First time snake owner. Loving it!

[XenDrgn]

It is possible for a snake that young to be that size as their growth can be directly related to their feedings and their birth weight. Also, when weighing such small things, a little goes a long way and a 3g error is a pretty big difference!

That being said, I do not know my snake's birthdate, but she is about 14in/14g so weight for length seems pretty average. That being said, from what i've been told snakes can and will eat when given a chance, even if they aren't necessarily hungry. And feeding too much too often can lead to obesity and health problem. But a one time over feeding also shouldn't hurt since it looks like they made it through without regurging.

In reference to the color, what I can offer is this, since this is what I was told in reguards to my own snake because I wondered if she might actually be a candycane:

Candy Cane is essentially another name for a Diffused Amelanistic. Diffused patterned snakes have little to no belly pattern/checkers. Plus, from the picture, it looks like he's already starting to pick up his oranges along the sides.

 

[Haight]

It is possible for a snake that young to be that size as their growth can be directly related to their feedings and their birth weight. Also, when weighing such small things, a little goes a long way and a 3g error is a pretty big difference!

That being said, I do not know my snake's birthdate, but she is about 14in/14g so weight for length seems pretty average. That being said, from what i've been told snakes can and will eat when given a chance, even if they aren't necessarily hungry. And feeding too much too often can lead to obesity and health problem. But a one time over feeding also shouldn't hurt since it looks like they made it through without regurging.

In reference to the color, what I can offer is this, since this is what I was told in reguards to my own snake because I wondered if she might actually be a candycane:

Candy Cane is essentially another name for a Diffused Amelanistic. Diffused patterned snakes have little to no belly pattern/checkers. Plus, from the picture, it looks like he's already starting to pick up his oranges along the sides.

Slinky definitely has a checkered belly. It is actually almost perfect all the way down. Makes my OCD side very happy.

 

[XenDrgn]

According to someone on another thred that we're both watching they said the candy canes aren't diffused. So I dunno. I can seem to get a straight answer myself other than wait til they've reached adult size. (cause otherwise i have not been able to find anyone who can tel me the difference in looks between a baby amel and baby candy cane)

 

[Haight]

According to someone on another thred that we're both watching they said the candy canes aren't diffused. So I dunno. I can seem to get a straight answer myself other than wait til they've reached adult size. (cause otherwise i have not been able to find anyone who can tel me the difference in looks between a baby amel and baby candy cane)

It is pretty interesting because Slinky looks almost exactly like a few adult reverse okeetees that I found pictures of, yet reverse okeetees look nothing like him as hatchlings. Why can't they just keep the same pattern and colors for life?!?

 

[Dragonling]

I should've waited to post all at once...so many questions.
Is it possible that Slinky is a Reverse Okeetee?
I was looking through Ivan's Viv website and that is the morph that seems to fit him best. Can anyone confirm this?

If his parents weren't Okeetee, then no. He looks like a standard amel to me. Even with his candycane parentage, he will probably hang on to a lot of that yellow/orange (likely thanks to his sire), so he wouldn't be considered a candycane either. Regardless, I bet he's going to be a lovely boy.

(edit)
A candycane is a selectively bred amel with very white background colors and bright red saddles. It's a polygenetic trait that isn't as easily passed on as a simple recessive gene.

 

[Haight]

If his parents weren't Okeetee, then no. He looks like a standard amel to me. Even with his candycane parentage, he will probably hang on to a lot of that yellow/orange (likely thanks to his sire), so he wouldn't be considered a candycane either. Regardless, I bet he's going to be a lovely boy.

(edit)
A candycane is a selectively bred amel with very white background colors and bright red saddles. It's a polygenetic trait that isn't as easily passed on as a simple recessive gene.

Thanks for that. Standard Amel it is. Is it likely that he will keep the red saddles as an adult?

 

[XenDrgn]

In amels, I believe the red saddles stay, its just the white slowly converts to orange. (and the translucents stay)

 

[Haight]

In amels, I believe the red saddles stay, its just the white slowly converts to orange. (and the translucents stay)

I sure hope so. The red was the main reason that we chose him.

