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The Story of Squiggles (1)

poppycorn

Luv my bright-eyed jewels
I knew something wasn't right when one of the last eggs to hatch in a clutch of opals and lavenders had this little smooshed up head come out:
 

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The Story of Squiggles (2)

Well the baby (with some difficulty) finally managed to get out of the egg. What a mess!
 

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The Story of Squiggles (3)

I knew I should have ended it right there but she was so weird looking I put her in a deli cup so my friends & kid could see her. I put her on the shelf next to my work area and she spent the whole time just LOOKING at me. How could I put down a sweet little snake that just LOOKS at you with pleading eyes?
 

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The Story of Squiggles (4)

Okay, okay. So I transferred the little snake to a regular hatchling box and told her that if she could shed and eat on her own, I wouldn't feed her to the Kingsnake.

Watching her shed required all the self discipline training I have developed from being a mom not to help her out. She struggled and struggled, first with the head split because she couldn't push with much force because of the severe bend in the front section. She had to crawl under and through obstacles again and again to get it started. Then it got stuck on the bend. She couldn't just flex the muscles to push the skin along like other snakes. Again, she had to wiggle and scrape to get it past. I couldn't stand watching, it was so slow going. But when I came back later, she had it all done, all by herself! And she had a new "I did it! I'm a real snake after all!" attitude. She went from staying all coiled up all the time just waiting for the End to learning to slither all around her box.
 
The Story of Squiggles (5)

The next big test: Will she eat?
And the answer is an enthusiastic YES!
She started with just the heads of the tiniest pinkie I could find. After a couple of those successfully digested, she took a whole extra small pinkie. I was going to name her "Loch Ness" or "Nessie" but my daughter insisted on "Squiggles".
 

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The Story of Squiggles (6)

Here she is today. She loves to eat and she's growing. She's sweet and cute and will likely have outstanding opal color. There's no way she's going to be Kingsnake fodder. I plan to place her with someone who will give her the special care she needs (are you listening Iguanagirl?) and who will keep us all updated on her progress.
 

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awww shes so adorable! who ever gets her is one lucky person- she looks like a total sweetie!
 
iguanagirl seems like just the right mom for that one. I am going to struggle with culling myself sometimes...and although I doubt that one will live long, her life will be happy warm and safe.
 
She's really cool. If she can eat and shed then why wouldn't she survive? Obviously she wouldn't be breeding stock but a very interesting "Pet" for sure. Good luck with that one. Myself I might have (ducts head) introduced the kind (I mean King) snake :(
SO I think the middle name should be lucky!
 
What a pretty little thing! I have a kinked snake, too. She does everything a normal snake does, even swims! If they want to live, and someone wants to provide a good home, why not?
 
Here she is today. She loves to eat and she's growing. She's sweet and cute and will likely have outstanding opal color. There's no way she's going to be Kingsnake fodder. I plan to place her with someone who will give her the special care she needs (are you listening Iguanagirl?) and who will keep us all updated on her progress.

Lol, ceduke sent me a pm and directed me to this thread. I would certainly be willing to take her in just send me a pm if she needs a home.
 
AWWW she is beyond cute, i wish i could take her! she would be sooooo spoiled. and i love the name squiggles is PERFECT! and i am so glad she is pulling through!
 
Awesome story!!! She is quite cute as well. I certainly hope that Katie can get her and keep us updated on her progress. Simply way kewl!

One question, though... why is the title to the thread, "The story of Squiggles (1)"?
I've always been told not to number anything if there isn't at least 2 of them... ie bullets, lists, etc. So is there a "Story of Squiggles (2)"?

:) :D :)
 
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