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First Shed

B

BrittnyNaomii

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Hi
I got my baby black kingsnake about a month ago
and Her first shed(with me) is happening
I really want it to go alright :]
Her belly is white and her eyes just clouded over today.
I just got her a new log to rub up on and hide in and whatever she decides to do with it :3
Any tips or suggestions to help get us through this alright?


Much appreciated <3
Brittny&Nyx


[Just Nyx]

SAM_0542.jpg


[Me & Nyx]

SAM_0556.jpg
 
Well, the only tip I can suggest is to just wait it out, and let nature take its' course. Make sure the water bowl is full, which can help out at times if the cage is TOO dry, and she should be good to go.

Once her eyes are clouded over, you will see them get clear again. It can take a few days to at the most, a week, before she will shed, after her eyes get completely cleared up after clouding over. I say that because sometimes it is expected that they will shed right away, and if Nyx does take some time, to not worry, as things should be fine.

Cool pic of you two!
 
Are the two parent's phenotype(outward look) solid black?, or are they patterned just like the hatchling there?

The reason I ask this is because some Mexican Black kingsnakes(L.g.nigrita) aka MBK's can hatch with pattern and coloration EXACTLY like Desert kings(L.g.splendida) do, but later develop into solid black individuals as they mature. This generally takes several months or more for MBK's to totally darken up fully. Desert kings(splendida) on the other hand keep the same pattern throughout their adulthood.

Anyway, just thought I would ask since the title said "Black king" and not Desert king, or splendida. These two are very closely related anyway(if not the very same animal), and it has been theorized by more than a few authorities that the Black kings are simply a Mexican Sonoran Desert clinal variant form of melanistic(excessive black pigment) L.g.splendida. This is also my opinion regarding them too. One day they could very well be classified taxonomically as the very same subspecies. But until then they are basically either type depending on their adult phenotype.

I have had both types, and they are definitely neat little hardy snakes, so have fun with it whatever the case happens to be. :thumbsup:


cheers, ~Doug
 
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