Reptile & Amphibian Forums

After two years of frustration, I finally have two little heads poking out of eggshells. I'm waiting to see about 2 more eggs I think are good. They hatched 2 months and 1 day after being laid. I'm very excited being my first time, I also have 2 clutches of greybands that are only a couple of weeks away and looking good so far.Now the fun begins, getting the little guuys to eat. Any and all suggestions are welcomed. I did get a hatchling that had never ate to eat after 2 months, very stressful, he kind of just decide to eat that day. This is my first post also so a big HELLO to everyone!

Congrats and welcome. Do you have some pics?
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Doug L

Hey snake bite, I'll get some pics on soon, two are out of the eggs, looking really nice. Any advice on feeding hatchlings?

Advice on feeding hatchlings?
Yes start preying, I have found that one or two out of every clutch will eat well. Depending on the subspecies and a few may not eat for a while or may need scenting or cooling etc etc
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Doug L

here are a couple pics of my hatchlings

those look nice.lets hope they like pinkie heads and not tails
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Doug L

Are those really greeri? I have never seen greeri look like that. I would say thayeri if there were a question out for ID.

Very nice looking babies...but almost certainly not straight greeri. They might well be greeri x thayeri crosses. Good luck on getting them going!

Cheers,

Bob
www.sierraherps.com

Bob and Peter you both have a good eye. I have received the same response about my female. Someone told me she wasn't pure,crossed with Thayeri. When I purchased her at a show I question her purity , they told me it was because of selective breeding. My male being captive born from wild caught parents wasn't a good comparison in my mind. Although I have seen pics of other Greeri that look just like her. I do not consider myself at all knowledgable enough to say one way or the other and would greatly appreciate your input. Will post pics of my female, here is a pic of my male male, I have seen pics of some Thayeri that look just like him.

Your male may well be a greeri...can't tell for sure without better view of head. For those who think this is important, the best option is to get animals from reliable sources (Mexicana Group Directory: http://www.kingsnake.com/mexicana/). For additional photos of greeri, both captives and wild specimens, check out the sponsor link above (www.sierraherps.com) and follow the Photo Gallery link.

Cheers,

Bob
SierraHerps.com

Bob, I learned more this afternoon looking at your site then in the 4-5 yrs. that I've had these 2 snakes. Not from lack of trying though. I will put a better head shot of my male and my female pics up. What should I be looking in for in the head? Thanks for the shove in the right direction for info, great site!

Yeah well, I'm not an expert either, but to my knowledge about L. mexicana a thayeri may look like a greeri but not the other way round. Your greeri male is colored about as much in red and black as they come, but the hatchlings look much more thayeri than greeri to me.

The statement about the female looking the way she does because of selective breeding sounds a bit odd to me. Why would anyone even bother to breed L. m. greeri so that they come out looking like thayeri?

They are all nice snakes though, I give you that

The red in my male really pops in pics, it looks red/brown.When he goes into a shed those bands turn lavender/pink. Once I get my female pic up I'm sure there will be mor equestions, thanks for the help.

pics of female "Greeri" let me know what you think, mix, grreri or thayeri.

She looks greeri enough to me, but given the looks of your hatchlings I'd say there is a mixin with thayeri or ruthveni somewhere down the line in either male or female.

Very nice snake BTW.
/Peter

1 hatchling has shed will need to feed son. What kind of lizard should I used for first feeding? Anoles would be the cheapest.

I'm no greeri/thayeri expert, but both the pattern and color on that female don't match what I view as typical greeri. If someone told me she was 100% thayeri, I wouldn't have too much reason do doubt it.

Why start off with lizards? Give pinks a try first. Both greeri and thayeri will often take live pinks for me without any scenting.

Ryan
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Ophidiarium Charieis

I am trying scented pinks right now, no response or interest. Bob mentioned he needed a better veiw of the head, my feamle has a relatively pointier head then my male which upon close comparison is a bit blunt.

test
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"You look like a guy caught smugling reptiles in his pants" John McCain to David Letterman
Doug L