Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

Gazza85 · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 4:52 pm Post subject: Kinks in baby snakes?

My clutch of Mexican Milksnakes hatched this week and I noticed that a couple of them have kinks down the spine. Has anyone else experienced this? Is this due to how they have laid in the egg? or is it a deficiency?

Just to add I will take photos (just waiting on my new camera to arrive).

Wink

Snowy · Contributing Member Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 179

It generally is a genetic defect. Any with kinks should not be bred from and try not to breed the pair the clutch came from together again.

bribrian · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 9:40 pm Post subject:

It can be genetic but it appears to happen mainly due to bad incubating temps, with heat spikes......

Central Scotland Reptiles · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 10:55 am Post subject:

Hi Gazza85,

I would concur with bribrian, i would suggest that if you have had offspring from this pair before without any kinks, it would indicate that the fault lies with the incubation temperatures this time around. If however this is the first breeding from this pair it may be down to genetics. Only subsequent breeding's would prove or disprove this.

Can i be controversial here and suggest that the snakes in question be euthanised.
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Fraser Gilchrist
Central Scotland Reptiles - "Finding Beauty in the Beasts"

Snowy · Contributing Member Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 179

How is that controversial? What maybe a minor kink now, depending on where it is, could develop into a serious problem later thus causing possible pain and suffering to the animal.

It is what is best for the snakes that matters after all. I would say get them checked out by a reptile vet and see what they say.

Central Scotland Reptiles · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 2:46 pm Post subject:

I agree Snowy, what i meant is as animal lovers our judgment can become clouded when it comes to doing what is best in the long-term for our captives.

Historically, i wanted to help every runt and every deformed hatchling. Now though, via prior consultation with my vet, i euthanise any animal that is physically deformed. Harsh? Maybe but it helps the gene pool to remain strong and prevents imperfect animals 'polluting' the captive population.

I stumbled on this article a couple of years back, it makes for very interesting reading.

http://www.arbreptiles.com/lastword/culling.shtml
_________________
Fraser Gilchrist
Central Scotland Reptiles - "Finding Beauty in the Beasts"

davo · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 8:11 pm Post subject:

I suppose captive breeding would completely eliminate the "survival of the fittest" element, so I imagine it wouldn't be too harsh to put them down. However I suppose how bad the deformity is would make a difference... if it's not too bad, can still make a great pet and make someone very happy.

lovesnakes · Key Member Joined: 10 May 2007 Posts: 323 Location: essex

Jase · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 10:20 pm Post subject:

That is an interesting read! Makes me think a bit more in depth about the breeding and stuff.
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A lil bit of Madagascar

Snowy · Contributing Member Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 179

We're still waiting to find out how many are affected (as a couple is a generic term for anything more than one nowerdays) and for the pics to see how bad the kinks are and where they are.

If only say two are affected, then would that more point to genetic then heat spikes. If there was a problem with the incubator that cuased the spikes talked about would it not cause a lot more to be affected?