 

[MysticExotics]

I'll do that. How long after feeding him two pinkies should I wait to hold handle him in order to provide him the proper time to digest? In other words, how long until I can be sure that he won't regurge?

I would give him at least two days, maybe three before handling him.
With the extra large meal he recently had, I'd go 3-4 days, but it will be a little bit before he is ready for two pinks.

Spoke with the breeder again today, and I was able to determine that the parents were a female candycane and a male amel. Does that mean that it is possible that Slinky shows traits of a candycane? I've seen the male, and he is mostly orange with very dull red spots. Should I expect Slinky to look like him when he is an adult?

As explained in the other thread, Candycane is only a line bred Amel. Often, Miami's will be bred into Amels to get Candycane babies, because they lack the orange ground color.
If a Candycane is paired with a regular Amel, the babies will likely look "Candycane-ish", but will probably have more of the Amel coloring.

I should've waited to post all at once...so many questions.
Is it possible that Slinky is a Reverse Okeetee?
I was looking through Ivan's Viv website and that is the morph that seems to fit him best. Can anyone confirm this?

A RO is another line bred Amel, that is bred to have thick, white borders. Yours does not have the borders of an RO.

I went back and checked records on one of my babies, that hatched out at 9 grams, which is pretty good sized for hatchling Cornsnakes, and it was 10 feedings (more than 2 months) before she reached 14 grams. No regurges, no refused meals.

 

[Haight]

I would give him at least two days, maybe three before handling him.
With the extra large meal he recently had, I'd go 3-4 days, but it will be a little bit before he is ready for two pinks.


As explained in the other thread, Candycane is only a line bred Amel. Often, Miami's will be bred into Amels to get Candycane babies, because they lack the orange ground color.
If a Candycane is paired with a regular Amel, the babies will likely look "Candycane-ish", but will probably have more of the Amel coloring.


A RO is another line bred Amel, that is bred to have thick, white borders. Yours does not have the borders of an RO.

I went back and checked records on one of my babies, that hatched out at 9 grams, which is pretty good sized for hatchling Cornsnakes, and it was 10 feedings (more than 2 months) before she reached 14 grams. No regurges, no refused meals.

Thanks for all of the info. I must say I am thoroughly enjoying learning about corn snakes. Regardless of Slinky's morph, I am in love. I can't wait to take him out tomorrow! Tomorrow will have been 96 hours since his feeding. Is there a "time limit" on handling hatch-ling snakes daily as to not induce too much stress?

 

[DollysMom]

Thanks for all of the info. I must say I am thoroughly enjoying learning about corn snakes. Regardless of Slinky's morph, I am in love. I can't wait to take him out tomorrow! Tomorrow will have been 96 hours since his feeding. Is there a "time limit" on handling hatch-ling snakes daily as to not induce too much stress?

A calm and happy 5 to 10 minute handling is plenty for a little guy on pinkies especially while you are learning as well. Keeping the experience positive for both of you is very important. When they are little and on a 5 day feeding schedule, between leaving them alone a couple of days after eating, the day of feeding and however long they want to hide pre shedding (they may shed every 4 to 6 weeks at that point), you may not get to handle as often or as long as you like. Ask me how I know

 

[Haight]

So he hasn't pooped yet, but I had him out today for a few minutes and I got a chance to weigh him. 15g. I have found some urates in his viv so I know that not all of the pinkies weight is still on him. I weighed two other same size pinkies that I have in the freezer and they came out at 4g together. Its been 4 days since he fed.

 

[DollysMom]

So he hasn't pooped yet, but I had him out today for a few minutes and I got a chance to weigh him. 15g. I have found some urates in his viv so I know that not all of the pinkies weight is still on him. I weighed two other same size pinkies that I have in the freezer and they came out at 4g together. Its been 4 days since he fed.

Theory says a 15 gram snake can eat 2-2 gram pinkies every 5 days. However, your snake looked beyond stuffed in the picture which is what I think had everyone concerned. If it were me, I'd still feed a single pinky for a little while. If you can get your hands on some 3 gram pinkies, one of those every 5 days would probably be ideal.

