Transcript: Don Soderberg of South Mountain Reptiles
Keeping and Breeding Cornsnakes
Sunday, February 27, 2005
PHFaust: Welcome Don! Don Soderberg of South Mountain Reptiles studied biology and herpetology
at Austin State University, and is the producer of over 100 different
corn and other colubrid snake morphs. This year, SMR should produce
over 4,000 hatchlings and possibly introduce several new corn snake
morphs into the industry. Don will be answering questions about all
aspects of keeping and breeding corn snakes. To learn more about Don,
South Mountain Reptiles and his cornsnakes, please visit http://www.cornsnakes.net/.
Don Soderberg: Thanx for having me
PHFaust: REady to go don?
Don Soderberg: Yup
PHFaust: Taylor your turn
Taylor: so don what got you into reptiles?
Don Soderberg: Like most of us
Don Soderberg: catching this or that in the yard as a kid
Taylor: lol ya thats how i started out
PHFaust: Lokis mom your next
TURTLEBOY_nr: When you breed candycane corns, what percentage
turn out really high quality, assuming you are starting with parents
that are fairly pure in terms of their white background
Lokismommy: I have a two year old female snow and a one year
old male snow can they breed next year? Or do you go by weight? And
thanks for answering my Q.
Flying_Frog: ?
Don Soderberg: Candy canes are tough
Don Soderberg: You never know what you're going to get
Don Soderberg: I've bred best to best and got worst and vice
versa
Crocman2020: ?
Don Soderberg: I don't go by weight as much as I do length
Don Soderberg: females should be over 35 inches long if they're
feeding well
Don Soderberg: males can be smaller, of course, but not always
mature
Lokismommy: Ok thanks
CornsRCool_nr: ?
Don Soderberg: ga
PHFaust: Hades
HadesBP18: my male was born 8-6-04, when do you suggest I breed
him? and what would you get if you crossed an amel with bloodred?
Don Soderberg: I rarely breed corns before they're 1/5 years
or older
GaboonViper3: ?
TURTLEBOY_nr: Thanks sorry for interrupting out of order. One
other question: What are your most popular morphs the last couple of
years?
Don Soderberg: I'd say when it's two years old, it should be
mature enough to breed, but sometimes that extra year helps
Don Soderberg: amel x blood = normals het for both
Don Soderberg: ga
PHFaust: Demonfrog
HadesBP18: alright, sounds good and thank you!
DemonFrog: what would cause a snow corn snake to lose pattern
and excluding colour, look like a blizzard corn?
Don Soderberg: Could be anything from parental color influence
to the possibility that it's not a snow
Don Soderberg: that is, it could be both snow and blizzard???ga
PHFaust: Raven your turn
RavenNyx: You are in Texas correct? Can you recommend any Ft.
Worth Area Corn breeders? I have been looking at your web site but I'm
a little leery of having a snake shipped to me. When I purchase the
corn it will be my first and I just don't know anything about having
them shipped.
Travis290: ?
Don Soderberg: I don't know of any breeders of corns in the DFW
area rigth now. Don Shores breeds some very nice ones. ga
OtherFactors_nr: Don, do you have any pet turtles? If so, what
types do you keep? Also are there any corn snakes that are red, white
and blue?
PHFaust: Kevin
Kevin Saunders: Will you be producing any charcoal motleys or
charcoal ghost motleys this season? Do you plan on adding pics of these
to your gallery anytime soon? Thanks.
Don Soderberg: Kevin, I should be adding some more pictures in
the next few weeks, , ,
Don Soderberg: also I'll be taking more when the weather gets
better, , ,
Don Soderberg: charcoal ghosts, yes. . . charcoal motleys not
for awhile. ga
OtherFactors_nr: ?
PHFaust: Electric Blues
electricbluescat: don do you breed any coastal rosy boas?
Don Soderberg: I breed only the Whitewater albinos at this time.
ga
PHFaust: Mali your up
Maliyum: when did you get intrested in reptiles? what is your
favorite corn snake morph/s why?
electricbluescat: ?
Don Soderberg: Interested in snakes before I was five . .
Don Soderberg: started breeding them in college . . .
Don Soderberg: got into them bigtime after that and haven't stopped.
Don Soderberg: Favorite morph?
Maliyum: yes
Don Soderberg: anything that is bloodred. . .
Maliyum: cool
Don Soderberg: Love the yellows too, butter motleys and striped
butters. ga
PHFaust: Rparks
rparks1310: What new morphs r u working on?
Don Soderberg: Wow, everyone asks that. I don't even tell me
what's on the horizon. Hate to jynx myself. . .
