Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'd like to donate a young Eastern indigo to an established nature center for educational purposes, preferably in the SE. This is a beautiful 6/03 red- throat hatchling, feeding well on small mice and thriving. Her tail is deformed and looking at the scalation near her vent I would ask that she not be bred. Any direction to go would be appreciated. Thanks, Steve Fuller

Hi Steve, if you are unable to find a nature center in the SE interested in your indigo (which would be VERY hard to believe) our nature center would be happy to display your girl. We just built two eastern indigo displays focusing on conservation at our new wildlife center....I am putting one of my indigos on display but we still have another cage to fill. It is a beautiful display measuring 8' wide x 3' deep x 3' high with all of the bells and whistles...she would have a great home. BUT, I hope someone in the SE jumps at your generous offer as that is where we really need to focus our conservation efforts. Rob Carmichael, Director/Curator, The Wildlife Discovery Center, City of Lake Forest Parks & Recreation (IL)

Hello Carmichael,
She's yours. Please send mailing address and phone number. Hope you don't mind overnight UPS. She just ate large meal so I'll wait until Monday, 10/06 to ship. If that works for you. She's only a little over two ft. Three months old. I see no nbeed for federal permit as this is a straight gift.
Regards,
Steve

I have some minor concerns about the tail of my 02 female. I would & will post pics but can't at this time because i'm having troulbe with the macro function on my digi cam.
Would you post some pics of the defect?

Thanks!

Eric

Photo didn't upload. I'll try again by the weekend. Three month old female Eastern was born with a knob rising up from her spine just south of base of tail. This has become less noticeable as she has grown. There's a smaller kink in tail about halfway down. Ventral scales for about first 3 cm from tail look irregular. Entire tail is shorter than that of other females in clutch.

go away as the animal grows....Some don't, but many do..

Do you consider this genetic or a hatching/temp problem..CG
-----
Carl W Gossett
Garage Door Herps
Monument,Colorado...northern territory of the Great Republic of Texas

Temperature or genetic cause? I don't know. The other four hatchlings looked fine. I kept egg box on mid-height shelf in snake room. Sixth egg never developed an embryo although egg looked normal for most of incubation. Egs seven and eight were no good from the start. I guess because not only tail is right, but because scalation is abnormal ventrally, this snake shouldn't be in the mix for future generations. This was first breeding for two young adults.

Temperature or genetic cause? I don't know. The other four hatchlings looked fine. I kept egg box on mid-height shelf in snake room. Sixth egg never developed an embryo although egg looked normal for most of incubation. Egs seven and eight were no good from the start. I guess because not only tail is right, but because scalation is abnormal ventrally, this snake shouldn't be in the mix for future generations. This was first breeding for two young adults.