Many of us who use the Munson plan for guidance go more slowly because the plan is designed for maximum growth to breeding size. Somewhat slower growth may be healthier in the long run.

For example, my snake is between 45 and 50 grams (he weighed 44 grams before the last feeding) and I'm just about to move him up from 5 gram fuzzies up to 7 gram fuzzies. He's been gaining 3 grams a feeding except for the 10 day pre-shed fast when a feeding was skipped and he only gained one gram. You can see I'm behind as far as Munson is concerned, but my snake is gaining steadily and is a healthy shape (the so called loaf of bread cross section). And when I put him on the larger fuzzies, I'm also going from a 5 to a 6 day schedule.

Of course it's all a lot of judgement calls. The food bulge and how fast it disappears is definitely something to be aware of. Many of us with one snake use all of a smaller prey on hand before moving to larger. It doesn't hurt a thing. I'm not throwing out my last 5 gram fuzzy that's for sure!

 

[Haight]

Theory says a 15 gram snake can eat 2-2 gram pinkies every 5 days. However, your snake looked beyond stuffed in the picture which is what I think had everyone concerned. If it were me, I'd still feed a single pinky for a little while. If you can get your hands on some 3 gram pinkies, one of those every 5 days would probably be ideal.

Many of us who use the Munson plan for guidance go more slowly because the plan is designed for maximum growth to breeding size. Somewhat slower growth may be healthier in the long run.

For example, my snake is between 45 and 50 grams (he weighed 44 grams before the last feeding) and I'm just about to move him up from 5 gram fuzzies up to 7 gram fuzzies. He's been gaining 3 grams a feeding except for the 10 day pre-shed fast when a feeding was skipped and he only gained one gram. You can see I'm behind as far as Munson is concerned, but my snake is gaining steadily and is a healthy shape (the so called loaf of bread cross section). And when I put him on the larger fuzzies, I'm also going from a 5 to a 6 day schedule.

Of course it's all a lot of judgement calls. The food bulge and how fast it disappears is definitely something to be aware of. Many of us with one snake use all of a smaller prey on hand before moving to larger. It doesn't hurt a thing. I'm not throwing out my last 5 gram fuzzy that's for sure!

Oh I absolutely intend on feeding him only one. I posted his weight as confirmation that the 14g approx was an error. If he hasn't pooped and all I have found is urates then I am sure that he still has at the very least 2 of pinkie waste that will come out. So I would approx his weight at 12g. I think. haha. I'll weigh him again after he poops so long as that is before tomorrow evening (his next scheduled feeding). I was honestly surprised at how fast he digested 2 pinkies. My snake is a beast!

 

[Haight]

I meant to say 2g of waste.

 

[DollysMom]

Oh I absolutely intend on feeding him only one. I posted his weight as confirmation that the 14g approx was an error. If he hasn't pooped and all I have found is urates then I am sure that he still has at the very least 2 of pinkie waste that will come out. So I would approx his weight at 12g. I think. haha. I'll weigh him again after he poops so long as that is before tomorrow evening (his next scheduled feeding). I was honestly surprised at how fast he digested 2 pinkies. My snake is a beast!

Lol on beast. He's definitely cute and I love the name, too!

 

[Haight]

Lol on beast. He's definitely cute and I love the name, too!

I like it too. My five year old came up with the name. I thought it was funny because one of my favorite youtubers, ViperKeeper, has a mamba named slinky, and that snake is a hoot.

 

[Haight]

Just down his second meal with me. 2g pinkie on the dot. Is he large for his age?
Serpwidgets snake measurer has him at 15.7" in this picture.

 

[Haight]

I mean this picture =p

 

[Haight]

Also, good news! I was able to return the heat lamp to the breeder, and I bought a UTH and Zilla heat controller off of amazon. I am now using it in conjunction with a digital thermometer to keep his warm side at a comfy 81-84* (is that about right). btw that is the temperature right at the heating pad under the substrate.