Pixel Pied x Black Pastel Pied update

[phoenix-cry]

Well I thought I had seen an ovulation on my gal, but that was back in Feb so she would have laid by now and although she was heat seeking at very first she quickly started started showing more building behaviours and developed a nice roundness to her. I've kept pairing her since I wasn't 100% on that last ovulation (she's tricked me in the past) but since Feb she was showing no interest in the male and I didn't see any locks in months. However this morning I guess she changed her mind. So still hoping of an ovulation and eggs soon!

This is my one and only pairing/project at the moment so I do have my eggs in one basket so to speak. Next season I hope to have a pied het albino female ready for him see if I can prove out his albino side (he's 66% het albino) and get an albino piexl pied!


http://img04.deviantart.net/b041/i/2016/130/d/1/snake_lurv_ii_by_phoenix_cry-da1za5e.jpg

Male:

http://pre15.deviantart.net/751e/th/pre/i/2015/271/9/7/gold_dust_pied_ii_by_phoenix_cry-d9b9hd3.jpg

Female:

http://pre10.deviantart.net/2506/th/pre/f/2012/082/3/a/black_pastel_pied_ii_by_phoenix_cry-d4tpk2w.jpg

[Randall Turner]

Best of luck with this pairing. That pixel pied boy has such a cool look to him.

[phoenix-cry]

Thanks! I'd love a clutch that looks just like him. ;)

[phoenix-cry]

this looks like a good sign! This is her pose after a day of being locked with the male.

Spilled a good deal of her water getting in this pose. :)

http://pre09.deviantart.net/44df/th/pre/i/2016/139/0/d/close_by_phoenix_cry-da330c3.jpg

[Pasodama]

Have my fingers crossed for you.
Would be nice to see if the "Pixels" get passed on to 1st generation offspring.
Still love your Pixel Pied boy. :)

[phoenix-cry]

Thanks! He has passed the pixel on in the past for his last owner. :)

[phoenix-cry]

Alright....this time I'm sure I've got all the signs right. She is to due lay sometime middle of next week. Very excited! Incubator has been humming since....March.

http://pre08.deviantart.net/2f7e/th/pre/i/2016/188/5/e/about_a_week_by_phoenix_cry-da93ta3.jpg

[phoenix-cry]

This does not look comfy!

http://img04.deviantart.net/2d83/i/2016/189/f/2/poor_momma_by_phoenix_cry-da999m0.jpg

[phoenix-cry]

I got home today around lunch time and although she hadn't really looked in the mood to lay today I checked in on Nibiru and she was all coiled up around her new clutch! Five *big* healthy looking eggs with nice strong veins. I really thought there were more in her than that, but she looks like a deflated tire so I'm confident they are all here. I'm so thrilled! Now for the sixty day wait! They are due in the area of September 11th so they will all be getting patriotic names.

I'm so excited! I've been waiting for this for six years and after losing her first clutch last year this one means all that much more to me. Wish me luck! This is my one and only clutch for the year, but next year I hope to have another female or two ready to pair up with him as well.

Here she is...now I can finally move her to a clean bin, I've left the urate because I haven't wanted to disturb her this past week.

http://pre05.deviantart.net/2d89/th/pre/i/2016/195/0/a/eggs__by_phoenix_cry-da9ytde.jpg

Five plump eggs!

http://pre09.deviantart.net/2aa1/th/pre/i/2016/195/1/a/snake_eggs_by_phoenix_cry-da9ytnz.jpg

[AbsoluteApril]

that is so exciting! I hope the pixel pied look carries on in the offspring. Looking forward to seeing the results of the hatchlings :)

[phoenix-cry]

He has produced pixel patterned pieds for his previous owner so I'm hopefully he will do the same for me!

It's going to be a long two months!

[FerFuxSnake]

Very beautiful, I'm jealous [emoji12]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[phoenix-cry]

:)

Thanks!

[Pasodama]

Great news! Congratulations Lauren! :beer:
Looking forward to seeing what pops out of the eggs.

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[phoenix-cry]

Thank you! Me too!

[phoenix-cry]

Day 60!


http://img14.deviantart.net/122a/i/2016/254/9/d/all_together_now_by_phoenix_cry-dahban1.jpg

[Pasodama]

Hurray! Congrats!
Now to wait & see what they look like out of egg.

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[Randall Turner]

That is awesome. I can't wait to see how they look once they are out.

[phoenix-cry]

I know!! Thanks! Sooooon

[AbsoluteApril]

HOORAY!! Can't wait to see them out :D

[phoenix-cry]

I'm so excited! Three are out. One super high white pied, one medium pied and one pitch perfect black pastel pied. No pixel pattern yet, two more to go though!

