Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So this is my first batch of BRB babies, which I thought would never come. I got the surprise of my life finding them after getting home and checking on my female. There were five in the small plastic container that I use as my hide-hole for my female, I found two more later in hiding beneathe the newspaper in the cage. Amongst them is this awesome and very interesting little snake without any eyes, one side began to develope the eye and the other is covered completely by scales. Despite his "birthmark" this little guy is really photogenic, he must know something we dont. My mom and I have both fell in love with this one, hes such a trooper. I think we are just going to keep him unless we can find a home that would be able to give him the love and attention that he needs, but I am scared that he would fall into the hands of someone too inexperienced, which makes my mom happy.
Can anyone tell me how long it usually takes for the babies to shed the first time, a friend of mine who breeds Red tails said that I should feed them after they shed, there was nothing about it in BRB breeding 101, also, pinkies or fuzzies? Any other tips are appreciated.

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Jess
1.1 adult brazilian rainbows
1.0 normal corn
1.0 african brown house snake
0.1 hypo Boa constrictor
0.1 normal boa constrictor
0.1 normal ball python
1.1 crested geckos

Oodles of mice
1.1 paranoid parents "too many snakes!"

My first neonate from this last litter shed 11 days after birth and the last two shed 16 days after birth. My first litter in 2002 all shed within 10 days. I wait until after they shed and all 14 ate the first time. You can start them off with hopper mice or rat pinkies. I would keep them individually in shoebox size rubbermaids on newspaper with a small water bowl over your heat source. These little guys do well with temps in the 70's. You can put little hides in their enclosures but 8 out of 10 times they'll hide under the newspaper. Be sure to see condensation on the sides of the enclosure; this will ensure proper humidity.

Your eyeless baby is fascinating. The head also looks alittle mishappen (lower jaw looks longer than upper). If it was me, I'd keep this one but if you do give it to someone who wants to nurture it let them know there is a high probability that it may not make it.
Congratulations on your litter.
Paul

Can anyone tell me how long it usually takes for the babies to shed the first time, a friend of mine who breeds Red tails said that I should feed them after they shed, there was nothing about it in BRB breeding 101, also, pinkies or fuzzies? Any other tips are appreciated.

There is some disagreement on when to start feeding BRBs. ust like everything else, there is more than one right way to do it. I have the best results when I wait until after the first shed (usually about two weeks). I offer pink mice that are the same girth as the snake at it's widest point. I always start with pinks that have been thawed in very hot tap water for about 5 minutes.

In 2005 I got lucky. I just left the thawed pinks in the shoeboxes withthe snakes and they all ate the first time. I hope it goes this way for you. Sometimes, you can have success by gently rubbing the hot pink along the snakes mouth to get a strike. Reluctant feders will usually show interest in live pinks if thawed aren't working.

Good luck
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Mike Lockwood
www.tooscaley.com

I also feed before the first shed and most will take a live hopper or giant fuzzy first attempt. The timing on when to try depends on the development of the babies at birth. If they have already used up all their yolk I try in 2 or 3 days, those that were born with a bit of yolk left would be rotated to the end of they cycle maybe 5 or 6 days. Most of mine have been wholesaled and I do wait for the last one to shed before shipping the bunch. Generally they have eaten 2 to 3 times at that point.

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When the student is ready, the teacher appears. When the student is ready, the teacher appears. When the student is ready, the teacher appears. When the student is ready, the teachers appears.

I've raised several eyeless snakes. I had a clutch of African Housesnakes born with eyes missing, but only one had no eyes. I raised it for years before finding someone else who wanted it as a breeder (it produced normal babies).
I also raised a group of 2.1 eyeless ringed pythons for a couple of years. They belonged to a friend and he let me try and breed them for a few years (I never was successful).

The only warning I would have about eyeless snakes is BE CAREFUL during feeding. They smell food and just start lunging in all directions until they make contact. It can make feeding an "interesting" experience.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas