Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just wanted to make an update on the male alterna I caught May 16th, 1984. He is still going strong after 29 years living in Kansas. Must be clean living! LOL. I found him on Pandale dirt about 3 miles north of the railroad track @ Langtry. He's approximately 40 inches long. He has had a growth of some sort about 6" above the vent. Don't know if this will eventually be his demise or not but he's had it now for over 2 years. I feed him "hopper" size mice so he can digest/pass them easier because of that growth. I've kept him on newspaper with a hidebox and cool him down to 60 degrees every winter. Nothing earth shattering about the way I keep him. Just lucky I guess. I also have a captive born male from 88 and a cb female from 89 (both Juno's) that are still going strong as well. Also still have a male celanops I caught in May of 88 on River Road and a captive born Bairds rat from 85. Just thought I'd share these longevity snakes with you guys. BA

That's awesome!

Has your cb 1988 Juno female produced any offspring over the years?

I've got a female 277 that was collected as a sub-adult 1998. She produced a good clutch last year and hopefully will go again this year. I'm not sure if it would be better for her to retire, or to just let her keep breeding.
-----
www.hcu-tx.org/

No, Aaron I have never bred her. Maybe its just me but the alterna females I bred in the past usually ended up dying within 5-8 years. I think they just get used up by breeding/egg laying every year or two. The ones I never bred have lived at least twice as long in captivity.

Congrats on your husbandry techniques! A history of longevity is not a happenstance event. You've got it down pat and that's a blessing for the herps you've kept in your collection.

I have to agree. You are definitely doing something right and your proof is in the age of those snakes. Good work. Very cool to have read this post and I just shared it with my wife. She probably hopes my husbandry is not as good as yours!! Lol

Joe