And it sure took long enough to do it! This baby pipped Thursday night. I was sure I’d find my first Miami hatchling either Friday morning or at the very latest, Friday night! Finally, on Saturday morning, I found the anxiously-awaited firstborn of El Wray and Cherry waiting for me in the egg box. As soon as I opened the container, this brave little hatchling launched itself at me, mouth wide and spitting! How adorable! (Even the fiercest hateling bite is hardly noticeable- although the attack _can_ startle you if you aren’t expecting it!) Don’t worry- nearly every “hateling” calms down quite rapidly and ends up as a gentle adult- that is what makes cornsnakes the most popular pet snake species in the world, after all! After I removed El Tigre from the egg box I couldn’t resist taking a few pictures of the newly-hatched “cobra!” Then time for a weigh-in: 5 grams. Not bad! I’m hoping El Tigre will soon be joined by more siblings- in their own sweet time!

I am a sucker for Miamis of all types, and especially those produced by Carol Huddleston, Low Belly Reptiles. The mother of this clutch, Cherry, was my first Miami ever. Cherry is a Milksnake Phase Miami, bred for banded saddles and a light ground color. I bought Cherry as an adult from Carol, and a sweeter snake there never was. Cherry is my ambassador snake who showers her affections on both snake lovers and first time snake handlers alike! The sire, El Wray, was my second Miami, bred by Carol. I fell in love with him, seeing him for sale, and just had to have him. He has matured into a gorgeous Miami Motley- in fact, you can see El Wray up in my logo! I’m hoping the offspring of El Wray and Cherry will combine the best characteristics of each parent. We’ll see! Momma Cherry on the left, Daddy El Wray on the right.

Finally!! The first baby of the Pepper x Buzztail clutch hatched on Tuesday, July 27th, catching me completely by surprise. You see, I had noticed one, then two eggs in the El Wray x Cherry clutch denting late last week, and was checking them twice daily for pips, along with Buzztail’s clutch. However, after days of inactivity, I began to despair that the dented eggs were actually going bad, and so, combined with my egg candling experience (I saw nothing), I just skipped the Tuesday morning check completely. Imagine my surprise when I opened the egg container Tuesday afternoon and found Number One gazing up at me!! Number One, with its little gray head and clear belly- definitely Bloodred. No hatchling has ever been more joyously welcomed into the world. What an immense relief for Pepper to prove out as Bloodred. And even more amazing, Number One is a Granite, (Anery Bloodred) proving Buzztail out as het Anery!

A flurry of First-Hatchie-Ever activity ensued, with a mini-photoshoot, posters being displayed at work and wallet-sized pictures being printed to show off. Number One was joined by Hatchlings B, C, D, E, F and G on Wednesday, and Hatchlings G, H, I and J on Thursday. And more eggs are still pipping today! So far there is an even mix of rich, red Bloodreds and gorgeous Granites in shades of gray, all with excellent diffusion. Of course they will not be sexed until after they have shed, and probably have been fed at least one meal. Things are definitely hopping at the Hatchling Hotel! PS- Cherry’s dented eggs are pipping now!

You can view the New Arrivals on the Available page. Be aware that I am still in the process of getting the Available section set up, and it needs to have a “widget” installed to be complete, but you can still see each individual hatchling there, up close, as they hatch. Sexes will be noted as soon as I sex them, most likely after the first meal.

I was told before Scarlett shipped that she was ovulating. I was concerned, since she is only two years old, and only 80 grams. I really thought she would reabsorb the ova. I fed her well, she gained a little weight. I checked her belly on feeding days and while I could clearly count five eggs, she didn’t seem to be changing or getting bigger. Then I heard news that her sisters were laying, so I gave her a lay box, which she scorned! Ten days ago Scarlett shed, and she ate ravenously two more times, the last time three days ago. After her last meal, she retired to the lay box.When I checked her this afternoon I was elated to find a clutch of five big, white, fertile eggs! And even happier to find Scarlett in excellent post-lay health with no retained eggs. Scarlett lost 20 grams in laying, nearly 25% of her weight. Relatively, this seems about what I’ve seen in my very limited experience with cornsnake clutches, too. I’m positive Scarlett will rebound rapidly since she is such an excellent feeder! The eggs have been placed in the incubator and I expect them to hatch in September sometime. I am so excited with my unexpected eggies!!

Also arriving today were three beautiful Lavender het Pewter Stripe babies, hatched by John Finsterwald, Colorado Corns. From a Pewter het Lavender sire and a Lavender Stripe dam, these gorgeous hatchlings hold the possibilities of some amazing offspring in 2013. With luck, the F2 generation could include 27/64 Lavenders, 9/64 Bloodreds, 9/64 Charcoal Lavenders, 3/64 Lavender Pewters, 9/64 Lavender Stripes, 3/64 Lavblood Stripes, 3/64 Charcoal Lavender Stripes and maybe, just maybe, 1/64 Charcoal Lavblood Stripe. Can you imagine??

Pictured above is Jacinto, the male. He’s a bit fiesty! That’s okay- he makes a good photo subject that way. The females are Iris, the speedy one, on the left, and Violet, the sweet one, on the right. One thing these kids have in common is excellent banding! So the non-stripe F2’s in the project should be gorgeous in their own right. The babies are testing out the hatchling rack for me, since it is still a couple weeks till my own eggs hatch. It’s quite a change from the usual 10 gallon set-ups I like for babies, but seems to be comfortable and safe for them.

Fred, the Rosy Bloodred, has returned to Florida! I am so happy! I just love this snake. Fred is here on breeding loan from John Finsterwald, Colorado Corns. Also in the box was Annabelle, a 2008 Hypo Bloodred het Snow Stripe, on breeding loan for 2011. Annabelle will be paired up with Pepper, my 2007 Avalanche Stripe.

Both are gorgeous Rich Hume stock. I’m hoping for some amazing hatchlings, including Bloodreds, Fires, Granites and Avalanches, in saddles and stripes. Annabelle is blue right now, but you can be sure I will do a nice photoshoot with her after she sheds. She is just an outstanding example of Bloodred.