Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi:

I have a juvy Pigmy. It either has not grown its rattles yet or has lost them. When he rattles his tail, no sound is heard and No rattle is seen at the end of his tail (even with a magnfying glass.)

I don't know if he has never grown them yet or he has lost them. I seem to remember that rattlers add a section to their rattle each time they shed. My pigmy has not shedded under my care yet. My question is: will the rattle come back with the next shed or is it gone forever? How does it work? I am curious.

thx in advance One Million!

Dont know about pigmys, but my atrox had two buttons when i got it and he was a youngster. Every time he sheds he gets two more. He was up to eleven buttons on each side when he did something to break it in half in his cage. Hes back up to nine buttons now. Thats about as close as you get to regeneration, gotta wait till he sheds and gets bigger. SKINNER

Rattlesnakes all add one button each time they shed. The new button is often half concealed by the fringe scales at the base of the rattle. Rattles are fragile, and individual segments may crack or break off at any time. Sometimes, the older segments break off regularly, especially with pigmies, such that they may have just a couple of segments or none at all. With none you won't hear any noise. With pigmies, it is often hard to hear them even 3 or 4 segments. Particularly when you get older like me!!

HKM - you're not that old!!

Speaking of rattles and pygmy rattlesnakes: I inherited a large female (biggest live one I've seen at 63 cm snout-vent length) from a friend a few years back. She's definitely a "special" snake as far as rattles go. Whenever she sheds, she never retains any rattle segments, with the old (always single) segment being shed off with the rest of the skin. Doesn't mean she doesn't rattle her tail, as she does quite readily, but the sound of a single segment doesn't make much of a sound unless it vibrates against the side of her aquarium.

travis

No, but you are getting older huh?!

I have jad quite a few pigmies, albeit not for many years, and the have one rattle, shed, and still have only deal is common with them.

I would only be concerned if you HEARD the rattle when they only had one!

Email me on the new digs bro!