Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I tried to search the forums but had little luck. I'm expecting my first litter ever of albino het snows and dh's. Mom has been text book and has about 3 weeks to go. I've got a rack for the babies but have a few critical questions.

Get mom out asap?

How long should I leave the babies be before moving them?

Put them individually in the rack w/ moist paper towel?

thanks for helping out a beginnner -Jack

Let the Female be. I usually wait untill the neos have started to disperse or get moving. Let the Female do what she needs to do and watch the process. You'll get to see the nudging and other behavoirs they do to help get the clutch going. IMO I think people pull alot of Females way too early and who knows what is missed by doing so. I've said this before also, I have never seen a Female deliberately lay on live offspring. Still borns and slugs yes, but live no. I've also seen offspring get under the female or in her coils and pop their little heads out, fun stuff though.

Hey Jack, IMO it's best to get mom out soon after giving birth if for no better reason than she is tired and less likely to be seriously defensive of her litter. BUT, of course be careful, she might just wanna tag the crap outa you!!!

Leave babies alone until they clear their yolk/membrane. Of course each litter is different and will require judgement calls.

I normally house seperately on damp paper towels until first shed, then dry ones. In the case of larger yolk bellies, like my last litter, I put them together in one tub on a bit higher heat to help digest that extra yolk.

Pretty much always someone around on here so when they do drop you can most likely get some real time situation specific advice.
-----
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:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I, too, pull mom out when she's done (can be difficult), I put the babies together in 2 ft tubs (6" tall) . I put warm damp towels, or old t-shirts (aka snake towels) and change them daily. Once they shed, I pull one out, sex it and put it in a tub with an ID card, and onto the next one. I usually wait about a week after they shed before I try to feed.
-----
Snake room janitor