I think so. They are offspring of a line descended from founders collected in Hueco Canyon many years ago before the area was developed. The breeder lived there as a teen and collected the founders. All of the animals from this line look like the adults.

Now I wait until the new Hueco Canyon babies shed for the first time and then see which, if any, eat this year.

I suspect hatchling subocs overwinter in the nest at least some of the time, since breeding season is in June-August with second clutches laid in October. Suboc eggs take a long time to incubate and some clutches probably overwinter as eggs and/or fresh hatchlings. Subocs are large--my babies averaged 23 grams compared to 8 grams for a yellow ratsnake hatchling, and have lots of yolk when they leave the egg. They are well suited to overwinter before their first meal.

It was the female's first year breeding and I did not double-clutch her. I plan to breed her again next year, as she has already fully recovered from this breeding. She's a big girl at 4 1/2 years old.

Still a clutch of Panther Canyons in the incubator. Last year's Panthers produced only one pair of orange ones which seem to be doing OK. This year's Panther eggs were laid late and probably won't hatch until around Thanksgiving.

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