Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey guys, got some new pix to post and a couple questions to ask about my snake. In this first two pics, you'll notice the separation of her scales in the thickest part of her body. They're not spread apart on all of her body, just at her thickest part (guessing her stomach?). I know this is usually an indicator of being overweight. I feed her every 5 days, 3 fuzzies at a time, and she gets exercise when I take her out once a day, but other than that, she sleeps most of the time in her cage. Take a look and tell me if you guys think it's a problem.

IMG]http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a54/Kinglvr/Joshsstuff008.jpg[/IMG]

Take a look at the taper of the tail on her in that second pic. She pooped right after I took that pic, don't know if that had anything to do with it. It's always a very drastic taper like that though.

Thanks for looking. Looking forward to comments.

Oops, sorry messed that first one up in the last post.

Here it is:

Hey guys, here's one more. If you take a look, you'll notice all of the red markings in the middle of her body, almost seperating her underside from her topside. Is this a normal thing? I haven't really seen anything like it on any other Hypo brooksis.

#1 don't look at it as your snake is fat... the first time i saw that on my King i just looked at it as the snake is growing... to your 2nd question about the red separating the belly and the back... Brooksi/ Fl. kings are a very Variant subspecies so there may be lots of things that they have in common and lots of thing that vary from snake to snake...

Whitish/yellow Hypo

Orange Hypo

Red Hypo

~ZF

Thanks Zenny. So I guess once she's an adult and if it's still like that, THEN I could assume she's a little overweight? I guess I should've thought about that. She is growing like a weed.

Thanks for posting your pics, I love all of your brooksi's (you know that though, I pound that into your brain all the time.)Do you have any axanthic brooksis'?? If so, I'd be highly interested.

No axanthics yet... i got het axanthics in my collection... i'm getting my first NE axanthic this season... hopefully a pair!

~ZF

When exactly is the breeding "season"? Is there an exact date that you should begin brumation to get the best results? I know this is off-topic, but I've been wondering this for a while.

Any other comments on my snake are greatly appreciated.

Breeding season is in the Spring... there is no exact date to start brumation... what I do is change the light cycle when the temps. start to go down (i.e. put the snakes in complete darkness, I still feed them)... all the books I've read said that you shouldn't feed you snakes through brumation, so I won't TELL you or Advice you to do what I've done... but I do feed my snake through Brumation... at least once a week, not huge meals so they won't regurgitate... I take them out of Brumation slowly... when it warms up... introduce them on the female's first shed... if that doesn't work wait for her 2nd shed...

Hope that makes sense

~ZF

So basically Zenny, you spoil your snakes and can't stand to see them not eating?? Haha, that's great man! Thanks a lot for the info., you da man.

Zenny,
When you say you feed all during brumation what temps are you useing??? Also do you use no light all winter or what?? Lastly do you give any heat source while brumating??
Later Jason

Some of my snakes naturally stop feeding when temps go down... i don't check the exact temperature (i'd say the lowest i ever got to was 60 degrees), i just leave a window open and the heat on (room heater... not belly heat on a medium setting)... the temps fluctuate... some ties temps went way up maybe to the 70s in the day but they go right back down at night i keep them in complete darkness and i check on all of them using a flash light... i never had one regurg.

The Goini Female that I Bred, was fed all winter... she gave me all (13) good eggs... so i think the method works...

~ZF

I am glad that it worked for you Zenny....
I doubt it would work with Mexicana or Mountain kings...do you?

Florida has a warm, humid climate that cools very seldom....So, yeah that should work for them.

I have a budy that does not even cool Pueblans and Corns and he produces 2 to 3 clutches every year. Hell...The Pueblan laid 9 good eggs her first clutch and 11 the second....Sure there will be a third as well.

I think it just depends on the species of snakes you are working with. That decides to hibernate or not or what hibernation technique(s) to use.
John Lassiter

That would make sense when you think about it (all depends on what you're working with)... as far as working with mexicana or Mountain kings.. we won't know till we try... hopefully someone will do the work.

i have yet to see it my self but i have heard several times that breeders get their snakes to produce without a cooling cycle or a change in their light cycle?

~ZF

Yep, there are always exceptions.....Snake are as individual as you and I.

SOME people DON'T get their snakes to produce with a cooling period and a light cycle as well.......

John Lassiter

I will agree with Zenny in that there is a whole lot of variaility with the s. florida brooksi especially when the hypo gene is present.

I also think your snake might have cycled and has produced follicles. That explains the "fat" stretched bloated look on the rear 1/3 of her body. I have several female yearlings that have fed well and just started to do the same thing in the past two weeks. Keep feeding her frequently and cycle her this winter and you will probably get a clutch out of her in spring of '06.

She's not even close to being a yr. old yet though Rainer. I guess that doesn't matter? She's only about 23 inches long. Thanks a lot though for the tips. I wish I had a mate for her, but I don't, and I won't for another yr. or so, which sucks. I gotta wait 'til I'm out of the parents house though.

Also, I feel VERY stupid for having to ask such a childish question, but it is possible for a female to become gravid without the sperm from the male right? What would happen if this occured?

God I'm embarrassed.

I have heard it has happened. Haven't you seen the movie Jurassic Park? LOL! Just kidding.
Seriously, it has happened and there is a word for it, it just escapes me right now.