Concinnus update

[gregmonsta]

Thought I'd post up about my resident weeds!!! We pulled out Xena and Xerxes the other day and were amazed by their progress!!! Fastest growth of any of my garters so far!!!

Xerxes
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/DSC035511.JPG

Xena
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/DSC035521.JPG

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/DSC03553.JPG

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/DSC03562.JPG

[adamanteus]

WOW. They ARE growing fast, Greg! Babies next year?:D

[infernalis]

Nice Greg:D

[Stefan-A]

How old are they? Born '07? :)

[gregmonsta]

WOW. They ARE growing fast, Greg! Babies next year?:D

Certainly looks like it might be possible :D ... they're 08 babies and that makes it mega scary :rolleyes: I thought they were big enough when I got them lol. Hats off to Hans!!!

[GartersRock]

Those.............................. are 08' babies???!!!! Dang, great job!

[Stefan-A]

They're definitely not small for 08's. :D

[prattypus]

Any visits to three mile island???

[jitami]

Wow! I thought my munchkins were growing fast!

Greg, do you or have you used that snake measurer program? It's free and easy and I'm waaay curious how long your two are!

[anji1971]

They're huge!:eek: When in '08 were they born?
My mid-June babies are still just little squirts. What the heck are you feeding them anyway??

[Hornets23]

They are so pretty!

[Zephyr]

Wow, Xena reminds me of Fatty. :P

[zooplan]

If those are CB 08 from Hans, they were born on April 12th;)
I would be interessted in their wieght!
But, what is that about three mile island?

[gregmonsta]

I'll see if they're intersted in being weighed tonight ;) ... my scales aren't terribly accurate tho so it will be my best guestimation, I wish I had some digital scales like I used to ... both have added at least a third to their length since coming here, they put my other garters to shame, the've shot past my yearlings although it'll be a little while yet before Xena matches Clint's girth!!! and both Xena and Xerxes are hovering around 24" (+for Xena - whom I lovingly call little monster) ... I feed them every four days on chopped salmon and pinkies and they clean their plate every time without fail (two pinkies chopped with an equalish amount of salmon with skin left on ... they still look for more when they're finished rofl was going to up the offerings in a week or so) ... I also include vitamins in the water ... and, lastly, they get very regular handling anything between 1-3hours per week. (I'll buy some digital scales in the future and give this a go again with as many species as possible http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/general-talk/2892-benefits-handling-other-stuff.html)

They might just be fast growers ;) ... I think Alan Francis mentions how voracious they are and that concinnus are a fast growing species.

[drache]

my concinnus babies were voracious eaters and fast growing as well (except for one)

Udo - Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania has a nuclear power plant that had an incident in the late seventies

[Stefan-A]

Udo - Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania has a nuclear power plant that had an incident in the late seventies
Yup, the worst nuclear disaster in US history, with 0 dead and 0 injured.

[JSI]

Wow, I just brought my 08 pair of concinnus home last night and they are little pencil snakes. Mind you they were born in late June but I doubt they will be that size with two more months of age.

Jeremy

[Lexa]

What gorgeous snakes! When there are babies on the way be sure to let me know...teehee. :)

[jitami]

Thanks for all the info Greg! Pretty amazing for '08 babies!!!

I'm also interested in your handling theory. Frick is the bigger of my two and gets handled more because he tolerates it better, but Frack is catching up in growth and I suspect it's because I stopped hand feeding him. He eats better when left with food. His brother(the bigger) eats well no matter what, but is way more active presumably burning more calories. Even though I only have the two it is interesting to observe and compare :) May try upping the general handling with Frick after he comes out of shed :)

[gregmonsta]

Thanks for all the info Greg! Pretty amazing for '08 babies!!!

I'm also interested in your handling theory. Frick is the bigger of my two and gets handled more because he tolerates it better, but Frack is catching up in growth and I suspect it's because I stopped hand feeding him. He eats better when left with food. His brother(the bigger) eats well no matter what, but is way more active presumably burning more calories. Even though I only have the two it is interesting to observe and compare :) May try upping the general handling with Frick after he comes out of shed :)

:D it's only a fledgeling project ... part of my schooling. It's not perfect but I think it can be equated to increased activity stimulating the growth. Its a study that I adapted from gerbils which show a pronounced growth increase through handling in their formative stages. I decided I wanted to do it with snakes and was rewarded with two ribbons which the lab technician promptly ordered after discussing it with my Biology teacher at the time :D

[gregmonsta]

Wow, I just brought my 08 pair of concinnus home last night and they are little pencil snakes. Mind you they were born in late June but I doubt they will be that size with two more months of age.

Jeremy

I think I was just lucky. Hans' concinnus are well established and larger females tend to produce larger babies :)

[gregmonsta]

What gorgeous snakes! When there are babies on the way be sure to let me know...teehee. :)

:rolleyes: No probs there :D I'll be posting a storm if they decide to procreate next year!!!

[gregmonsta]

Ps ... I'll try to weigh them midweek.