Meet Lupin - Snow SD Gopher

[Humble308]

Couple of updated photos for Lupin. He seems to be a slow grower only up to 30g Very shy and inconsistent eater that I'm hoping he'll grow out of much like Bella.

TNB I just saw that post with your Everglades and wow what a pretty snake! I've hear they're known for their less than pleasant temperment . Thanks for sharing.

[Ian of Oldham]

Love your snow SD she looks bigger out of the viv.

[toddnbecka]

Wow, Lupin is looking good. What is the difference between a snow and an albino? I'm surprised he's such a slow grower, my fire bull eats like a scaled pig and grows like a weed in a garden, lol. I think he's actually growing faster than my carpet pythons, though I don't actually weigh or measure them, so it's just a subjective observation.

Sunshine (the Everglades rat snake) doesn't have a bad disposition, but she isn't comfortable with handling. She's never struck or bitten, does tend to musk if picked up though, and takes a minute to calm down. She does watch everything around her, and will come right up for food, would likely even take it from my hand. I like her well enough as a "display" snake, have plenty of others that don't mind handling, lol.

[Andy_G]

Humble, nice SD there! The yellow will definitely fade a little bit. I have heard that SD gophers are a bit more sporadic in feeding than some of the other pits, but since I don't have personal experience with them, I won't claim that.

toddnbecka, a snow is an anery albino so it's actually a double recessive. Bulls have the fastest growth rate of any pits and can potentially be on rat weanlings or small adult rats at a year of age without being power fed. Genetics and frequency of feeding play big roles in that, as well as if they're brumated for the first year where they grow the most rapid.

[Humble308]

TNB,

Thanks! Andy is on the money snow = albino+anery. I reckon he's just not settled yet as far as the eating goes, just seems to go on and off. Just a moment ago I was checking on the food I'd left by his hide and he's in there sleeping with the thing.

My gray rat is pretty gentle, though he's starting to get some attitude..he just turned a year old the other day. Little rascal actually bit and peed on me within the last 2 weeks. So idk maybe he's in the terrible teens part of being a rat snake haha. Never turns down a meal and is pretty observant like yours. Cool snakes for sure.

Originally Posted by Andy_G

Humble, nice SD there! The yellow will definitely fade a little bit. I have heard that SD gophers are a bit more sporadic in feeding than some of the other pits, but since I don't have personal experience with them, I won't claim that.

Genetics and frequency of feeding play big roles in that, as well as if they're brumated for the first year where they grow the most rapid.

Thanks! I'm really liking him. I may give him some more cover and another hide...critter just seems shy.

I wonder if you could elaborate on that last part if you don't mind me picking your brain I would eventually like breed Lupin and Bella. Are you saying brumation within the first year of the snake's life is beneficial even if you aren't breeding for a few years?

[Andy_G]

I know lots of breeders who don't ever brumate and they get nice results yearly. I know of a few who had temp spikes during brumation and they've had horrible years because of it. There's also those who do it yearly wothout issue...so brumation is up to you. What I was saying is that when you brumate them during their first year, intake of meals and therefore growth is missed out on, which generally speaking reduces the potential size of the individual. The only situation that I would find brumation with hatchlings to be advantageous would be if they went on a winter fast all on their own.

[mysticmoon]

Beautiful snake you have there! I live in a desert area of southern California and see wild gophers all the time, never seen a snow though, wow.