[zeppelin3k]

I'm so excited! Three are out. One super high white pied, one medium pied and one pitch perfect black pastel pied. No pixel pattern yet, two more to go though!
Awesome! Post some pics when they all come out [emoji2]

Sent from my SM-G900R6 using Tapatalk

[phoenix-cry]

Picture time!

Four out of my five eggs hatched out on September 11th and I'm in love with each and every one of them. I did not get any 'pixel' pieds, however I'm not discouraged (my first pairing of a mojave to pastel six years ago yielded seven eggs: one mojave, six normals). With such a special hatch date I have given all of them patriotic names. I will be naming the fifth one once s/he hatches (bad luck to name them in the egg) and s/he will also get a patriotic name despite being a little late. I have peeked inside that egg and loved what I saw so I've got all my fingers crossed that they are a survivor.

I couldn't hold off a photoshoot any longer! So here are some quick pics of the first four. They have not been sexed, but the names work either way.

Nimitz (Aircraft Carrier), black pastel pied (this is a dream snake of mine, a nicely balanced color to white black pastel pied!):


http://pre08.deviantart.net/830e/th/pre/i/2016/256/7/b/nimitz_by_phoenix_cry-dahihnt.jpg

http://pre09.deviantart.net/2ec9/th/pre/i/2016/256/5/c/nimitz_ii_by_phoenix_cry-dahihtp.jpg



Skyes (Army Base) Pied (love the pattern here):


http://pre11.deviantart.net/5258/th/pre/i/2016/256/d/6/sykes_by_phoenix_cry-dahii8h.jpg





Fallon (Naval Base) Pied (in my opinion this is what a pied should be, love the 50/50 white to pattern with equal distribution. If this one is female she will be staying with me):

http://pre00.deviantart.net/8ced/th/pre/i/2016/256/d/2/fallon_by_phoenix_cry-dahihvs.jpg



Oorah (Marines' rally cry) Pied (With that odd patch behind the head Oorah has a slight chance of having that pixel gene just in poor expression of it with all that white since the father has that exact same spot behind the head...although I know it's not an unheard of mark in pied so I'm not counting this one as a 'pixel', as s/he grows it will be interesting to see what happens to the margins of this spot and if it has that digital look to the edge).

http://img01.deviantart.net/9590/i/2016/256/3/a/oorah_by_phoenix_cry-dahiish.jpg

[phoenix-cry]

I misspelled. That's Sykes not Skyes.

[Pasodama]

Gorgeous babies! So nice that you got a Black Pastel Pied, in this clutch, as well.
Hope the 5th one comes out soon.

....

[phoenix-cry]

Thanks! I hope the fifth one makes it too....it's a high color black pastel as well.

[Pasodama]

Thanks! I hope the fifth one makes it too....it's a high color black pastel as well.

Very cool! Fingers crossed.

....

[phoenix-cry]

Not sure what's taking him so long (hasn't even peeked out of the egg) but he looks healthy in the egg. I can still see a hint of yolk so I'm just letting him do his thing.

[phoenix-cry]

So I opened up the last egg a little bit more because of curiosity. He still has an umbilical cord...it doesn't seem to be twisted (not that I can see anyway) however his color looks a little pale? I didn't take a pic the first time I looked but I recall him being darker. Not sure there is anything I can/should do.

I really want this snake to live...look at the white markings on the face!

Thoughts?


http://pre10.deviantart.net/03e9/th/pre/f/2016/256/4/2/still_in_the_egg_by_phoenix_cry-dahk1ya.jpg

[Pasodama]

Have you tried poking/nudging the baby with something?
If alive, there should be some movement... even if miniscule.
Hope there is nothing wrong with him/her.

....

[phoenix-cry]

I know he's alive, he wiggles when I open the egg.

[phoenix-cry]

I just worry because I could have sworn he was darker in color yesterday

[AbsoluteApril]

They look great! Congrats!
I don't have anything helpful to give regarding the baby in the egg besides well wishes.

[phoenix-cry]

Thanks! I love them!


At this point in time I'm thinking I really just have to leave the one in the egg alone. If nothing is wrong I might *make* it wrong by messing with him too much, and if something is wrong I'm not sure what I would do about it... If I could see a twist in the cord I would act, but I don't see anything like that.

Before bed I will do one more color check and if he's even paler then I will remove him from the egg since that would be a sure sign of twisted cord.

[mrspoindexter]

Maybe he needs to be coaxed out somehow. Maybe lack of oxygen.
Just a guess! Good luck!

