Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Do you guy wait until the first shed or do you feed straight out the egg. I would guess you would wait for the remaining yolk to obsorb? All views welcomed.

Thanks,
Miller
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0.1.12 Florida King ('00 Pearl,'06 Hatchlings)
1.1 Eastern Kings (2004 Orca & Sugar Pie)
1.0 Black Milksnake (2005 Bubba)
0.1 Okeetee Corn (Pumpkin)
1.0 Chow Chow (2003 Papi)
0.1 Cats (Shug)

I always wait until they shed. I know of others that try and feed right away with success. I know of others that have fed right away and then the baby snake had a hard time shedding.

Kerby...

Thanks Kerby. I figured it was good to wait but did not know if I pull that out of my butt or if I had read it somewhere. Thanks again for the confirmation.

Miller
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0.1.12 Florida King ('00 Pearl,'06 Hatchlings)
1.1 Eastern Kings (2004 Orca & Sugar Pie)
1.0 Black Milksnake (2005 Bubba)
0.1 Okeetee Corn (Pumpkin)
1.0 Chow Chow (2003 Papi)
0.1 Cats (Shug)

I would like to tell you a story. Its not really a view, just a related story.

Years ago, in the day of kingsnake discovery. We were working on the montane kings, in mexico. A friend said he found some eggs for L.m.greeri. He brought them home. Later they hatched and turned out to be Mt. patchnose. hahahahahahahaha

Then he actually did find eggs from greeri. Well they hatched and one while it was still in the egg, reached over, and ate another that had just slit the egg, WOW.

Its really up to you and your goals on how and when you feed them. For instance, if you want them to breed in a year, you want them feeding and growing as soon as possible. Or you can delay growth by holding back feeding. Its all within the relm of normal.

They will normally feed a day or so after shedding(depending on how much yolk they contain) Or some people overwinter them and feed them the next year, that is two extremes of normal. Cheers

Thanks for the story FR. I am not a "breeder", this was my first year breeding. For me it is truly a hobby. So I have no goals of breeding them within a certain time frame if at all. The mom is a 2000 hatchling it that gives you any idea of my need to quickly breed. . I just love my snakes and want to do whats best for the hatchlings and my adults. I had to go to Kentucky right after they hatched so most are in their first shed cycle so I guess the decision has been made for me. I will offer a pink as soon as the cycle is complete. Thanks again for the story it was helpful.

Miller
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0.1.12 Florida King ('00 Pearl,'06 Hatchlings)
1.1 Eastern Kings (2004 Orca & Sugar Pie)
1.0 Black Milksnake (2005 Bubba)
0.1 Okeetee Corn (Pumpkin)
1.0 Chow Chow (2003 Papi)
0.1 Cats (Shug)

Please understand, what approach you take has little bearing on what you call yourself. You do not have to be a commerial breeder to test the abilities of kingsnakes. They have a normal time period in which to attain aduldhood. In nature, some grow extremely fast, and reach sexual maturity quickly. Others grow extremely slow and take years and years to do the same. This is based on conditions at the time. There are many many natural factors. In captivity, its simply your choice.

Consider, they have a range of abilities. My guess would be, to stay within a normal range is good. So, so far, so good.

About feeding, if your cage conditions are good, they will feed everyday and grow very fast. Or your cages may limit this ability and only allow feeding every few days. Or they may allow feeding once a week. Or the snake will die. What you provide, is up to you and what you want to see.

My own personal problem has always been, I want to test their abilities, I want to see how fast and how slow they can grow. I also wanted to see how much or how little they can produce. Of note, I have a thayeri about to lay her third clutch, this summer.

That is my curiousities. What are yours? Cheers

How many were in clutch1 and 2 Frank? My goals are to define ranges for the snakes in my area and see as many species as I can while maintaining my specimens as well as I can. If I get the right pairs that I like I will breed em, if not, I will continue the hunt. I like the "normal" phenotypes, whatever they may be, and dig seeing things that stretch what I percieved to be true, like watching an indigo fish for baby catfish in a dried up waterhole. I dig your stories!
Todd Hughes

Hey Frank, was that the communal clutch of 40 patchnose eggs incident that tested some friendships? LOL.

>>I would like to tell you a story. Its not really a view, just a related story.
>>
>> Years ago, in the day of kingsnake discovery. We were working on the montane kings, in mexico. A friend said he found some eggs for L.m.greeri. He brought them home. Later they hatched and turned out to be Mt. patchnose. hahahahahahahaha
>>
>> Then he actually did find eggs from greeri. Well they hatched and one while it was still in the egg, reached over, and ate another that had just slit the egg, WOW.
>>
>> Its really up to you and your goals on how and when you feed them. For instance, if you want them to breed in a year, you want them feeding and growing as soon as possible. Or you can delay growth by holding back feeding. Its all within the relm of normal.
>>
>> They will normally feed a day or so after shedding(depending on how much yolk they contain) Or some people overwinter them and feed them the next year, that is two extremes of normal. Cheers
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Rick Staub

LOL! Wow maybe I'm sick but that story does it for me! Nature sure is a funny gal sometimes, but I guess it wouldn't be too funny in the incubator! Gotta love the moxy on that snake though! Great story Frank!
Todd Hughes

I usually wait, why feed a full snake. Look forward to pics after the little guys shed !

Keith
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Keith, that female Eastern I got from you is insane! She will rattle her tail at the slightest distrubance. She never bites are strikes but she lets you know her mood. She is a rat killer, man that is truly the only snake I watch my fingers around. She is always always hungry. I will get some pics of her up for you to see.

Miller
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0.1.12 Florida King ('00 Pearl,'06 Hatchlings)
1.1 Eastern Kings (2004 Orca & Sugar Pie)
1.0 Black Milksnake (2005 Bubba)
0.1 Okeetee Corn (Pumpkin)
1.0 Chow Chow (2003 Papi)
0.1 Cats (Shug)