Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Thanks to everyone who posted below with advice. So far, I have 8 hatched (of 15), 4 more are breaking through now, and 2 are still not hatching.

-----
~Vicki
0.2 chondros
1.0 ball python
0.1 brazilian rainbow boa
0.1 albino cornsnake
1.0 okeetee cornsnake
1.0 honduran milk snake
0.1 siberian husky

These are your animals, and you are going to determine what your going to do with them, but please don't release them. They have been exposed to possible captive pathogens that have the possibilities of harming wild populations. I don't want to sound like I'm preaching, but just consider that fact and decide where your going from there

With repsect to release of captive hatched snakes, I was involved in a MA F & W head starting program with black ratsnakes. Not only were these snakes hatched out in captivity but they were held over the winter to grow them to increase their chances of survival. I am a breeder of ratsnakes, both new and old world species. The biologists provided me with protocols to prevent cross contamination of the head started obsoleta. Basically if you separate the release animals spatially (different room), practice normal hygeine and isolate the feeding and cleaning equipment you should be fine. Most states allow for release of wild caught eggs but check with the regulations posted by your state's Fish and Wildlife Agency just to be sure.

>>These are your animals, and you are going to determine what your going to do with them, but please don't release them. They have been exposed to possible captive pathogens that have the possibilities of harming wild populations. I don't want to sound like I'm preaching, but just consider that fact and decide where your going from there

Well when I called our DNR a couple of months ago when the eggs hatched, the DNR agent told me it would be fine to release the snakes back in the wild--his only concern was he didn't want to encourage captive BREEDING of fox snakes here, and eventual release. My friend who owns a petstore says CB fox snakes used to be available for sale in our pet stores, till the DNR successfully lobbied against it.
-----
~Vicki
0.2 chondros
1.0 ball python
0.1 brazilian rainbow boa
0.1 albino cornsnake
1.0 okeetee cornsnake
1.0 honduran milk snake
0.1 siberian husky

Glad to hear they don't have a problem with the release. Have you tried to feed any of the ones you're keeping? They're usually voracious eaters once they get started. One of the reasons it's best to feed them separately. You don't want to have them swallowing each other.

Try to release the ones you're letting go as soon as possible. The sooner they start locating their winter homes, the better.

Best of luck
John

No, I haven't fed them yet. Am waiting for them to have their first sheds and all to hatch, as recommended by a forum member. Probably will fed in the next couple of days. I went to a local deli and got a whole bunch of 1/2 quart deli containers (didn't even get charged!!)...so they'll all be feeding separately. I think I'm letting 4-5 of them go. How about I take them to the marsh this weekend, when i head up to do some fishing nearby? I shouldn't feed them first, right? The rest are going to enthusiasts like me. I was surprised how many folks were interested in the babies! I'm keeping two of them.
-----
~Vicki
0.2 chondros
1.0 ball python
0.1 brazilian rainbow boa
0.1 albino cornsnake
1.0 okeetee cornsnake
1.0 honduran milk snake
0.1 siberian husky

Vicki:
Congrats! It's always fun when a clutch hatches out. Enjoy.

John

np