Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Found Tink had expelled her litter 11 days early, already not a good sign.

She was chowing down on Slugs, at least 15 of them.....

There were 6 developing babies, two dead one of which had a green yolk, probably died inside mom and started to affect the rest since the closest baby was also still.

There are four early term babies with larger yolks. On the edge of viable and only the next few days will tell.

My little NICU....

I rolled each sack onto a damp paper towel to transfer them unbroken to a baby tub. The most lively (upper right) had to pop it's sack while I was moving it.

Will keep you posted on their progress.

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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 (02/01/2010):
42.61 BRB
27.40 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Sorry to see you had a bad litter, but at least she is regaining lost calories from the potatoes. Crossing my fingers that the NICU works for those little ones.
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Aubrey Ross

©
www.SlipstreamSerpents.com

Thanks Aubrey, doing the best I can for them.....
-----
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 (02/01/2010):
42.61 BRB
27.40 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

That's sad to see Dave. Good luck with the 4 babies that made it.

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Paul D

www.MoonlightBoas.com

I saw on your breeding page that you only noted one copulation. I wonder if that's the reason there were so many slugs. Also, it looks like she only had 8 babies last year. Do you think Tink could use a year off?

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Paul D

www.MoonlightBoas.com

Poor little preemies! I really hope they pull through!
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~Cynthia

"And in the spring, I shed my skin and it blows away with the changing wind..."

Thanks, I'm giving them every chance I can.
-----
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 (02/01/2010):
42.61 BRB
27.40 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Those four only look a little premature. My practice is to always break the membranes and let them get their noses out and start breathing and then leave them as undisturbed as possible so they will stay coiled in the membrane and finish absorbing yolk. You may have the better idea keeping them inside the intact membrane as long as possible. The membrane facilitates osmotic gas exchange while they are still being carried by the mother. There is probably even better gas exchange going on when the membranes are out in the air.

Thanks Jeff, they seem to be doing well, will post an update with details for all.....
-----
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 (02/01/2010):
42.61 BRB
27.40 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

All four are doing well, better than I expected since at least one had a larger yolk.

Born Yesterday afternoon I transferred them sack and all to a baby tub. Placed this tub in my BCI rack for a few extra degrees "cooking" temp.

One sack was ruptured by the baby as I transferred it. That baby had the least yolk. The other three transferred intact and were left that way until late last night when I pipped each one to get the babies breathing on their own.

This morning while it looks like most of the remaining yolk has been absorbed the three babies are still in their respective sacks.

I now think all four will make it with the progress they've already made. I also expect it will be a couple weeks before any are hungry and will likely take longer for that first shed.

I looked over my records and assuming at least one survives, this is my shortest recorded gestation with viable babies. 106 days from POS. My previous shortest gestation was 109 days.

I post this info in the hope it can help others when faced with a similar outcome. Feel free to share it with anyone.
-----
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 (02/01/2010):
42.61 BRB
27.40 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Hey Dave, it's great to hear that they're doing well.

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Paul D

www.MoonlightBoas.com

All four are doing great, one has fully absorbed the yolk sack internally. The other three have small nodule sacs still remaining outside and I expect those will be drawn inside soon.

All 4 are active and feisty, IMO a great sign!!!

I fully believe all four will be fine!!
-----
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 (02/01/2010):
42.61 BRB
27.40 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Yay!
-----
~Cynthia

"And in the spring, I shed my skin and it blows away with the changing wind..."

All four are doing great, all yolks absorbed and they are looking and acting just fine. NICU is now closed and moving them to individual tubs!!!
-----
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 (02/01/2010):
42.61 BRB
27.40 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

That's great Dave... so glad to hear it!
-----
Aubrey Ross

©
www.SlipstreamSerpents.com

Thanks Aubrey, while not giving up, I was not real hopeful to start.

Actually surprises me that all four are doing so well. One started well ahead of the other three, two in the middle and one was clearly lagging with a noticeably larger yolk. Plus the larger than normal amount of fluid in the sacks had me concerned as well.
-----
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 (02/01/2010):
42.61 BRB
27.40 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

That's great to hear Dave

-----
Paul D

www.MoonlightBoas.com

Thanks Paul, I'm pleased as well, Tink and Diablo make some really nice looking babies.
-----
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 (02/01/2010):
42.61 BRB
27.40 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

glad to hear they are doing well