Baby Candoia Fiji Boas (but not mine....)

So I'm still waiting for my own batch of baby Fiji Boas, but in the meantime my friends at Paradise Resort on Taveuni Island (Fiji) have had a wild caught female give birth in one of their tanks. 27 live born, no slugs.

They seem to come in three colours - gray/brown, orange and almost black with red/orange bellies. Thought you might like to see these tiny neonates - about 35 cm long (13 - 14 inches) and weighing around 10 - 11 gms (less than 1/2 ounce).

I'm keeping a couple of the dark ones - can't resist the red eyes!

24 neonates 8 days old
Momma
Three colour ways
Two dark brothers

A few more showing their size and head details

I'm not really into the Fiji Boas, but those babies are AMAZING!! I think my favorite (of your pics) would be the orange ones, but those red eyes really do stand out on the dark ones!!

How's the average/typical temperament of a Fiji Boa?

Wow Helen, what little beauties!! I can see why you like the reds too. Looking forward to seeing your babies when the time comes!!

Wow, they look great. Congrats.

Thanks for the interest. The two dark sisters (now I think they may be female - hard to tell for sure yet) just took their first meals - f/t house geckos, straight from the floor of the tank, so feeding looks like it should be simple.

Temperamentally these little snakes are very cool - they're nocturnal, so pretty docile (i.e. asleep) during daylight hours, coming out to explore in the evening. I find they adjust to handling very well, and rarely bite except for the odd feeding confusion.

I'd just forgotten how tiny the neonates are - thinner than a ballpoint pen, and only a foot or so long, it's hard to think that they are boas at all. I'll post some feeding pics soon.

I love those dark ones! The one in the first pic, on the far left is beautiful!

Originally Posted by Utta

I love those dark ones! The one in the first pic, on the far left is beautiful!

Yeh, these are real firebellies! I have an out-of-focus nose shot than looks like a firebreathing dragon - (unless I'm just overexcited) - will post soon!

When's your clutch hatchin?

Originally Posted by Utta

When's your clutch hatchin?

Oh God, don't start me.....

Been waiting breathlessly for 2 1/2 months now. Problem is not many people breed Candoia bibroni bibroni, and those that do say the pregnancy can last between 7 to 9 months.

So given that I left the males in with her for 4 weeks, her projected date was anywhere between mid-May and mid-August. Obviously she's either holding out for mid-August or my first heart attack, whichever comes soonest.....