Big Bertha.... Rule Breaker!

[adamanteus]

Well Guys, it finally happened.... Bertha is giving birth!
She's broken every rule along the way, so no wonder I didn't know when these babies might arrive.
It's been 85 days since she had the fully formed still birth.... http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/breeding/5289-concerned-bertha.html?highlight=concerned+bertha
It's been 71 days since she last sloughed, and a staggering 146 days since her last mating. It seems all the rules are out of the window!

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//539/medium/2009_0711birthing0012.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//539/medium/2009_0711birthing0001.JPG

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//539/medium/2009_0711birthing002jpg.jpg

Please excuse the poor quality of the photos, they were taken through the glass. I couldn't see any justification for disturbing her too much.

The final count isn't in yet.... she's still giving birth.... but it's not a large litter, and there is a high percentage of 'jelly beans'. Maybe because she mated with a very young male this time.

[prattypus]

Let's here a huge collective sigh of relief and high fives all around- way to go.

[drache]

congrats, James
that was a long wait

[reptileparadise]

Wooohooo James!
good to see Bertha is doing well :)

[MasSalvaje]

It is good to see she made it through and in the end you will get some babies also! Congrats!

-Thomas

[count dewclaw]

Wow, what an ordeal. Glad she's doing ok. Can't wait for baby pictures. :p

[guidofatherof5]

Looking good. Hope everything goes well.

[Snake lover 3-25]

congrats! hope she has lots of healthy babies for you:)

[adamanteus]

Final count... 9 healthy babies, 11 jelly beans. Not as good as I had hoped, but to be honest I'm not short of radix!:rolleyes:
I'm just glad it's all over and Bertha is okay. I fed her on pinkies tonight.... it was like feeding strawberries to a donkey!:D

[gregmonsta]

Congrats James :D nice to have that worry off your shoulders :D

[Snake lover 3-25]

congrats:) glad they're all ok:)

[MoJo]

Congratulations!

[MasSalvaje]

.... it was like feeding strawberries to a donkey!:D

I have never seen that myself......interesting.

-Thomas

[Snaky]

Congratulations, James!

[drache]

nice - nine healthy babies is nothing to sneeze at
congrats to both you and Bertha

[adamanteus]

Thanks everyone. Bertha is now housed in a female only viv..... where she will remain for 18 months at least. She needs a break, and I don't need the stress!
I have two other adult female radix that I hope to breed from next year.

[jitami]

Wow James! Glad all's well... pretty amazing what these girls are capable of.