Don Soderberg: Always mixing bloodreds with other colors and
patterns . . .
Don Soderberg: of course mixing the ultras with as much as I
possibly can. ga
jandareptiles: ?
PHFaust: Janda, you ready now
CornsRCool_nr: Don, what morph/s of Cornsnakes would you recommend
to a first time breeder, just to get him going in the business? Thanks
PHFaust: Ask your question janda
dicy_nr: g2g sleep its 4:25 here peace all
jandareptiles: you did im sorry buddy
jandareptiles: am i back on it again ill wait my turn
PHFaust: OK Kidgecko your turn
thekidgecko: What do you think is coming morph-wise in the corn
world because there seems to be a lot of morphs already out there(including
desinger morphs) so what do you think will come up next?
thekidgecko: like as in crossing morphs
Don Soderberg: I think anything blended with bloodred and ultra
will be hot . . .
Don Soderberg: I was surprised the butter and caramel bloods
didn't look better...
thekidgecko: sweet
Don Soderberg: but I believe we just haven't bred the right bloods
with those yet. . .
Don Soderberg: I'm sure we'll see some killer combination morphs
of those.ga
CJinNH: ?
PHFaust: The Godess of Cornsnakes Herself! Kathy Love the Corn
Snake Queen
KathyLove: Hi Don, Just eavesdropping to hear all about your
newest and best secret projects on your beautiful corns, lol! I was
going to ask about that, but somebody beat me to it! I like those ultras
too - they will be great mixers.
Don Soderberg: Hi, Kathy...
Don Soderberg: Yeah, the ultras have a great future as far as
we can see now. ..
Don Soderberg: it sure is nice to have a co-dominant to work
with. ..
Don Soderberg: Kathy, when's that book hitting the stands?
Don Soderberg: ga
PHFaust: Hetero your turn
Heterodon62: Do you know of anyone who breeds Kisatchae Corns?...and
do you breed hognose snakes?
KathyLove: Should be here in about 1 - 2 months. Looks great!
And THANKS! for all of your photo contributions - you made the cover!
Don Soderberg: We will have lots of the Kisatchies this year.
Very few hogs though. ga
PHFlame: ?
Heterodon62: what do they cost?
Don Soderberg: Kathy, we all can't wait for the book. Tell 'em
to get it out sooner. Thanx. ga
Don Soderberg: Prices are on my web site.
PHFaust: Others your turn
Heterodon62: col thanks
Don Soderberg: for the Kisatchies and hogs. I'm cutting back
on the hogs.
OtherFactors_nr: Don, do you breed or keep the turtles? Also
are there any cornsnakes that are red,white and blue? Yeah and do you
make your living off of reptiles or is it a side venture? Also, what
type of workout and nutritional program are you on? Are you watching
the Oscars tonight? Al Pacino and Charlize Theron are my favorite actors,
how about yourself? You say you live in Texas, have you been to those
awesome reptile stores in Houston such as PetsA Plenty and Char's Reptile
store? You are cool dude.
Don Soderberg: ga
Don Soderberg: we don't do turtles...
Don Soderberg: No r/w/b corns yet. ..
Don Soderberg: I don't know that I'd call this living, but it's
the only job I have. lol
Don Soderberg: nutritional program is feed healthy mice...
DemonFrog: ?
Don Soderberg: Oscars? My snakes won't let me. Too much to do
with them this time of year...
Don Soderberg: I have not had the pleasure of visiting any of
the Houston shops. I'll do that someda. ga
PHFaust: Cornman your turn
cornman: have you ever crossed the butter or amber traits with
an albino great plains rat snake? or have you ever considered it?
Don Soderberg: I actually got rid of most of my Emory's and never
got around to crossing the yellow corns to them. . .
Don Soderberg: I did do the amel corn to them once, but was so
disappointed with the results, I didn't repeat it . . .
Don Soderberg: I think it would be too confusing to mix the caramel
variations into that line. ga
PHFaust: Flyingfrog
Flying_Frog: I am looking into getting a corn snake but my mom
needs more convincing, she is afraid of escaping snakes, anything that
I could tell her to make them more appealing? And any tips for someone
wanting to work with reptiles for a carreer?I only own some tree frogs,
will this make it harder to work with snakes later in life(even though
I read about them constantly)?
Don Soderberg: Just like anything else, convince your mom you're
responsible and it might help her get over her fear of snakes.
Don Soderberg: Mom's don't like the idea of snakes loose in the
house...
