Can't resist a cute face...

[Selkielass]

Went to the reptile show in Taylor Mi today to buy frozen mice...and came home with a scrub- a tiny albino checkered that the seller and I are *pretty* sure is a female.

She's in quarantine right now- I'll try to get a picture after she's had a chance to settle in. Possible names under consideration are Ziva, McGee, Inkle, Zuzu, Ponyo, Pinky Dinky Doo, and Wormcruncher.

Yes, my son came up with most of those names. Right now Wormcruncher is highly favored by the 5yr old faction. Dad will probably be asked to mediate.

[guidofatherof5]

Sounds like you came home with what you needed.
Looking forward to seeing the little scrub, by any name.

[Dragonbeards]

Ziva :). Gotta love NCIS. Can't wait to see the little darling.

[Selkielass]

Wow, Ziva Wyrmcruncher ate this morning, and OH BOY is she living up to her name!
We dropped a guppy in, and she went into a striking frenzy every time it flipped- I've never seen anything quite so fast!
Took her a few tries to finally grab hold of it, and then a minute or so to figure out how to turn the fish in her mouth, but it went down quickly after that.
After that we offered her a smallish garden worm (It was still pretty big in comparison to her.) and she jumped right on it and gobbled it down.

She seems to have a *much* stronger feeding instinct than Abby, and the difference in speed is amazing- Ziva makes Abby look slow and deliberate. We're going to have to keep a very close eye on this one of she could disappear in a flash.

[guidofatherof5]

That's great.
They are little eating machines.
Here's something to watch for.
Watch her eyes, when she's on the hunt her pupils will constrict as she zeros in on the prey.
They get so focused when it comes to food.

[Selkielass]

That's great.
They are little eating machines.
Here's something to watch for.
Watch her eyes, when she's on the hunt her pupils will constrict as she zeros in on the prey.
They get so focused when it comes to food.

I noticed her eyes, which usually appear solid red, became much paler while she was feeding- I could actually see pupil and iris.
Tried to get some photos of her a few minutes ago- got mixed results because she is so tiny, she didn't really like being in even the relatively weak evening sunshine, and my camera isn't very good.

She has a lot more color than I can capture. In some light/moods the yellow portions of her body and head have an iridescent greenishnes to them that is hard to describe.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/z4.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/z1.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/z2.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/z3.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Very pretty snake.

[kibakiba]

Awww she's so pretty! :D

[ConcinusMan]

I noticed her eyes, which usually appear solid red, became much paler while she was feeding

Just the opposite happens when Amy (albino plains) eats. Once he gets the food in his mouth, his eyes go from their normal pink, to blood red. Top of his head and areas lacking pigment around the neck turn red too.

[Snakers]

very nice snake..

[ConcinusMan]

In some light/moods the yellow portions of her body and head have an iridescent greenishnes to them that is hard to describe.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/z4.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/z1.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/z2.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/z3.jpg


You just did describe it. It's iridescence. A common phenomenon among snakes, especially young healthy garters after a recent shed. Indigo snakes show it well too. All my black-headed concinnus babies have it reflecting of the top of their heads. Tends to fade with age though.

That is an awesome gorgeous baby you have there.;)

[Selkielass]

Aww, thanks!
I think she's adorable *despite* being an albino.
Jay picked albino- I was leaning toward her normal colored siblings, but as they were all lively and robust, and this one was the largest and liveliest of the group, well, I obviously couldn't protest too much!

Of the albinos I've seen her, Amy has to be my favorite. The irony that she turned out to be a he is kind of a plus as far as I'm concerned- boy named Sue and all that stuff!

Shame that the iridescence tends to fade as they get older- I'm hoping her yellows will intensify as she ages if we're going to lose the green flash.

Heh, she's swimming again. LOVES the water and she's very active despite going into a brief, flailing panic whenever she is first started. She's a fierce little thunderbolt so far, quite different in temperament from quiet, patent Abby.

[ConcinusMan]

Oh, I'm sure the yellows will intensify. Well, maybe.

http://www.nakedsnakes.net/breeders/breeders001012.jpg