|
1-3 of 3 messages
|
Page 1 of 1
|
|
Live bearers
|
Reply
|
|
by vette on May 16, 2001
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Hi everyone. First I must admit to not being an expert on snkaes. I have kept snakes for almost 20 years, but have only recently starting keeping venomous. My question for those of you have considerably more experience in this area is; When live bearing venomous snakes have their babies, how important it it to remove the young immediately. I have discussed this mater with a few of my fellow herpers and have recieved differing responses. I currently have a pair of sidewinders (lats) and the female is gravid. I was told by some that if the babies are not removed immediately the female will begin to eat the young. Others have said it is not a problem. I would remove them in any case but woudl just like to know if they actually do eat their own young. Thanks for any help.
vette
|
| |
|
RE: Live bearers
|
Reply
|
|
by ejs on May 16, 2001
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Hey vette I have never read or heard of any incidences where a crotaline species would eat it's young. Having breed and reared multiple cerastes subspecies I can guarantee you that the mother will not harm her offspring.
Actually I have seen cases where a C.molossus mother would physically protect her young by blocking the entrance to her birthing site (i.e hide box)until there first shed, these were captives of mine a few years back.
There is also a case I am familiar with in which a gentleman from the Tucson area came across a C.molossus in the wild. When the animal came out from a crevice to confront the man he became intrigued. In examining the snake he discovered it to be a female, after examining the crevice the snake came from he noticed that it sheltered neonates. I hope this might put your mind at ease.
I would recommend seperating the animals a.s.a.p for saftey and feeding.
Good Luck
John Slone
|
| |
|
RE: Live bearers
|
Reply
|
|
by filthy on May 16, 2001
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Hi Vette,
I can only add a little to John's excellent answer.
Snakes of the Agkistrodon genera such as Copperheads and Cottonmouths should not be trusted with anything containing protein for any length of time. These, especally the Cotton, commonly feed on other snakes and deliberate canniblism is not unknown. Most, if not all ovaviviperous snakes (live-bearers are 'ovaviviperous') have a period of not feeding before and after the young are born. However, once that period is over, the young of these species can be at risk, assuming something else hasn't gotten them first.
Interesting question. Thanks.
f
|
| |
|
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to this topic.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
Check our help page for help using
, or send questions, comments, or suggestions to the
Manager.
|
