weight now.
I'm not certain of the size they need to be to breed, but one of the females just shed, and after unrolling the shed it was a bit over 6'. Full adult size for an average female is 7-8', and they're both quite a bit bulkier than the males, so I'm thinking they're probably ready to go this year.