My female hypo Florida Banded Water Snake gave birth to 24 babies last night and this morning, 23 live and one still-born. I don't have any pics yet, since I'm letting them all sort of "settle in", and I haven't sexed them yet, either, so I don't know the ratio of male to female. Right now, they're all going through their first sheds, so it's hard to really see colors, but it looks like there are a few interesting-looking little individuals, none that I'd call "cherry hypos", but there are some with really faded markings and bright red on their faces that could turn out to be quite handsome once they've gone through a few sheds. I've never seen babies of this particular morph, so I don't know how they look compared to normal Banded babies. I've also got a couple that are almost anerythristic, with very reduced reds and yellow tones, which look rather odd. I've got one tiny little runt, though, that I'm kinda concerned about, and the mother hasn't eaten yet. My other female, the Midlands "garbage disposal", actually ate in between births last year. I don't know if the mother is done yet; I HOPE so, and I hope there aren't any stuck in there that can cause problems. I guess after giving birth to 24 young 'uns she's just pretty tired. NOW my big female Red-Belly has gone into shed, probably her last before popping out HER litter, so I'm soon going to be covered up in baby Water Snakes!

pitbulllady