Jubilee is going to make a spectacular momma! The suspense is in the air! 
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I’m impressed she ate a mouse so close to delivery. All mine have gone on eating strike and refuse anything I offer, no matter the size, once they’re a few weeks along. Go Jubilee!!! Feed those growing babies!
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How is Purple Wonder and Galahad coming along after their messy lock? Do they both seem healthy? No complications? 
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Mine vary on feeding. Some eat like piggies all the way through, including a meal offered just past the pre-lay shed and a small meal after laying. Some eat like piggies at first, then do a hard stop and won’t eat again until after laying, then take a small meal. Some stop feeding and won’t resume feeding until after their post-lay shed. I try and encourage them by offering regular meals, but without pestering them.
Linette won’t eat in shed even when she’s not gravid so I wasn’t surprised that she’s been uninterested in food now. Still makes me nervous. I would prefer that they have more fuel available for the stresses of the process.
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Thanks for asking. 
Thankfully, both appear to be just fine! I had been considering another pairing for Galahad but after that, he’s done for the season. No need to to take any chances.
Purple Wonder is due for a weighing and a meal today. I’ll get a new picture of her chunkiness. 
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Here you go, @snakes_of_shadowlake , here’s the wonderful Purple Wonder. She’s looking and feeling obviously gravid in person. She and Galahad are both such sweethearts. I’m really excited about this pairing.
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I have got my eye on Purple Wonder and Galahad…. 
Just sayin……
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Oh my goodness! Fingers crossed for a healthy clutch from a less-than ideal mating. Those two are going to make stunning babies!
I think I’m just as excited to see what jackpot lottery ends up happening for Peredur and Jubilee, too! What fun!
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Agreed 100%. I’m finding out now why one of the older females we bought was sold to us, even though proven. Despite starting at a healthy weight, she refused to eat two weeks after she locked and hasn’t touched anything but a pinkie or two since. She looks so skinny to me, but is still gaining baby weight. She double clutched her first year with the other breeder, too, (probably without wanting her to), but I had to nurse her back from 199 grams after I bought her. She’s going to give me some extra wrinkles. She’ll definitely, definitely get next year off. I’m just hoping she doesn’t double clutch if I don’t pair her again.
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Oooh, good luck with her! That’s a nervous-making situation, to be sure. I swear, if someone came up with a “prevent double clutching” solution, I would pay a fair amount for that! I have yet to pair a female after laying, as I’d rather they use their energy for recovery rather than a second clutch. Way more often than not, they’ve doubled anyway. Makes me wonder if I should re-breed them but I probably won’t ever do that.
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Yeah. Bill and Kathy Love’s book says a high percentage of their females double clutched (70%+/- if I remember correctly). She says she hasn’t seen ill effects from rebreeding them every single year, anyway, but I just can’t bring myself to do the same as a hobbyist who doesn’t need to max out every dollar in order to stay in business.
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Same. Mine are first and foremost pets. That’s why I have a fair percentage of older animals who will never again be bred. I do find genetics fascinating, and freely admit to a love for the possibilities of breeding. It’s a passion, and I love the thrill of seeing a rare combo appear. But my breeding plans for individuals, especially females, are quite conservative. I very rarely pair a female two years in a row (another reason I have so many!). I won’t be changing these basic tenets.
Let me be clear, I don’t think breeding a healthy female in successive years is a problem or a bad practice. I have done so on occasion. I just lean ultra-conservative on it since it’s really a hobby, just on a larger scale (pardon the expression lol). My females are usually still producing later in life, so their total number of clutches may be similar. For instance, one of my first girls was paired for her final season at age 15. She produced 20 perfect babies, no slugs, recovered well and double clutched without re-pairing.
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Wow! That’s an incredible lifespan!
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They can live into their twenties. Currently my oldest are Sceptre (17) and Dazzler (16). They’re both females who have contributed significantly here and spent time as education animals. Dazzler was actually my very first hatchling. Her dam was Tulip, who was the one I mentioned in the last post. 
The oldest I’ve had so far was a male who passed last year at 21. I still miss him.
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Sorry, I just realized it sounded like that was Tulip’s final season. It was her final breeding season. She did get rehomed the next year to go back to being an animal ambassador/education snake. To my knowledge she’s still alive and well. (Need to check in with her human again.)
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Truffles celebrated Cinco de Mayo by laying yesterday! I saw that she was laying around noon. When I checked on her before bed, she wasn’t quite finished. At morning check, she’s done. She produced a super nice first clutch. There are 21 eggs which look pretty close to perfect. There’s also one which is iffy. I separated it from the clump and am following the “incubate 'til there’s no debate” rule. Truffles looks tired but healthy. I put water in the nest box and will offer her a snack later. Hooray for healthy clutch and healthy mama! 
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Muy Bueno!
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Holy Toledo! I was hoping for at least 12 but 21, seriously! I bet they will all be good too! Give that momma some tlc like I know you will! A whopping congrats on your first clutch of the season! May the force be with you! 
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Thank you, Dean and Caron! I was expecting double digits but I was thinking maybe 12-15. Truffles did wonderfully well. I know her mama Tulip would be proud!
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Wow, excellent clutch!
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