New Bull Snake

toddnbecka · 03-12-17, 02:15 AM

I saw a post on FB Friday night for a young female bull snake, and picked her up Saturday. I was told she was ready to shed in the next day or two. Wrong, she shed a few hours after I placed her temporarily in a 4x2x2 on some damp cypress mulch. I was short on aspen and the commercial paper bedding I mix with it for the 40 breeder she was going into, so after dinner went to WalMart for supplies. Came home to find a fresh shed in several pieces, a fresh pile of poop in the corner, and no sign of the snake. I figured she had burrowed under the cypress, no big deal. Got the 40 breeder set up and then started searching through the cypress, no snake in the enclosure. Apparently there was just enough of a gap at the bottom corner where the glass doesn't quite meet the plywood side for her to squeeze out through. Found her a minute later, took a few pics, and put her into the tank with a well-secured screen top. Here she is, around 3', very calm disposition and great to handle. First pic taken w/out flash:

Flash on this one to show up her colors better:

Since I haven't taken any recent pics of the male fire bull I got him out for a few as well after she was secured. He just shed a few days ago, is a bit over 4' now, and much bulkier than the new girl.
All taken w/out flash, washed out his colors too much:

The tail end is really showing bright orange/red, he's a bit too active and large to show all in one or two pics:

The fire bull is a Kingsville red crossed with a Stillwater hypo. If these two are bred together, what % would the offspring be het for hypo?

**Andy_G** · 03-12-17, 06:20 AM

Very awesome little bull and that male fire is turning out really nice!

That breeding would result in all offspring being normal 100% het for stillwater strain hypo.

**EL Ziggy** · 03-12-17, 07:49 AM

Congrats on the new addition TnB. She's a pretty one. I love me some Pits. That fire bull is looking great too!

Jim Smith · 03-12-17, 08:28 AM

Very pretty snake. I'm glad that you found her so quickly. Once they get loose, they become masters at hiding.

SWDK · 03-12-17, 10:36 AM

Lovely new Bull. Great pics of both. That fire is a stunner.

whistlepig · 03-12-17, 07:21 PM

Great pictures! Beautiful snake, glad you found her.

toddnbecka · 03-13-17, 01:31 AM

I don't usually offer food right away, but since she shed, pooped, and didn't make a fuss when I rounded up her rogue tail, I figured why not? She had tucked herself up into a ceramic cave, head sticking out, and grabbed the mouse maybe 15 seconds after she spotted it coming her way.
She was out roaming the tank earlier tonight, not even a bulge, so I gave her another young mouse (she could easily take a large adult, but I'm overloaded with 3/4-grown young ones). Now she's properly tucked up under the warm hide digesting her meal/s.
Looking through some older pics, I'd say she's about the same size the fire bull was around 7-8 months of age. He's a bit over 1 year now and taking small-medium rats. It's amazing how quickly these bull snakes grow.