Diary of a snake (and her girl)...

[EasternGirl]

Yeah...that is exactly what Richard told me about lights. As far as Mama goes, you could put the babies up for adoption on here, couldn't you? If need be..I mean. How often do snakes usually shed? I did read your post about Ember and Snap biting each other on the mouth...that is scary! I hope they are okay. Do you have pics of your snakes on here?

Totally off topic...I should so be asleep right now. I have to go register for school at 9 in the morning....I can't sleep! Ugh!

[kibakiba]

It would be illegal for me to sell them, I think.
Snakes shed when they need to, if they're going through a growth spurt they will fairly fast. My 4 month old northwesterns shed once every 3 weeks, my concinnus have once every couple weeks. My adults, well it's been about 6 months or more between sheds, Mama shed's a bit more than Snakey, but she's still getting fatter.

[ConcinusMan]

Yeah...that is exactly what Richard told me about lights.

Actually, I was referring to the incandescent basking bulb. A regular flood lamp style bulb would do. You don't need to get the reptile basking bulbs and pay $15.

The only florescent lights I have used for them were Reptisun bulbs. Not exactly cheap but again, I watched for them online and snatched some up for $3 each. The pet store sells them for around $18.

I don't know if the benefit would be the same if you just used any florescent bulb. I've only used the reptisun bulbs. Any florescent bulb mimicking a natural spectrum should do though.

[ConcinusMan]

It would be illegal for me to sell them, I think. Mama shed's a bit more than Snakey, but she's still getting fatter.

She didn't say sell but I think maybe you have a gravid girl on your hands. Don't worry, they don't have big litters. Biggest litter I've seen was 7 but it's usually between 2-5.

[kibakiba]

True but it still seems like it could considered selling. I can't afford shipping, either, if I had to.

[ConcinusMan]

The adopting party pays shipping. You charge nothing for the snakes, that's not selling. Anyway, don't worry. They don't have a lot of babies, and it just might be safe to release them by the time they come. It was 2 months from the time I noticed my red stripe girl getting fat. That would be March. Even if it's still rather cold out, they would be OK outside in March.

[kibakiba]

Cool, I guess we'll see what happens when it happens. if I do decide to adopt them out it might be a little hard but it'd be worth giving them a home that could care for them better than I could.

[ConcinusMan]

I would probably just release them where you found other northwesterns. Seriously, by the time they do come, the worst of winter will be over. Should be above freezing at night by then. They'll be fine even if the weather is wet and cold to you and me.

I see tiny one's sitting on top of fallen trees, (rotting logs) even in February, when the sun comes out and it's only in the upper 40's. They instinctively know how to survive and find shelter. They live in and under those logs when it's cold. The rotting generates warmth.

[kibakiba]

Snakey, Tiny and Squirt were found in my yard, while Mama and Runt were found a half a mile away from my house. We have fallen trees on the side of our yard, I'll probably put them there.

[EasternGirl]

You know the funny thing is...I see people talking about going out herping....in the Spring, I only have to walk out into my backyard and it will be a herpfest. My entire yard is completely overrun by garters...you can see the burrows everywhere and we see them all over our yard, and they come into our basement. Speaking of which, I found a snake in the fall living under our steps outside that I believe to be Selena's mom. Do you think she would have made it through this cold winter we are having? I have often wondered if she is okay under there.

Another question...how long do snakes gestate?