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accidental breeding - day 50 for eggs

M

mislisa

New member
Can anyone tell me what to look out for in regards to the health of inbred hatchlings? As well as any other tips for a first timer?

Here's the story... near the beginning of the year I had acquired my friends' 2 corns that had belonged to her son who was no longer interested. The snakes are ~9 years old siblings that had been living together since day 1 with no breeding or issues.

I had planned on separating them ASAP, but I put it off for too long (since they seemed to get along fine) and caught them mating around the end of June.

I quickly (within a week) set up a separate tank for the female and hoped that she would only lay infertile eggs if any... Well, she produced ~10 eggs, 6 of which were fertile, that I moved into a damp moss-filled covered ventilated plastic box that I had to keep in with her for a few weeks until I could make up an incubator that was cat-safe (I have 2 very curious cats).

The eggs are looking very happy and plump in their new house... 2 of the fertile eggs went bad (one was my fault - accidentally rolled it during the move) so I am now left with the 4 eggs.

We are now at day 50 and I am eager to see the little guys, but am a bit concerned since the parents were siblings.

Also, is there any way to know what color morphs the young might be? The parents are in my profile pic.
 
It is much more acceptable to practice inbreeding in reptiles, there are still some risks to it and lines should be outcrossed as much as possible but reptiles do seem to tolerate it much better than mammals. So your babies should be just fine. As to morphs, you should have the chance of getting Amels, Aneries and if they really are siblings, Snows. Possibly other combos if they have some other hidden hets in common.
 
Snakes can breed with siblings without a problem. Studies have shown that it takes many years of inbreeding before there is an issue. Since this is the first generation I don't expect you will see any ill effects. I personally wouldn't breed these babies to each other but that is my personal preference. It appears you have an amel and anery so if they are in fact siblings then it is a good chance they at least have each others morphs as hets. So I think it is a good chance you will see amel, anery and possibly a snow. Keep us posted! Pictures are a must around here.
 
You most likely didn't kill the egg by rolling it. There was a study done on rolling cornsnake eggs, and they tolerate it at least partway through incubation.
 
Thanks! I'm 99% certain they're siblings, as my friend bought them as hatchlings from a guy that claimed they were from the same clutch.

Another question I have is whether coconut husk soil will be ok for the young snakes. It's what i have for the parents, and was hoping to be able to use it for the young.

Also, any tips on handling them when they hatch? I plan on separating them after they've fed for the first time after their first shed.
 
I might be wrong on this, but isn't it common practice to separate the babies before the first feed?


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Yes and no. Some breeders separate as soon as they hatch but almost as many others keep them together until after their first shed and separate them out when they feed them for the first time. Some feel that being around the other babies for that period of time can increase the likelihood of the babies eating. I imagine that cannibalism is still a slight possibility at that stage but up until they've shed for the first time, is considered very safe from that.

I like to use paper towels with new babies until around their second shed, as it makes it easier to monitor and is gentler than Aspen, what I use with the adults. I put them on aspen after the second shed though and would think it would be fine to do the same with coconut husk.
 
ravendance said:
I might be wrong on this, but isn't it common practice to separate the babies before the first feed?


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Click to expand...

I *think* (or hope) what the OP meant is that if they successfully eat she will separate them. I am hoping that OP will feed them separately in containers... not a free for all in one container :p
That is my limited understanding -- well, assumption anyway.

I have not bred before so I can't speak for what common practice is, I can only regurgitate what others have said! But if it were me, I'd separate them as soon as they hatch. Babies (and some adults) have been known to be cannibalistic.
 
NH93 is correct. I plan on keeping the hatchlings in the enclosure until they shed, then I will take each hatchling, weigh it, feed it, then place it in it's own small enclosure. I'm not 100% sure how i'm going to house them yet, as they have to be safe from my cats and kept warm. I'm going to try and divide the current enclosure so i can keep them in there... i hope it works!
 
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