Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi Guys,

Being into smaller boids, sand boas and such like...it is no surprise that these guys also interest me. These 2 little critters came in as centipedes from Egypt. (Yes....centipedes!!)

They are fun little things, so i thought I would keep hold of them.

I was hoping that you could help me identify them, and give me more accurate information on how they are best kept, what they will eat and more about their breeding habits. I have read that some of them are parthenogenic, which suits me down to the ground!!

Anyway, here are the photos, all information will be gratefully accepted!!

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Regards
Chris Jones
Chris Jones Reptiles
Sand Boa Forum

I figure they will eat ant larvae/eggs. Maybe worms. How exactly did you get them? Did you order centipes(that first pic looks like a millipede more than centipede) or what? That is interesting. More info will come from Herperhelmz
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Justin

Egyptian shippers could not care less about what they send you. I presume they were short of centipedes, so filled up the consignment with these guys.

This kind of thing happens all the time, although I have not had blind snakes come in before.

They are certainly a type of blind / worm snake. They have no legs. The pink one I can see small eyes and a tongue, the black one I see a defined head.
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Regards
Chris Jones
Chris Jones Reptiles
Sand Boa Forum

Oh yes, I know they are worm/blind snake, I just don't know what kind. I was just pointing out that that first one resembld a milipede.
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Justin

Looks like you got some blind snakes on your hands. They are pretty awesome little snakes but somewhat difficult captives. They will eat termite eggs, ant eggs and ant larvae. They are a very interesting snake to keep, they are the only snake species that chews their food. I'd keep them in a little tank with a sand/soil mix and mist the soil every two days or they may dry up. Keep a few flat rocks on the surface and the snakes may hide under them, but I'm pretty sure they will just make little burrows underground and you'll never see them. If their burrows happen to be made from under the rocks, or if they hide under the rocks occasionally, place some frozen thawed ant eggs, and some termite eggs under the rocks, they may eat, they may not. Interesting snake none the less, good luck with them.
Michael
Michael's Place

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http://www.freewebs.com/mikesnake

Helmz614@aol.com

What about the pathenognic(spelling) thing with them. It'd be cool to have snakes that require no mating wouldn't it.
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Justin

Unfortunately, there are no parthenogenic snakes, Chris, though there are parthenogenic lizards. Now, how you go about sexing a snake that small is beyond me.

I have no experience with blind snakes, so can't help with the ID. Good luck. Not a very informative post, I agree, but just thought I'd clear up any potential beeding mishaps.

Carl

Hey,

I have read on several information sites and in a book, that the Brahimy blind snake is parthenogenic, is this wrong??

I have also heard of a case of a burmese lay fertile eggs without mating......although I do not know the outcome of this.

If there are no parthenogenic snakes, is there a scientific reason why not? Or is just, none have been discovered yet?
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Regards
Chris Jones
Chris Jones Reptiles
Sand Boa Forum

The first two books I picked up (Mattison, O' Shea) both indicate that Ramphotyphlops braminus is parthenogentic. And I have seen it numerous other places.
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Andy Maddox
AIM: thekingofproduct
MSN: Poloboy32486@hotmail.com
Yahoo:surfandskimtx04
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

And the sign says "No long hair freaky people need not apply." So I put my hair under my hat and I went in to ask him why. He said you look like a fine outstanding young man I think you'll do. So I took off my hat I said "Imagine that Huh Me working for you."-Tesla

I've played with blind snakes in my youth. Except I didn't know they were called that. I'm from Malaysia, and the Chinese here call it "Ti Jua" which means metallic snake, cos it has a somewhat metallic hide. They do have a mildy venomous tip on one end, can't remember which. I got stung once. The swelling disappears after 2 to 3 days. You can find more about this snake here:

http://www.ecologyasia.com/Vertebrates/brahminy_blind_snake.htm

You lucky, lucky man. I SO want to get a blind snake or two...I don't suppose you'd send one or two to me?
Please please please????

Also, I understand they eat ant and termite larvae, eggs and sometimes the adult bugs themselves. I think the real question here would be where would one get a regular supply of eggs and larvae?

I've also heard they eat worms...that would be good as worms would be MUCH easier to get ahold of...

Yeah, it's a bit strange, I'm not sure if they are eating right now.

I have managed to grab a pile of ants and some eggs from my garden. I have put a few ants in each tub, along with one egg in each. There are still one or two ants walking around, but I don't know about the eggs, as the ants were moving them around as well???

I don't know the best way of going about it really, i was thinking about just grabbing loads of eggs, freezing them, and then I could just chuck a couple in every other day or something??

Will they eat small baby crickets?? They can't surely eat small grubs, worms etc... because they aren't even as fat as them themselves! They really are TINY!!

Also, in the pink worm snake, she is virtually see through, and i can see about 3 maybe 4, egg looking things inside her? Like a few grains of rice.......are these eggs, or her intestines or something?? DO they even lay eggs???

Man, ALL help would be appreciated, I would love to get a colony of these guys going!
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Regards
Chris Jones
Chris Jones Reptiles
Sand Boa Forum

I don't know the best way of going about it really, i was thinking about just grabbing loads of eggs, freezing them, and then I could just chuck a couple in every other day or something??

*** Yeah I would say you should do that. But the snakes will need to eat alot of ant eggs and/or termite eggs on every feeding.***

Also, in the pink worm snake, she is virtually see through, and i can see about 3 maybe 4, egg looking things inside her? Like a few grains of rice.......are these eggs, or her intestines or something?? DO they even lay eggs???

*** They may be eggs, I am pretty sure they lay eggs ***
Michael
Michael's Place

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http://www.freewebs.com/mikesnake

Helmz614@aol.com