Sent from my LG-K330 using Tapatalk

[Pasodama]

I know he's alive, he wiggles when I open the egg.

Well, that is good.
I understand the concern though.
My concern would be if there were a deformity, or something else, keeping it from leaving the egg.
OTOH Sometimes, they just take their sweet time.
Let's keep good thoughts and pray it is the latter.
BTW I do love the white on the baby's face.

....

[phoenix-cry]

If there is a deformity it's not immediately obvious. I saw the cord a day ago and it looked normal, and the veins have gotten smaller...I just can't for the life of me recall if he was this pale, I could have sworn he was darker.

The white on his face is epic! I've got all my fingers and toes crossed on this one!

Why does it always seem to be the best of the bunch color wise always have the most trouble? ;)

[phoenix-cry]

Positive sign! Little head poking out of the egg this morning!

[ShawneeAlice]

You are making me crazy to see the white faced babies whole body XD Hurry up little baby and come out!!

[phoenix-cry]

I know!!! I can't wait to see!

[phoenix-cry]

When I came home his egg had rolled over and the middle of his body had spilled out, umbilical cord and yolk still attached (seems like less yolk). So I carefully righted the egg and slipped him back in. He looks a lot better today, his color is much darker. I almost wonder if his cord was twisted for a while and now is better?

I couldn't help but take a quick pic. I love how the stripes on his face meet up with his white marks! I'm really pulling for this one!

http://img02.deviantart.net/149e/i/2016/257/e/0/still_in_egg_ii_by_phoenix_cry-dahnlhe.jpg

Color yesterday

http://pre10.deviantart.net/03e9/th/pre/f/2016/256/4/2/still_in_the_egg_by_phoenix_cry-dahk1ya.jpg

[phoenix-cry]

Well the last one is still curled up in the egg. All the veins are gone, so I'm hoping that means he's absorbing the yolk as well. His color still looks good.

[Helenthereef]

I misspelled. That's Sykes not Skyes.

You realise that this means you have to send this one directly to me?
Helen SYKES :D

[phoenix-cry]

Ahahaha! Perfect! :)

[phoenix-cry]

So here we are! Only three days late. No sign of pixelation, however two interesting traits. The most noticeably is the fact that s/he has the same 'two face' markings as the mother right down to the fact that it's the right side of the face that is browned out. the other interesting thing is the gray markings behind the neck and on the one patch of color.

The one thing I'm worried about is the fact that his/her head is noticeably smaller than the others. Not sure if this is going to be an issue or not.



Meet Semper (as in Semper Fi)


http://pre07.deviantart.net/3199/th/pre/f/2016/258/0/9/black_pastel_pied_5_by_phoenix_cry-dahraxu.jpg

http://img08.deviantart.net/ff2a/i/2016/258/7/b/black_pastel_pied_4_by_phoenix_cry-dahraul.jpg

http://orig13.deviantart.net/fa04/f/2016/258/5/4/black_pastel_pied_3_by_phoenix_cry-dahrasc.jpg

http://img03.deviantart.net/ce5f/i/2016/258/2/c/out_of_the_egg_by_phoenix_cry-dahra8g.jpg

Mom's face for comparison

http://pre00.deviantart.net/f555/th/pre/f/2012/082/0/c/black_pastel_pied_by_phoenix_cry-d4tpjtq.jpg

[mrspoindexter]

They were all stunning if you ask me. Precious.

Sent from my LG-K330 using Tapatalk

[phoenix-cry]

Thank you! I do love them all!

[ShawneeAlice]

What a gorgeous baby omg. His face reminds me of pied retold, and those gray patches!! I gotta be that person and ask if that baby will go up for sale? XD

[ShawneeAlice]

Pied retics* autocorrect sorry

[phoenix-cry]

He does kinda have that retic face!

Sorry....this one stays with me!

[ShawneeAlice]

Haha I thought so just had to ask �� congrats on the clutch! Will you try again to make pixel pieds?

[phoenix-cry]

Yes! I will be trying to make more pixels! I know he can, he has in the past....and Oorah might be one.

[phoenix-cry]

Closer inspection showed that Oorah has a *single* white scale on the back of her head. And the father has a patch on the back of his neck just like her. Once she gets a little bigger I'm going to see if that patch looks a little 'digital'.

http://img05.deviantart.net/6d54/i/2016/256/e/1/close_up_of_oorah_s_head_by_phoenix_cry-dahjb2h.jpg

[Pasodama]

Any news on #5?

....

[phoenix-cry]

Yes! If you look at page 5 on this thread you can see him/her! S/he's doing great and looks amazing. :)

[Pasodama]

OMG, don't know how the heck I missed that!
So glad he/she made it out of the egg.
Just beautiful! Love the colors & markings (including color to white ratio).

