How do you determine which hatchlings are your holdbacks?

[ssssinful-1]

Just curious. This is my first clutch of corn snakes. 12 eggs, 9 have hatched, 2 pipped and 1 is questionable (not looking good). Of the 9 that are out I have 2 normals, 2 normal mots, and 4 amel mots. At least, that is what I am thinking that they are... the mots I am SURE of.

I understand that my little ones are very common corn morphs and nothing spectacular, but I want to understand what I should look for ie: head pattern, mot pattern, etc. This clutch is dear to my heart and I am hoping to keep one or two from it.

Thanks for your input. Oh... I am guessing pics are in order here!

 

[desertanimal]

You just keep the ones you like the best and most want to use for future projects.

 

[Shiari]

Go by what YOU like. If this was my clutch, I'd be looking at the amel motleys and looking for one with saddles that stay connected the farthest down the body, and good "normal" circles. But that is simply my personal preference. What are you trying to accomplish with breeding and with your holdbacks?

 

[ssssinful-1]

You just keep the ones you like the best and most want to use for future projects.

Decisions, decisions! I think I may have to wait for them to shed to see what changes.

Go by what YOU like. If this was my clutch, I'd be looking at the amel motleys and looking for one with saddles that stay connected the farthest down the body, and good "normal" circles. But that is simply my personal preference. What are you trying to accomplish with breeding and with your holdbacks?

They are all het for Caramel, Motley, Anery, and Amel... and I am thinking the caramel will be fun to play with in the next few years. This was more of a breeding trial for me since I was told by the breeder I purchased her from that she may have some other hets besides Amel and Mot. So I was testing out hets mainly to see if my female had caramel in her.

There is some sentimentality to this first clutch too. I lost a female Amel in November. She was a corn I had for 5 years- and the only corn I had for most of that time. I checked on her before work one morning (it happened to be my son's birthday) and I found her lifeless in her viv. I am not sure what she passed from. She was in excellent health and environment/temperature was perfect.

Thank you both for your input.

I need to get pics up, but these buggers move so quick. However, I have a very hostile normal that likes to "strike a pose" , so I posted a pic of that one. Silly little hatelings. The rest of them are just fine and have not minded my handling of them.

 

[vetusvates]

They look sweet, Carrie. Congratulations.

 

[ssssinful-1]

They look sweet, Carrie. Congratulations.

Thank you Eric! BTW... I need your help. Since you are a connoisseur of classic films and have such great taste... I have a pair I won on auction from Jeff that are Normals het Sunkissed Bloodred. Gorgeous pair. I have one problem, I need to name them. So, I am looking for the names of classic lovers. Too many Romeo and Juliets... I like Rhett and Scarlett, but IDK. Not completely sold. I am interested in something unique. I know you have something with a great love story behind it. Help?

 

[dionythicus]

I can help you with lover's names. Heloise and Abelard are more tragic than Romeo and Juliet because they were real people. What happened to them was horrible, but their love was supernatural. People still visit their gravesites to pray for true love.

http://classiclit.about.com/cs/articles/a/aa_abelard.htm

Here's a list of more...

Cleopatra and Mark Antony
Lancelot and Guinevere
Layla and Majnun
Tristan and Iseult (Isolde)
Paris and Helena
Orpheus and Eurydike
Napoleon and Josephine
Cyrano and Roxane
Pyramus and Thisbe
Werther and Lotte
Odysseus and Penelope
Jane Eyre and Rochester
Bonnie and Clyde


In more recent times, I think Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash had an amazing love for each other.

Don't forget Robin Hood and Maid Marian, too.

 

[ssssinful-1]

I can help you with lover's names. Heloise and Abelard are more tragic than Romeo and Juliet because they were real people. What happened to them was horrible, but their love was supernatural. People still visit their gravesites to pray for true love.

http://classiclit.about.com/cs/articles/a/aa_abelard.htm

Here's a list of more...

Cleopatra and Mark Antony
Lancelot and Guinevere
Layla and Majnun
Tristan and Iseult (Isolde)
Paris and Helena
Orpheus and Eurydike
Napoleon and Josephine
Cyrano and Roxane
Pyramus and Thisbe
Werther and Lotte
Odysseus and Penelope
Jane Eyre and Rochester
Bonnie and Clyde


In more recent times, I think Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash had an amazing love for each other.

Don't forget Robin Hood and Maid Marian, too.

Thank you so much!
There are a bunch of good ones on your list... and stories to go with them. I have another pair too that I think Johnny and June would be fun names for.

 

[rolandslf]

When considering keepers (Hold Backs), I look for abberation (unusual) patterning, brightness of colour etc. Having said this, I always have a soft spot for the runt of the clutch as well, and hey, have I sometimes been surprised by what the runt grows up to be.

I bred a bunch of Candy Canes this season, kept the runt, who is now 3 months old, and has turned out to be a very orange snake. If you will permit, I will post a pic of her on this thread tomorrow, and you can get an idea of what I look for in a keeper.

 

[ssssinful-1]

When considering keepers (Hold Backs), I look for abberation (unusual) patterning, brightness of colour etc. Having said this, I always have a soft spot for the runt of the clutch as well, and hey, have I sometimes been surprised by what the runt grows up to be.

I bred a bunch of Candy Canes this season, kept the runt, who is now 3 months old, and has turned out to be a very orange snake. If you will permit, I will post a pic of her on this thread tomorrow, and you can get an idea of what I look for in a keeper.

Oh please- Feel free. Love pictures and would love your opinion.

 

[rolandslf]

I am such a Doofus, I just reread my post. The Orange Runt did not come from the Candy Cane breeding, it came from a female Creamsicle x male Amel.
I am posting 2 pics of siblings from the clutch.

Orange Runt

Frosted Amel

The Orange one was a keeper simply for the amount of colour showing from hatching. The Frosted Amel was a keeper because of the almost Reverse Okeetee colouration.

But why keep them in particular when there may have been even better looking babies in the clutch. Simply because I want to see what comes out in the f2, when I breed them back to each other.

As you can see, keepers are kept back for colour, size, and sometimes just out of curiosity.