New Blacknecks!

[MichaelSmith]

I wondered when our female was finally going to have babies, and figured they'd be September babies. However, she gave birth today to 14 babies, all of which are looking good. (They're not yet sexed - heck, as you can see, not all of them have finished the first shed.)

I'm off for some cricket frogs, and will get them feeding (later I'll get them switched to pinkies).

[GarterGeek]

Congratulations! Those are absolutely stunning!

[DavidD]

Very nice garters!

[guidofatherof5]

Congratulations! Those are absolutely stunning!

I second the stunning part.
Very nice.

[MoJo]

Congratulations! They look fantastic.

[MichaelSmith]

Thanks for the comments! All but four of them ate live cricket frogs today. It's so funny and fascinating to watch these little snakes that have never seen or smelled prey begin to have a feeding response. They explore around the deli cup, generally ignoring the frog, and then after a couple of times the frog has jumped, they begin to react. It's almost like they turn to grab them in spite of themselves, as an "automatic" elicited response. If they have any self-awareness at all, how odd it must seem to them to suddenly spin around and grab the frog. As if, "woa! what'd I do? This feels weird - I guess I'll swallow it." What I've seen with past clutches is that it becomes more purposeful within a very few feedings, like they know what they want and they know what they're doing and after a jump catches their attention they will often stalk the frog. At that point they'll eat frozen/thawed, and soon after that it's time for scented pinkies.

[guidofatherof5]

Thanks for the comments! All but four of them ate live cricket frogs today. It's so funny and fascinating to watch these little snakes that have never seen or smelled prey begin to have a feeding response. They explore around the deli cup, generally ignoring the frog, and then after a couple of times the frog has jumped, they begin to react. It's almost like they turn to grab them in spite of themselves, as an "automatic" elicited response. If they have any self-awareness at all, how odd it must seem to them to suddenly spin around and grab the frog. As if, "woa! what'd I do? This feels weird - I guess I'll swallow it." What I've seen with past clutches is that it becomes more purposeful within a very few feedings, like they know what they want and they know what they're doing and after a jump catches their attention they will often stalk the frog. At that point they'll eat frozen/thawed, and soon after that it's time for scented pinkies.

Great observation and explanation.