Birth, beginning to end...

[reptileparadise]

One of our Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis gave birth to 26 young today. As always, its an awesome thing to see from start to finish!
Here's a small photoseries of only one young...


It all starts a bit like this (after some restless bevahiour and such)
Claoca opening, slightly bulging/contracting and a bit of fluid coming out



Then, a bit more showing. In this case the baby was upside down (doesn't happen to often...)



After a bit of dragging around, the baby pops out. Still in a transparant egg sack with veins



Then, the struggle for life begins!
Trying the best it can, trying to force its way out of its cage



After a few tries, the wee little thing succeeds and gasps for air. Usually, mouth open and visibly relieved!
(sorry, bit out focus...)



One more hurdle, breaking the umbilical cord... Dragging along the egg sack

[reptileparadise]

And then.... on to the next one!



Hope you guys enjoy... We can't get enough of these beautifull things we get to experience!

[gazzamann]

niceeeee

[ProXimuS]

That's really amazing to see!! It's cool how they're so independent from the second they're born

[guidofatherof5]

Very nicely done.

[mikem]

Beautiful photos!

[kueluck]

She did good. And your photo skills not to shabby either.

[chris-uk]

Excellent series of pics, a genuine education.

[Dan72]

Thanks for sharing that! I have my first litter experience coming (I hope, everything goes well), and I'm hoping it happens while I'm around to catch it and not at work only to come home to it. Great pics.

[reptileparadise]

Thanks guys!

Its a privilege to see such a thing from beginning till the end. She was very slow though. Starting at 11:20 and finishing only at around 16:00!

In the meanwhile (somewhere between 12:30 and 13:30) our Thamnophis cyrtopsis cyrtopsis gave brith to 11 babies as well. All ready and shed at 13:30...