Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Belle shed a couple days ago but I fed her right after and she's been hiding since then. But today she showed herself and stood stll for some portraits...

-----
0.1 Lampropeltis Getula Floridana
1.0 Elaphe Guttata Slowinskii

awesome pics... she's gorgeous...
-----
~Maggie~

"Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious."
1.1 Cal Kings
1.0 Mali Uromastyx

Thanks! You can't see in these pics, but she gets more yellow with each shed I think, her belly is pretty bright yellow. I was worried a while back because she sneezed a couple times, but I haven't heard it since and she's been eating and acting very healthy.
-----
0.1 Lampropeltis Getula Floridana
1.0 Elaphe Guttata Slowinskii

Very nice indeed. Is she breeding for you. What is she, she looks hypo? I need a female to put with a very male I have.

She's my beginner snake, first one ever. I got her in I think February of this year. The thought of breeding her is pretty scary to me at this point, because of my knowledge level and I'm still focusing very hard on trying to provide a healthy and safe environment for her. As for what she is, a while back Bluerosy gave me some theories about what she might be, but the guy I got her from did not give me any clear details on her genetics.
-----
0.1 Lampropeltis Getula Floridana
1.0 Elaphe Guttata Slowinskii

Question, how old is ur snake and how big is she now? What is she eating? I am just asking because I remember ur snake was taking fuzzies a little before mine, and mine is still on fuzzies. She's about 2 ft, but not that thick. I just wanna see ur snakes progress since our snakes should be around the same maybe...

I don't know for sure how old she is but if she was born this time of year - and I guess that's what happens - she's a year old. She was a baby when we got her early this year. And she is now 36" long and pretty thick.

What's the one above fuzzies, weanlings? I think we ordered weanlings and the package was labeled 'small mice' or something. But next one up from fuzzies. They're quite a bit larger than the fuzzies, and when she gets to those hips and they're sticking out to the side I swear she's not going to be able to finish it but she does!

She gets two of those (and sometimes I'll throw in a fuzzy because I have a bunch leftover) every four or five days. If I wait close to a week she's obviously hunting around for food by the time I get to her, so I think 5 days is a good cycle for her.

Trust me, every time I went up in food size I did not think she was ready and it soon became apparent she was ready long before I went up in size. Hope that helps.

-----
0.1 Lampropeltis Getula Floridana
1.0 Elaphe Guttata Slowinskii

here is that 'hip' issue I talked about. Thought she would get stuck! But she's gotten very good at using her whole body to fold legs down and stuff. She can still eat a mouse this size in about five minutes.

-----
0.1 Lampropeltis Getula Floridana
1.0 Elaphe Guttata Slowinskii

This is a perfect example of the difference between Cal. Kings and Florida Kings, aka "Brooksi". Ultimately your Florida will out grow the California by quite a bit!!! BTW--that is an awesome "Brooksi". Good job for a first. You've done that good in raising her; you should have no problems with breeding. Get some babies soon!!!! I want some!!!!!
Shalom,
Pat

Thank you So much, that means a lot to me. I've tried really hard to read and learn and pay attention, to provide her with a healthy environment and in turn she's given us a lot of enjoyment. Her temperament is awesome too. I guess I'll have to start reading up on the breeding thing, but that's going to be a ways down the road. I still feel like a beginner!
-----
0.1 Lampropeltis Getula Floridana
1.0 Elaphe Guttata Slowinskii

Yo Eddie,
I have been keeping snakes since I was seven!!!! That was 49 years ago (That's right--I'm an old fart!!!)!!! I had kingsnakes breed in my care in 1970!!! My work with Kings has been cited in a publication printed 27 years ago!!! Having said all that I still consider myself a newbie!!!! And I probably always will! I still ask questions--the only dumb question is the question not asked. And you don't have to search far for people to ask. Just come to this forum. You have access to several of the most knowlegeable Florida King keepers working with these wonderful snakes. They include, but are not limited to, Bluerosy, Nokturnal Tom, ZFelicien, Crimsonking, Dave Boyle, Brandon Osborne, Tom Davis, Jim Sargeant, and John Cherry, just to name a few! (I know I missed some but, hey, remember, I'm old!!!!!) Take care!!! And enjoy!!!! One last thing--you give up your newbie status when you take yourself too seriously, think that you know it all, and become a pain in the butt!!!
Shalom,
Pat

Thanks Pat, very much. I like it here.

One of the things that scares me most about breeding is that I am really attached to this snake, our reptiles are pets and our pets are family. So if something went wrong and something happened to Belle as a result of me deciding to breed her, well that would be difficlt to deal with. But I'll keep reading and soaking it in. Because on the other hand, watching eggs that you facilitated, hatching and producing snakes, well that's got to be pretty rewarding I imagine...
-----
0.1 Lampropeltis Getula Floridana
1.0 Elaphe Guttata Slowinskii

Try to think of it as letting her live as much of a natural life as possible, with breeding being a major life event. Some say that not breeding them is more harmful. Just a thought. Belle is beautiful, and you are doing a great job with her!
-----
Todd Hughes

That's a great thought, Todd. Thanks.

She ate today and that went great, but then she had a kind of watery stool (no dark color at all). Not much volume but it's the first non-normal one she's ever had, so I start worrying. I can't imagine how nervous I'd be if she was breeding!!!
-----
0.1 Lampropeltis Getula Floridana
1.0 Elaphe Guttata Slowinskii