Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey Mike, I think we're totally onto something and one factor is temps. With my earlier litters I just today answered a post about what litters I still have coming...

LOL, Actually three. Using my data of ranging between 129 and 135 days POS, setting due date in the middle at 132......

Savannah due TODAY 09/27 (small litter at best)
Clover due in a week 10/04 (dunno if gravid, maybe small litter)
Boo due in a month 10/27 (looking like decent litter)

Well, you guessed it, Savannah dropped her litter today at 11:30 PM

POS plus 132 which is the exact middle of the ranges I've had with my 80 degree temp setting.

PLUS, each and every litter was a full term, no yolk, ready to go pile of babies. All ranging between 30 and 32 grams except one at 29 and duh, the twins at 19 and 13. I am loving my new RHP's, nice soft steady heat!!!!!! Can't say for sure how much they contributed but I feel I have my breeding system dialed in!!!

Stats:

16 live healthy babies
3 @ 30 grams
8 @ 31 grams
5 @32 grams

1 stillborn @ 31 grams

Born at POS plus 132

Mom's weight on 08/19 = 1862 grams
Mom's post birth weight = 1187 grams

Babies look GREAT, Savannah's color already showing up!!!!

I'll have birth pics up in a short while

BTW, Not sure you got Wilma's stats so here are links to "stats" posts for each litter.

Wilma
Bullseye
Betty

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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
24.36 BRB
19.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Savannah several weeks back, looked like she had a small litter and if I had to venture a guess, there were no slugs!!

Now after giving birth, the whole flat tire look...

And pics of the babies still in the goo. She laid them under the moss

OOppss, I had better get going on putting them away

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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
24.36 BRB
19.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

i couldnt balieve how flat my ball was when she laid her eggs man she was a flat tires flat tire lol but after the secong rat she was on her way back lol hitting them so hard it scared me some times lol.

Thanks Tim,

Yeah, my rainbows will get so deflated they'll even have a skin fold. I find if I give em a day or so, the internal organs will rearrange and then they just look skinny. Time for dinner!!!!
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
24.36 BRB
19.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

yeah with all the girls i bred thus far whell let me rephrase this lol all the female snakes that have bred with other male snakes lol and laid eggs after laying they all get a day or two to relax get thigns back in order then get a medium rat one of the smaller mediums but still medium then they all go into shed and start punding the living hell out of them lol hide boxes go flying tongs hit the cage everythign

LOL, nothing more scary than a starved female!!!
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
24.36 BRB
19.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

i beg to differ if i were to sepnd whatever you did on the calico my girl would kill me lol or wait she would be a starved female then after bank acount is empty lol never mind lol.

LOL, I had full support from my wife, even though she has her concerns and yeah, it was a large chunk of coin to drop. Somehow I think she would have missed it if I didn't tell her!!
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
24.36 BRB
19.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

goes to put work lunch on her card and its denied lol dave there was 15k in there what happened say hello to fluffy lol.

goes to put work lunch on her card and its denied lol dave there was 15k in there what happened say hello to fluffy goodbye to Dave lol.

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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
24.36 BRB
19.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

you know tho if you went out and spent 15k on her shoes dress and necklace etc she would be in love lol.

Actually, no, she would never want to spend that much on stuff. Not into fancy stuff, just nice stuff!
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
24.36 BRB
19.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

15k was the asking price Tim but Dave caught a break for sure cuz you have to remember the last two years he has got an anery and het from Brian so he already likes Dave cuz he is a likable kind of fella but just has to many projects going on and now he wants holdbacks- he better be thinking another room or two
Bob

Alrady got a second room planned!!!!!!
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
24.36 BRB
19.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Congrats!!! With 4 litters going so far, you must have your hands full! This time of year is so much fun... I can't wait to have my own slime piles next year.
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Aubrey Ross

©
www.SlipstreamSerpents.com

Thanks Aubrey,

Yeah, I'm at 78 born in my house plus the breeding loan with Mike. Even if I only claim my share of the that litter, I'm at 85 babies. Still have two more shots at more babies, Clover is due in a week but I really don't think she's gravid. Good size on her, not fatty gravid size though. Also, she's solid, not the "softer belly", "babies inside" feel. Also have Boo, a solid producer. She has that fatty gravid look but is not due for another month.

Even so, I'm at my second best season ever so quite happy with this years results!!
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
24.36 BRB
19.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Congrats on another great looking clutch
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Thank you,

Tim

0.1 wc girlfriend- Melissa (still very feisty even after a year and a half of loving care )
0.1 CRB- Tempest
1.0 JCP- name and snake coming soon
1.0 Black Cat- Chester A Arthur

Thanks Tim,

Yeah, I suspect this one will have lots of stunners in it, Savannah produced Amber, Phoenix and Wendy two years ago!!
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
24.36 BRB
19.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Wow all those from one clutch? This should be something to see then
-----
Thank you,

Tim

0.1 wc girlfriend- Melissa (still very feisty even after a year and a half of loving care )
0.1 CRB- Tempest
1.0 JCP- name and snake coming soon
1.0 Black Cat- Chester A Arthur

Exactly, and then she didn't take last year I was bummed. Actually quite surprised with the size of this years litter. I thought it was smaller. Good thing is even though small number of eggs, looks like all were fertilized, too bad about the stillborn one. I suspect it's sack burst and it drowned inside mom. It was born outside the hide box, by itself without any egg sack, yolk or any other signs of the egg. Most likely it was the last one born.
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
24.36 BRB
19.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

that's too bad about the one that died. At least you have a lot of other babies to take care of right now
-----
Thank you,

Tim

0.1 wc girlfriend- Melissa (still very feisty even after a year and a half of loving care )
0.1 CRB- Tempest
1.0 JCP- name and snake coming soon
1.0 Black Cat- Chester A Arthur

Yeah, I always am a bit saddened about the ones that didn't make it but then again, most are doing great and it is one of the harsh realities of breeding.

