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Petunia surprised me yesterday with babies. I had been unsure about her for a while as she is an old girl and she looked a bit off. I couldn't quite tell if she was gravid with a small litter, or if she was waning away in her old age. Turns out it was a small litter. 16 slugs, and 3 dead-in-sac babies. Shame about the babies, especially being het hypo and look at those stripes! Mom seems vibrant and in good health so that is a relief!
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Aubrey Ross
Sorry to hear that! The babies look very slightly premature to me, having not resorbed their yolk sacs. Unfortunately almost the same thing happened to me last week, except it was my E. assisi - a bunch of slugs and 3 in the sac, fully-formed, but slightly premature babies that hadn't taken in their yolk sacs. It was sad but there's always next year and thankfully, like your female, the mom is doing well and is feeding well.
These are the babies, taken out of their sacs with yolk removed 
Sorry to hear about your litter as well. Though it is interesting that some of yours also have some neck striping. This in addition to Petunia never throwing stripes (that I know of) in her 19-20 years of life has me thinking that some of the stripes we see out there are temperature determined. If not temp, then some other gestational factor.
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Aubrey Ross
I was interested in picking up a few of this ssp if you have any msg me.
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John Wiseman
www.rainbowsbydesign.com
18.30 BRBs (as of 6-20-2012)
3.8 others
Sorry to hear that. I assume that's the same Petunia I sold you several years back?
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Thanks,
Dave Colling
www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com
0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)
LOL, to many snakes to list, last count (02/01/2010):
42.61 BRB
27.40 BCI
And those are only the breeders 
lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats 
Yep, same old girl. After this litter I am thinking it might be time for her to retire.
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Aubrey Ross
When was your last viable litter from her? I'm not disagreeing it may be time for her to retire but she did produce a decent number of eggs. I've seen much younger females have similar results tht went on to produce very nice clutches. I honestly do not know at what age they should stop breeding. I suspect my Wilma is similar aged and still going strong.
Honestly I very much wonder how long females can continue to breed. Unfortunately there is only one way to find out.
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Thanks,
Dave Colling
www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com
0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)
LOL, to many snakes to list, last count (02/01/2010):
42.61 BRB
27.40 BCI
And those are only the breeders
lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats
I'm thinking it is likely her age. Though last month I did discover a plug had come out from the cord running from my thermostat for an unknown period of time. I was dumb enough to not follow which cage it went to, so if it was hers that could have been the cause.
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Aubrey Ross
Sorry to hear about that. At least the momma is well. The striping looks very interesting, seems stripes a popping up everywhere now. I have been wondering if pattern irregularities are a result of improper gestation. That does happen in other species so it could be possible.
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John Wiseman
www.rainbowsbydesign.com
18.30 BRBs (as of 6-20-2012)
3.8 others
Sorry to hear about the failed litter, but glad to know the mom is doing good!
Charlie
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