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[phoenix-cry]

:)

Thanks!

I can't wait to see what a few sheds brings!

[Pasodama]

Will be nice seeing them after some sheds.
Do keep us updated. :)

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[phoenix-cry]

I shall flood you with pics of my new guys once they get their white rather than 'pink'. The first four are deep in blue right now, the fifth guy is still baby colors.

I hope his small head size isn't an issue. He doesn't look odd when he's on his own, but when you put him with his siblings it is significantly smaller (even though he weighs the same as them).

[phoenix-cry]

Well Nimitz and Fallon ate right out of the gate f/t no problems! The other two struck but didn't coil, and Semper is still waiting to shed for the first time. Still I'm happy that two of them ate so quickly without issue, now to get the other ones on board.

[ShawneeAlice]

I love to see someone actually trying them on frozen! I try to only buy snakes the feed frozen and it sucks when the majority of snakes I look at to possibly buy have only been fed live -_- Better yet, being fed live MICE. Not even rats, MICE!

[phoenix-cry]

I do everything I can to start them and keep them on frozen. :) I find it's easier with hatchlings they tend to not know any better.

I do have one adult male who would literally rather die than eat anything other than a live mouse. Sigh. I keep trying with him.

[ShawneeAlice]

That's great :) I'm not currently breeding but when I do in the future I will also try to start them on frozen.

Haha! I'm currently trying to switch two live mice eaters to frozen. Very stubborn little guys.

Who do you think is the first baby that's gonna shed? :D

[phoenix-cry]

Ball pythons love to be picky!

The first four babies have all shed (that's why I started feeding). The fifth one that took longer to hatch is deep in the blue. :)

[ShawneeAlice]

Oh dang lol That's great. Looking forward to some more pics :D

[Pasodama]

I do everything I can to start them and keep them on frozen. :) I find it's easier with hatchlings they tend to not know any better.

It is great that you do this. I do the same. :)

Wonderful to hear about the couple of young'uns having eaten. I have faith that the others will come around, to eating, as well.:thumbsup:

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[SERPENTS DEN]

The male pixilated Pied is sharp looking, I hope he proves out for you and I really like the look of that Black Pastel paradox...congrats!

[phoenix-cry]

Thanks! Yeah that last black pastel is funky! That one stays with me! I know the male has thrown pixel in the past so I'm thinking just 'bad' odds. Heehee.

[phoenix-cry]

Add Oorah to the list of eating babies! Sykes is striking and biting the f/t out of fear but not coiling or eating yet. They all have hides and Sykes is never in the hide but s/he huffs and puffs when I open the container at all. Left the pink in there to see if we just need some 'alone' time.

Semper still hasn't shed, I will do new pics once everyone is shed out!

[phoenix-cry]

Semper shed and he's amazing!!

I am really liking the two scales of white in his gray spot. Perhaps a little 'pixel'? ;)

http://img12.deviantart.net/0da9/i/2016/267/9/b/semper_i_by_phoenix_cry-daip3j6.jpg

http://img03.deviantart.net/2255/i/2016/267/f/6/semper_ii_by_phoenix_cry-daip3yv.jpg

http://orig08.deviantart.net/12e6/f/2016/267/6/8/semper_iii_by_phoenix_cry-daip43p.jpg

http://img13.deviantart.net/eef3/i/2016/267/0/9/semper_iv_by_phoenix_cry-daip45n.jpg

http://img10.deviantart.net/9e0f/i/2016/267/4/1/semper_v_by_phoenix_cry-daip47u.jpg

[ShawneeAlice]

Oh man Semper is gorgeous!! He's my favorite :P

[phoenix-cry]

Mine too! Heehee. Best for last! Although his black pastel sister ain't half bad and she's already eaten twice. :)

[Pasodama]

Semper looks awesome!

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[Dafuzzy]

Thank you so much for sharing! Absolutely gorgeous snakes!

[phoenix-cry]

Thank you! Five years of work feel 100% worth it! :)

[Chris Grasch]

Did the eggs hatch?

[phoenix-cry]

Yes! If you click back on this thread there are pictures!

[Chris Grasch]

Yes, I see now. Congrats! So rewarding to see years of hard work finally pay off!

[phoenix-cry]

Yes! I'm so pleased!

[phoenix-cry]

Well three out of five are champion eaters on f/t. The other two are striking the f/t out of obvious fear not hunger. Any tips on these two?

They are in 6 quart tubs, aspen, flower pot water dish as a hide. I try to open the tub as little as possible and use really long tongs.

I have tried braining the fuzzy.

