Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have my 10 hatchlings all of which are normal in one cage. For you folks that have done this before, how do you tell who had shed and who hasn't so you know who to feed? Do they appear much different after their first shed?

Thanks in advance,
Jonah

>>I have my 10 hatchlings all of which are normal in one cage. For you folks that have done this before, how do you tell who had shed and who hasn't so you know who to feed? Do they appear much different after their first shed?
>>
>>Thanks in advance,
>>Jonah
>>

Keep Them Separate
otherwise you will not know who sheds, who eats, who may have regurgitated (if this happens) who doesn't eat, who may or may not have regular bowel movemnets etc..etc ...etc
You can get six quart rubbermade shoe boxes for .99.
You can get enough aspen to last months for about $4.00, SO, you could easily house 10 hatchlings in separate containers for around $15.00 or you can guess about the health of all ten for free...hmm
this may seem a little harsh but there have been many many posts reguarding cohabitation and, in short, it just isn't worth the risk.
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Remember, My posts are MY opinion only!
Jimmy (draybar)

They are now all housed separately. I plan on keeping only one of them and the rest are going to my local reptile store as soon as they have all had their first meals.

>>They are now all housed separately. I plan on keeping only one of them and the rest are going to my local reptile store as soon as they have all had their first meals.

I think it will be a lot easier for you to keep track of them this way.
And it should be better on them, too.
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Remember, My posts are MY opinion only!
Jimmy (draybar)

I would not keep them together as there is a risk of two snakes eating the same food item and one carries on eating and by accident eats one of the others.

I agree with Jimmy's post above but I must admit that when I kept and bred corns a long time ago, I seperated them out into two containers, 1 for males and 1 for females. I seperated or rotated them out individually for feedings but I now realize there are great risks with doing this and would never promote such husbandry practices unless you are moving them out quickly for wholesale or something temporary. It is so inexpensive to house corns individually. I would imagine the ones that just shed will appear much brighter and will appear to have developed more color than the others that have not yet shed. Also, I would not be surprised if you had trouble getting some of them to eat after their first shed b/c of the stress of housing all 10 together. Just my 3cents.
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Sincerely,
Jason
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