Here we are, enjoying a snow storm, with more to come. Might as well be winter. It would certainly be a nice to be watching Texas indigos scooting around a grapefruit orchard or swimming laps in a nearby stream. It's gratifying to see those photos and know that the indigos are there. Anyway, I put Mullet Fingers in with Lisa of Ohio this morning. Observed mating this afternoon. Mullet Fingers hatched here in 2003. Lisa is a Dean Allesandrini hatchling. This is their third definite good time together. Mullet Fingers has also mated well with Lisa's sister, Michelle of Ohio.
Photo with section of shed skin is from December 12, Jerry Kruse hatchling mating with Sister Skink. Male is here on breeding loan. Sister Skink hatched here in 2005. I put him into her cage right after she had shed. Time right after female sheds seems to be prime time for captive mating. This is at least their second definite session. You could smell it when entering the snake room.
I've always stated that it's a true pleasure to raise a hatchling indigo to a adulthoodness. Another good time is warming up the room and bringing up the lights at the end of December. The Eastern and Texas males start feeding again in January. The females get larger and stop feeding by February. The pre-laying shed around the end of February leads to eggs in March. All of this offsets the winter underland afflicitng us in New England.
Many thanks to those posting field photos and good luck to everyone working on Drymarchon captive breeding.