[Dafuzzy]

I'm by no means an expert, but would mimicking wounded prey using the tongs work perhaps?

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

[phoenix-cry]

I do the zombie dance. :)

They strike they are just clearly trying to get the fuzzy to 'go away'. The two not eating huff and puff when the tub is opened a bit while the eating ones just sit there. The two not eating don't seem to feel secure...maybe a different kind of hide?

[Dafuzzy]

A more snug hide perhaps?or maybe feeding them at night in the dark(using a dim red light to see if you want to skip the stumbling around in the dark routine) since they are nocturnal by nature?

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

[phoenix-cry]

A red light is a good idea. I will give that a try. I've tried night feeding but I've always needed some light on in the room. :)

[Pasodama]

You may have to try live to, at least, get them started.
If they take live, you can, then, try to convert them over, to f/t, after a few (or more) feeds.
Once they start eating, consistently, (if they take live) it will be easier to get them on f/t than starting out with f/t.

Of course, if you want to continue trying f/t, you can try scenting the f/t fuzzies with different things. Such things as (depending on what you can get) tuna, chicken, chicken bullion broth, bird feathers, a live rat/mouse or its bedding, etc.

Make sure the babies are not handled, unless it is really necessary, and that they are in as much of a stress free environment as you can provide.

If the babies do not take their feed, off of tongs, just place it in the snake's coils (or centered to the snake) and leave it there. Check back, after an hour or two (or even overnight, if necessary), to see if the snake has eaten.

Feed items should be very warm (am sure you know this).

Do not offer feed each day or every other day.
Each feed attempt should be separated by some days.

If absolutely nothing works, after a bit of time, you could try assist feeding.

....

[Dafuzzy]

Yeah I'm about as coordinated as a bull in a fine China shop if I can't see!😁

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

[phoenix-cry]

I wanted to try to see if anyone had a few more tricks before I moved to live but I will go there before letting them lose any weight. They were born in the 70 gram range so they have a good start (even the late one was 68 grams).

I don't handle them at all now that I've moved them to their own tubs. I tried leaving the fuzzy both in their coils and just near by, no go.

I will give scenting with tuna a try.

I will absolutely try live feeding before assist feeding! They are only two weeks old and like I said nice and fat. ;)

Thanks!

[phoenix-cry]

Yeah I'm about as coordinated as a bull in a fine China shop if I can't see!😁

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

I have about that same coordination even with the lights on....

[Dafuzzy]

I wanted to try to see if anyone had a few more tricks before I moved to live but I will go there before letting them lose any weight. They were born in the 70 gram range so they have a good start (even the late one was 68 grams).

I don't handle them at all now that I've moved them to their own tubs. I tried leaving the fuzzy both in their coils and just near by, no go.

I will give scenting with tuna a try.

I will absolutely try live feeding before assist feeding! They are only two weeks old and like I said nice and fat. ;)

Thanks!
Whichever method ends up working, I look forward to reading about your success![emoji4]

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

[Pasodama]

I wanted to try to see if anyone had a few more tricks before I moved to live but I will go there before letting them lose any weight. They were born in the 70 gram range so they have a good start (even the late one was 68 grams).

I don't handle them at all now that I've moved them to their own tubs. I tried leaving the fuzzy both in their coils and just near by, no go.

I will give scenting with tuna a try.

I will absolutely try live feeding before assist feeding! They are only two weeks old and like I said nice and fat. ;)

Thanks!


I agree, you do still have time, to work with them, before getting too worried.:)

The mention, of assist feeding, was meant for after you have exhausted all avenues and is a step before moving on to what should be the absolute last resort (which would be force feeding).

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[phoenix-cry]

Yeah, force feeding is something I hope to avoid. I'm only weighing them once a week to cut on stress, so hopefully they will get hungry soon. I will get some tuna and give that a try.

I'm actually fairly excited that three of them have been so quick to feed. In my last clutch (five years ago), I got them all eating but only using live. I was hoping to avoid that this time. ;)

I'll keep you posted!

If anyone has any outlandish tricks let me know. I have also tried braining. I heard recently that Cyprus mulch can stimulate feeding so I'm going to grab some of that as well.

[phoenix-cry]

So I switched the two hatchlings that weren't feeding over to cyprus mulch and let them sit on that for 24 hours and then offered f/t fuzzies and *wham*!! Instant happy eating snakes! I'm guessing they feel more secure on the darker colored substrate...?

[Dafuzzy]

Yay!

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

[phoenix-cry]

I'm very excited! This clutch is doing so well!

[Pasodama]

That is great news! Glad that the two "holdouts" finally ate.

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