Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[john_wuk]

Just got additions number 4 and 5!

I have a royal, a blood red x amel and a normal amel corn and two black rat snakes.

What I was wanting to ask is at what age do they start to darken, I presume that it is gradual change.

Looking at all the topics and kinda laughing as I seem to be blessed with excellent feeders. All my snakes will eat just before a shed, my python has even had the had the mouse in his mouth when he started shedding once! So funny!

I will get round to posting some pics later.

[JohnC]

The juvenile pattern lingers on a long time and darkening is very slow. There will still be mainly pattern at a year old and loss of it will only be finalised when virtually full grown, if then.
Some localities of the black rat finish up pretty well black with a few white and red scales indicating the original pattern, whereas some localities never become virtually all black, remaining a darker version of a grey rat snake in colour.
Do you know what the parents were like?
_________________
John
Oldest member, been keeping reptiles for 36 years.
Carpets, royals, rainbow boas, corns, milks, ackies and leos.

[linda]

my corn snake shed just after he ate 2 pinkies, but then again he is a pig..lol

[JohnC]

Wrong thread, Linda
_________________
John
Oldest member, been keeping reptiles for 36 years.
Carpets, royals, rainbow boas, corns, milks, ackies and leos.

[john_wuk]

The mother was jet black but never saw the father. Apparently he was a high contrast yellow??? So could get some nice saddling or just some murky black patterning. Either way I dont mind!

Just waiting a few days before I give them their first feed but the breeder I got them off says they are quite enthusiastic feeders so I'll see ust how enthsiastic soon!

[JohnC]

So maybe the father was a yellow rat snake, as a black rat has no yellow at all in it.
Intergades between black and yellow are not uncommon, I have had them years ago and they ended up a dark brown with faint stripes and pattern.
_________________
John
Oldest member, been keeping reptiles for 36 years.
Carpets, royals, rainbow boas, corns, milks, ackies and leos.

[Nerys]

there is a reason for not feeding whilst your snake is in shed, to do with the metabolism and digestion throughout the shed period.. its recommended not to do it, though i too have snakes that will eat whilst totally in the blue..

will try and track down where i heard the details.. was talking to vet about it..

N