Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am board and frustrated as I am aging faster than I wished but oh well such is life. I sit here at my computer that at times rules my life hoping to impart wisdom but today I have none just updates.

I received a new female western coachwhip from an area very close to where I caught my first male some 12 years ago (boy how time flies) she does however eat like a pig as she will need to gain weight to make some eggs.

I have taken about four years off as the neonates are hell to start but my now neighbor Kevin wants to breed only coachwhips (God help him) as he has no idea what hell the neonates will give him.

Coachwhips are and will remain my favorite snake so I am excited to see their little noses poking out of the small slit in their egg but dread watching half pass away due to lack of interest in any food item.

Again my posting is sporadic due to a complicated life and wish anyone working with these awesome snakes the best……………………….Bill
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"Life without risk is to merely exist."

A quick question Bill, The neonates, how big are they when they hatch ?
I have 5 red and 2 eastern babies here which may well be slightly grown on. I want to know how big the hatchlings are as I have been assist feeding them till they started to eat pinks for themselves.(5 reds and 1 eastern eating so far)
I have 2.3 westerns plus hoping that glades have actually sent the trio of reds to hamm, so I am looking to breed them next year. If possible. I would much prefer not to looe any babies if at all possible and will assist feed early if need be.

Also is it cooldown for most of the coachwhips now, out of 7 adults I only have 2 feeding at the moment. The rest I have cooled anyway (barring the one new eastern as it's a little skinny).

Mike

They are 8 to 10 inches at birth. Assist feeding does not work well for them as they only shut down more from the stress of handling. I cool down starting middle of December after clearing all food from their system.
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"Life without risk is to merely exist."

Thanks for that Bill.

I say mine weren't feeding but as I was feeding the old female (blind and still very skinny) then the larger male came over and snatched the item from my hand. Was a little shock to me as I wasn't even watching him.

Unfortunately the adult reds that came were two skinny males, supposed to be feeding so fingers crossed. At least there are 4 females in the red hatchlings that we have.

Thinking of loaning one of my female westerns to another coachwhip nut (Paul / Coluber). That way we have more chance of some hatchlings between us.

Mike

I've got to get babies first If nothing else, I know where there's a good supply of baby emories

Kevin