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Bairdi already showing color?

crtoon83 Sep 18, 2004 09:20 PM

The female bairdi I have - the one whose eating, i had out last night. I looked at her closely and I can see a yellow shimmer on her outer scales and it looks like there is a lot of BRIGHT RED inbetween her scales! Isn't it way too early for this to normally happen? She's only shed three times in her life, once since i've had her (i think shes getting ready to shed again). I tried getting pictures but the red lines are so faint and small i cant get a picture of it. maybe it'll be better next shed
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The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

Battling ignorance one stupid person at a time.

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat(Lola)
1.0 Neonate Black Rat (het for Lic Stk's) (Frankie)
1.1 Texas Bairds (Jose and Rosa)

Replies (4)

terryp Sep 19, 2004 12:44 AM

Chris -
Is this the bairdi where it was posted about half of the hatchlings were already showing yellow color? Is the red on the scale edges more prevalent behind the head than towards the tail? I think bairds hatch with a little color on their scale edges in the area behind the head. As the hatchling grows and sheds, the color on the edges are seen more easily and become more intense. Some of Jimmy Draybar's macro shots of his bairds and updates show this really well. It's been my experience, that the females usually grow and develop a little quicker than the males for the first year. So much, that sometimes I've seen pairs that hatched within a week of each other and you would think the male was a runt. It's great that your bairds are already showing color. It doesn't seem that anything to do with color or pattern changes can be abnormal with bairds rat snakes. Everytime I think I know what to look for, they throw me a curve or something new to remind me they can show almost any color and/or pattern/stripe. LOL. It amazes me that they make such a drastic pattern change from crossbars to stripes (the only North American snake that does this) and develops such a wide spectrum of colors and shades on their scale edges for a snake that generally inhabits rocky areas and hangs out in crevices looking to prey on crevice lizards. I realize your male baird isn't eating for you yet Chris, but it also is amazing bairds hatchlings will start on pinkie mice so readily for a primarily lizard eater. Lyre snakes aren't generally as cooperative with the switch from lizard to mice. That is why I happened to mention scenting the pinkie. Be patient with your male. He'll eat. Since he ate three times before you got him; it shows that there doesn't appear to be anything physically wrong for him not to eat.

Terry Parks

crtoon83 Sep 19, 2004 04:29 PM

Well yes it's the female, and I dont think but one or two from the clutch are showing color - that I know of at least. It is on the half of the body closer to the head, yes - however the yellow shimmer is al the way down the body. I think she's getting ready to shed so hopefully i'll see a difference soon .

My male is in solitary confinement right now lol - i recreated his conditions as best I could from how the breeder had him and I got in touch with a pet store who is going to give me some substrate from a lizards cage to scent the pink with. I'm gonna give him a few more days before I try feeding him again. Thanks,
Chris

(by the way the one showing color is not the one whose not eating in case it wasnt very clear - sorry)
-----
The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

Battling ignorance one stupid person at a time.

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat (Lola)
1.0 Neonate Black Rat (het for Lic Stk's) (Frankie)
1.1 Texas Bairds (Jose and Rosa)

draybar Sep 19, 2004 04:30 PM

>>The female bairdi I have - the one whose eating, i had out last night. I looked at her closely and I can see a yellow shimmer on her outer scales and it looks like there is a lot of BRIGHT RED inbetween her scales! Isn't it way too early for this to normally happen? She's only shed three times in her life, once since i've had her (i think shes getting ready to shed again). I tried getting pictures but the red lines are so faint and small i cant get a picture of it. maybe it'll be better next shed
>>-----

Hey in my opinion the earlier the better.
It would seem to me that the earlier the color comes in the more color the baidi will end up with.
Sounds to me like she will be a beauty.
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

crtoon83 Sep 19, 2004 06:30 PM

oh yeah I am psyched she's already showing color! I just was kinda shocked. Wasn't expecting it anywhere near this soon.
-----
The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -George Carlin

Battling ignorance one stupid person at a time.

Current snakes:
0.1 Licorice Stick Black Rat (Lola)
1.0 Neonate Black Rat (het for Lic Stk's) (Frankie)
1.1 Texas Bairds (Jose and Rosa)

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