Blue ordinoides

[ambertastic]

I think one of the babies might turn out to be a blue Bellinghammer!
Attached are some pictures.
Two of the babies have greenish gray undersides and brown stripes. The third has a light gray underside with a hint of blue. The side stripes are light colored and the top stripe is tan.
How long does it typically take for snakes to show their true colors? None of them look like the grown yellow striped garters I'm used to seeing around.

I really hope I don't mess up my first baby snake experience.. especially (selfish as it is) now that I have something I'd specifically like to compare and watch develop.

They are in a planted terrarium currently but I think I'm going to switch to a simpler set up until I'm sure that they're eating. I haven't seen them eat yet though their tank is stocked with baby slugs. And they seem to enjoy burrowing under the plants (anyone noticed that before?) I had some pretty snails I collected from their mother-lot in there too but they used them as stairs to climb up the glass :D

So far they still hate me... I worry about being to rough with their little selves when taking pictures, about starving them accidentally, etc etc.

[kibakiba]

A lot of ordinoides have blue, green and gray undersides. This doesn't determine the stripe colour. Mama and Snakey have a gray-green underside and have two different colour stripes, Snakey is Orange and Mama is tan.

[ambertastic]

Well I am excited that this one has a blue underside! I've never seen one before. I hope its face gets a little stronger too but I'm not sure what to expect as far as how much the color can deepen. I know it wont be BRIGHT but I still love that I have some "warm" snakes and a "cool" one. I also love the contrast between the tan back stripe and the white side stripes. Maybe they will darken a bit too, who knows?

[guidofatherof5]

Great looking little scrubs.

[ConcinusMan]

Those look like very typical young T. ordinoides but big enough that I don't think their color will change. When babies are first born, it can take a few weeks for red, orange, or yellow to develop but it is typically already there by the time they are that size.

If you can keep slugs alive in their enclosure, then it's way to damp for the snakes. keep them dry and clean. T. ordinoides are prone to blister disease and it can take as little as 5 days to develop in damp conditions. Getting them to eat might be difficult. This time of year they are about to go into hibernation (brumate) so they might already be aware of the season and refuse food. Try small slugs and earthworms.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Neat! i have a baby ordinoes that is a solid dark blue color... he is very pretty and will probably grow into an extremely unique snake!

[ConcinusMan]

Pics please!