Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently bought a BRB born 2002-12, its about 8 months, and 2foot 5inches long , but its very dark in the coloration, its almost not noticable when its in the soil on the ground of the terrarium, my question is actually weather or not my BRB will get brighter colors or not, cause this is my female and i plan on breeding her as she reaches mature age, but if shes going to keep this dark phase her entire life im probably going to have to sell her, cause i want bright BRB hatchlings.. i know they shift alot in color, but actually how much, can i expect a complete 360 degree turn in her coloration or will she remain darker than other specimens..

Thank you,
Stefan Lindberg.

Also, i've read and heard from alot of people that they do bath alot, but shes been in the waterbowl the entire night , should i worry for mites? i haven't seen any on her..

Greatful for answers

Sinceryly

Stefan

Stefan,
. I have raised a bunch of BRBs. Most of mine are the plainest colored from just after their first or second shed until they are 12 to 18 months old. They often undergo amazing improvements in color each time they shed at 12 to 24 months of age. They do often spend time in water bowls. Spending too much time in the water bowl can be a sign of mites like you mentioned. Rather than look for mites on the snake where they may be hard to see look for drowned mites in the water bowl. They will look like specks of pepper. BRBs will also spend too much time in the water bowl if their cage is too hot or cold or if the water bowl is the location in the cage that affords them the most privacy. BRBs are mainly nocturnal and like hiding places.
Jeff

>>Also, i've read and heard from alot of people that they do bath alot, but shes been in the waterbowl the entire night , should i worry for mites? i haven't seen any on her..
>>
>>Greatful for answers
>>
>>Sinceryly
>>
>>Stefan

Well What i found in the waterbowl is what look like mites, but i only found 4 black specks, but not as large as pepper specks.. they were completely flat when i catched one on my finger, and didnt look like mites.. im not sure, should i check for more before i do a visit to the vet? , it might just be from the soil to, i have no clue.. it does not look like a bug anyways, and im sure if it is mites, i probably can buy some spray to get em off instead of visiting the vet?

Thanks..

Sincerly
Stefan

Stefan,
. If you suspect mites it is a good time to temporarily switch to newspaper substrate. If there are mites it is easier to get rid of them with newspaper substrate and you also do not have the problem of substrate getting into the water bowl and not being able to tell whether it is mites or substrate. We may be talking about different size pepper flakes. Our store bought preground (yuck) pepper has really small little specks. Pepper from a hand peppermill has much larger flecks. If you look at a mite under 10 to 30 power magnification you can see what it is and know for sure. There are some really inexpensive little handheld microscopes that are great for looking at things that occasionally show up around the snake room. It is also amazing to look at snake scales with one of these microscopes.
Jeff

>>Well What i found in the waterbowl is what look like mites, but i only found 4 black specks, but not as large as pepper specks.. they were completely flat when i catched one on my finger, and didnt look like mites.. im not sure, should i check for more before i do a visit to the vet? , it might just be from the soil to, i have no clue.. it does not look like a bug anyways, and im sure if it is mites, i probably can buy some spray to get em off instead of visiting the vet?
>>
>>Thanks..
>>
>>Sincerly
>>Stefan

Well i offered food today, without success, it was during the daytime hours so that might be why, but probably its cause of mites, im not sure, cause BRB's is probably not the same as ball python's , my ball eats flawlessly, never said no to a meal, and the first thing this one does is to do it, quite frustrating :/

EDIT: it did eat after all, just had to tingle the fuzzy a bit more than for my ball.. ill check for new specks in the water , and change to newspaper as substrat this weekend..

I have a yearling male thats a deep purple from the 'Lemke' line, when he has a fresh shed his irridescence is breathtaking....... especially when you compare him to my Anytheristic BRB's

cheers
Dean