First Litter Has Arrived

toddnbecka · 08-24-16, 01:00 AM

Monday afternoon I found that the larger of my 2 pregnant female Dominicans had given birth. So far 12 have shed, 6 not yet, still dull and slimy.
Had to move them into a 10 gallon tank immediately, don't have a spare enclosure for the mother on hand:

Took them outside to change the paper towels, much warmer than in the basement. The 10 gallon tank stays inside the mother's enclosure for warmth, these will be moving them into the tubs/rack soon, now I need another rack asap:

dannybgoode · 08-24-16, 05:38 AM

Wow congratulations. That's a great litter. Doesn't help with my desire for a Dominican though!

Albert Clark · 08-24-16, 06:48 AM

Nice! Reptile reproduction is the best. Grats T&B.

**Minkness** · 08-24-16, 08:43 AM

Wooo! Congrats guys! Yoy must be so proud! =D

dave himself · 08-24-16, 08:49 AM

Congratulations folks on your beauiful snake babies

**Andy_G** · 08-24-16, 09:07 AM

Awesome! Congrats! Those are really difficult to get up here...very rarely available... I'm jealous.

marvelfreak · 08-24-16, 02:47 PM

36_1_1.gifCongratulation!36_1_1.gif

Nothing sweeter than breeding. It like Christmas morning when you walk in and see they have their babies or laid their eggs.

toddnbecka · 08-24-16, 11:58 PM

There was one newborn that got squished under the mother when I was trying to get them moved out of the enclosure into the 10 gallon tank. No clue if that one was injured, though it seems likely it was at least bruised by the pressure/weight as she crawled along over it. I've been changing the paper towels in the bottom of the tank daily, and each time just one of the babies has struck at me. I suspect it's the one that got mashed, likely now associates my hand with the bad experience. I was shocked to actually feel pain (not much, but I felt it, lol) and see a drop of blood when that one hit my thumb today. None of the others, from yearlings when they arrived, to adults, has ever shown "attitude" or struck. Same with the other 17 in the new litter, just curious but not defensive when I reach for them. I'm really hoping that one wasn't badly injured, and will eventually get over the rough start and mellow out like the rest. As small as they are, they must have longer teeth than colubrids twice their size. Looks like just one still hasn't shed yet.

Mink, to be honest, there isn't much to be proud of. I just feed and water the critters, they do the rest, lol. One reason I wanted to work with the Dominicans is the fact they have live young. I don't have to incubate the eggs, though I will when the climacophora start breeding. Sort of comparable to breeding guppies, except the parents aren't liable to eat the babies if they can't find cover.

They're still relatively new to the reptile trade, but as more people breed them they will become easier to find.

**Tsubaki** · 08-25-16, 01:28 AM

Congrats!! Beautiful litter

**Minkness** · 08-25-16, 07:23 AM

I was thinking alobg the lines of being a proud pappa lol. But still, they are cool. Maybe after I am done collecting my top priority snakes (BRB, neon garters, jag ij) I will look into these guys. They certainly seem neat!

Snakesitter · 08-25-16, 02:11 PM

Awwww congrats! And just one bitey baby? I envy you.... ;-)

**EL Ziggy** · 08-25-16, 05:54 PM

Congrats TnB! Great job with the clutch.

toddnbecka · 08-26-16, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakesitter

Awwww congrats! And just one bitey baby? I envy you.... ;-)

Remains to be seen how well they behave for probing in 6 more months. I've never done it, will need to find someone to show me how or do it for me in the meantime. Regardless, I'm very happy with the first litter.

They've all shed now, and looking much better w/out the dark slimy layer, lol.

I found one that had managed to slip out under the screen top on the 10 gallon in the larger enclosure tonight. That was the first time I'd really handled one for more than a few seconds to move while changing the paper towels. Very calm and a little curious, even more relaxed than the adults. By day they were mostly on or under the paper towels, a couple were perched on the sticks. After the lights are off for an hour or so they're all over the tank, hanging from the rim and climbing wherever they can.

Snakesitter · 08-26-16, 02:14 PM

Great report. 'Grats on the recovered baby!

toddnbecka · 08-31-16, 02:24 AM

Sadly, one died, most likely the bitey baby that got mashed shortly after being born. It was the only one that hadn't shed. The 17 others are set up individually in 6 quart shoebox tubs now, will offer pinky mice Sunday. Here's a couple pics of a random baby, actually the only one I found on top of the plastic canvas. I hot glued pieces of that to the tops of some 4" drawer organizers I found at the dollar store, looked like a fair size for baby hides. Some of the others were inside their hides, the rest were just curled up on the mulch when I checked them tonight. The water bowls are 8 oz containers also from the dollar store, about $20 for the materials to set up the tubs, or $1/each. Cypress mulch for substrate to help maintain humidity and a Helix t-stat to regulate the heat tape.