I have had a disaster! My beautiful female Red Phase pickeringii has died.
After such a slow start, having to assist feed her because she wouldn't eat, then gradually getting her onto a varied diet. Since then she had gone from strength to strength and was almost 30 inches long, and one of my most reliable feeders. I was planning to breed from her next year, as I believe my pair to be the only red phase in the UK.

I came home from work tonight and noticed an unpleasant smell..... I recognised it straight away. She had (somehow!) managed to force her way inside the strip light fitting, where she then became wedged. The heat of the transformer killed her, and slowly cooked her all day until I came home.

I'm gutted.



Thamnophis sirtalis pickeringii, Red Phase, sub-adult female.