Positives:

DUH, healthy babies, lots of em

Getting first pick for keepers (IMO the best positive from breeding)

Being able to sell babies to people who are looking for them. Have had a great time chatting and emailing with many of them.

Negatives:

Some get born with various birth defects. Typically not a lot, just one here and there.

Some with birth defects need to be put down, IMO the worst part of breeding!!

Some otherwise healthy babies are simply stillborn for various reasons.

You can loose breeder animals (OK, really the worst possible negative of breeding)

Overall the positives outweigh the negatives buy a substantial margin but you have to be willing to take the gamble and deal with whatever you get!!!! Usually a mix of both!!

I'm sure you can all tell, I'm having the time of my life. These guys are an addictive passion for me.
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
24.36 BRB
19.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

all snakes are addictive just BRBs are such gorgeous animals that they are even more so
-----
Thank you,

Tim

0.1 wc girlfriend- Melissa (still very feisty even after a year and a half of loving care )
0.1 CRB- Tempest
1.0 JCP- name and snake coming soon
1.0 Black Cat- Chester A Arthur

Dave,
...Congrats. Savannah has always been one of my favorites of your BRBs.
...What you are seeing with difference in days POS versus what Mike sees probably is due to temperatures like you suggest. I have had big variations in shed dates versus delivery dates over the years probably because of going up and down on gestation tempeatures some years so that my data was screwed up and I never saw a connection between POS and delivery date. I also have half my BRBs on one side of the room in Visions with under the cage flexwatt heating and melamine box cages on the other side of the room with ceramic heat emitters inside the cages.
...You must be piled up with babies right now. I have had a nice even delivery of litters since mid july
so that of the 110 that have been born here this year I only have 38 of them still here. I shipped 18 this week and If I do about the same next week I will be right on target to have more than enough baby cage space for my next two and possibly final expected good litters of BRBs.
Jeff
>>Savannah several weeks back, looked like she had a small litter and if I had to venture a guess, there were no slugs!!
>>
>>Now after giving birth, the whole flat tire look...
>>
>>
>>
>>And pics of the babies still in the goo. She laid them under the moss
>>
>>
>>OOppss, I had better get going on putting them away
>>
>>-----
>>Thanks,
>>
>>
>>Dave Colling
>>
>>www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com
>>
>>
>>
>>0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
>>0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)
>>
>>LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
>>24.36 BRB
>>19.19 BCI
>>And those are only the breeders
>>
>>lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Thanks Jeff,

Sounds like you're having a great year, lots of babies and like you said even better is to have them spread out. I still have plenty of room. In total could pull together 281 baby slots between my main rack, my workbench/rack and two other racks I picked up last year. I was planning for the future

Yeah, one distinct advantage I now have for gathering data is uniformity in the breeding cages. All are about the same size/construction. All are heated now by the same size RHP's and each level is controlled by one channel of a herpstat Pro T-stat. All that has come together into a very reliable estimation of due dates. All four litters were born within a 6 day period POS. Now I have a spreadsheet where I can plug in the shed dates and it will calculate the due date for me.
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
24.36 BRB
19.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Congrats on the nice litter!

It looks like the one on the right side of the pic will be a nice one - can you send it my way?????
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Mike

6.7 BRB
1.2 Spotted Python
1.0 Cal. King

Thanks Mike,

As long as nobody higher on the list snatches it up first, sure!!

There will be several really nice ones in that litter!!
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
24.36 BRB
19.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I haven't been posting much because I've been busy with work and some other things, but I've been checking in every other day or so. I did get all of your past stats. Thanks and keep 'em coming.

I agree. temps do seem to play a part in lenght of gestation. Ross and Marzeck's book recommends higher temps for gestatiin rainbows but it's nice to see they can be kept cooler as well.

Congrats on all the babies. I'd like to try and make my way down soon to check out all of the new additions in person.
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Mike Lockwood
www.tooscaley.com

Cool, glad you got them....

I tried an experiment this year with my new thermostats. I set the vertical pairs of cages at different temps and watched what temp the females gravitated to. That's where I ended up setting all my temps. The room does get warmer and the upper cage sections where they are also get warmer, so even if I set them a couple of degrees warmer would not have made a difference. I'm thinking 81/82 might be optimal.

They should be starting to shed out this weekend. Does feel a bit weird that I have so many babies and not one has shed.

BTW, I'm counting my total for the year as all born at my house plus my share of our joint outcrossing venture for a total of 85 babies so far. That places my at my second best year ever and I may still have more coming. Though very likely it will NOT be enough to top my best year, could get close. To top 2005, Boo would have tpo drop a seriously large litter (she is known for large litters) AND Clover would have to drop a decent size litter and I suspect she is not gravid at all.

I'm basically at least one, more like two gravid females away from topping 2005. 2008 on the other hand will very likely blow past the 2005 mark and could even reach twice as many babies!!!
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
24.36 BRB
19.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats