Wow, it has been busy around here, in a good way. 
As I’ve settled (well, am settling) into a medically retired life, the snake collection and breeding program has gradually grown and expanded. What can I say, I seriously love these guys. (I need to talk to Frances in that pic about her habitat set ups, though.)
Some of you may remember by Craigslist rescue Clyde, who was both thin and rather beat-up looking. Well, after a year, he put on some weight, his scales healed (though scarred), and the vet gave him a clean bill of health just a few weeks ago. Following that, he was bought (for really nothing–more of an adoption fee than purchase) by a local Boy Scout family–the young man who got him loved him so much, he wore Clyde home. Clyde has the perfect pet personality for just that, and was completely cool with being carried home in the middle schooler’s arms. Yay happy ending!
Meanwhile, I’ve got three clutches of eggs incubating, including a shocking one from my 14yro “retiree” who seemed offended I left her out of this year’s breeding program. That Cleo (the namesake of my Facebook page devoted to the snakes, Cleo’s Kingdom–I see a lot of you there already 
) laid a clutch of eggs this spring wasn’t surprising; she’s laid them, bred or not, for the last several years. What WAS surprising is three of the eggs candled fertile–when she was last bred TWO YEARS AGO. :eek: Corns have been known to retain sperm for a double clutch (meaning, laying eggs twice in one season), and maybe a year, but few in the corn snake community have seen this after two years. (Cleo says, “I’m not old! You’re old!”) We’re all eager to see what, if anything, hatches. The three eggs hit day 55 this Wednesday, and anywhere from day 55-75 we just may get to meet those SURPRISE! babies.
The 14 eggs from our sweet lavender corn Kamalah are due to hatch in about 2-3 weeks, and the 9 from notsosweet ghost Alina in 3-4. Alina miiiight be about to double clutch; she of eternal somewhat aggressive appetite just went off food, a sign that laying may be in the next 3 weeks. I thought for sure Kamalah was going to last year and nothing happened, so we’ll see if Alina is actually going to or not. She’s a BIG girl and was in great shape after laying, so it shouldn’t be as much of a stress on her body as it would be on Kamalah.
In the meantime, I’ve been expanding our hognose collection, gearing up for the 2017 and 201 breeding season. I recently added axanthic (meaning, the red-brown color is removed, leaving black, white, and greys behind) girl Gertrude Winklesmith–yes, that’s what we named her :lol: --as a breeder for next year while my other hoggies grow and ready for the 2018 breeding season.
So. Excited. And a bit impatient. But if there’s one thing snakes will teach you, it’s patience, so…harrumph. Patient I shall be. 