Don Soderberg: Honestly, this is going to sound like an father
speaking, but the best advice is to get the best grades you can in school
and ...
Don Soderberg: you can choose any career you want. ..
DemonFrog: is it possible for bloodred to effect morphs like
snows? what would the result of this look like?
Don Soderberg: I know that sounds old fashioned, but if you learn
as much as you can about herps in school, you can choose any field you
want.
Don Soderberg: ga
PHFaust: Crocman
Crocman2020: What do u think makes cornsnakes an interesting
herp? and do u think they will stay as popular as they are at this point?
do u ever go field herping?
Flying_Frog: thanks
gutshotCS: ?
Don Soderberg: I think they have many redeeming qualities...
Don Soderberg: tame, small, breed well, feed well and come in
hundreds of flavors...
Don Soderberg: I think they'll always be popular and if people
keep working with the different color/pattern combinations, we'll never
run out of the snakes nor the followers of them. ga
PHFaust: CornsRCool your turn
PHFaust: Going twice CornsRcool
PHFaust: Gabbon your up
GaboonViper3: do you think corns will be taken over by the ball
craze? or do we still have alot to see when it comes to corn morphs?
and also, do you do any things with black rats?
Crocman2020: ?
Don Soderberg: Corns aren't going to be replaced by anything....
Don Soderberg: they're too convenient compared to balls...
Don Soderberg: you don't get enough eggs from balls and their
environmental needs are too great....
Don Soderberg: black rats.?...
Don Soderberg: Yes, I do some. I like them and the new colors
coming out, but I'm sick of bleeding everytime I take one out of its
cage. ga
GaboonViper3: i look foward to seeing what the future af corns
has to offer
PHFaust: PtDnsr
PtDnsr: This is more specific but you've replied to my post
on the cornsnake forum about my 1998 female ghost not feeding for the
past month, do you have any suggestions to try and entice her to eat?
Or why she would defecate in the container that we feed her in? Thanks
for the help!
Don Soderberg: Your ghost ....
Don Soderberg: Temperature, temperature, temperature. . . .
PtDnsr: thought she would be gravid but isn't...
Don Soderberg: if the temperature is correct and it's still not
eating, you should consult a QUALIFIED reptile vet. . .
PtDnsr: the room is 75-78 and they have a basking spot...
PtDnsr: thanks
Don Soderberg: Try a gerbil, small rat or hamster. Not live,
of course. ga
PHFaust: Travis
Travis290: Hi Don, do you think that there is a future for the
Lava morph. If so what would be some good genes to incorporate in a
Lava project?
Don Soderberg: Hey, Trav. How ya doing, man? Before I respond,
thank you for helping out last week...
Don Soderberg: Lava?
Don Soderberg: They're beautiful and promise to make other patterns
and colors more beautiful. ..
Travis290: No problem!!!!! Had a blast
Don Soderberg: You know my standard answer...
Don Soderberg: Bloodred X anything...
Travis290: ofcourse
Don Soderberg: Of course, lava should enhance the colors of just
about anything else too. ga
Travis290: Thanks Don
PHFaust: Electric your turn
electricbluescat: don what kinds of snakes that are not listed
on your site do you breed?
Travis290: Hope to see you soon
Don Soderberg: Oh, I can't think of them all....
Don Soderberg: ball pythons, albino boas....
Don Soderberg: lots of different rat snakes...
electricbluescat: thanks don
Don Soderberg: lots of new bull snake morphs and so on..ga
PHFaust: CJ your next
CJinNH: a question on a particular morph... is there a gene that
determines why some snows are yellowish, some greenish, and some pinkish
?? or is it just random??
savannah_king: ?
Don Soderberg: Ouch, , , the dreaded snows?...l
eunectes4: ?
Don Soderberg: I honestly don't know what causes that. ...
CJinNH: ok well thanks
Don Soderberg: I just have so many other snakes to "play"
with, I don't spend time on the snows like I should. It's a very good
question. Bring that up on the forums. ga
PHFaust: Flame your question
PHFlame: Question about the ultras. I have read that some people
think that ultras have some yellow rat or other ratsnake, not corn,
bred into them. Your opinion?
Don Soderberg: Well, opinion would be what it would be. . .
Don Soderberg: not knowing the exact origins of that morph, I
don't know, but I can say that there is no reason an alien species like
rat snake should be responsible for a co-dominant gene like that....
Don Soderberg: not that I know of anyway. At this time, I have
to believe that the folks that are in the historical KNOW on these snakes
are correct and that they're pure corns. ga
PHFlame: thanks
PHFaust: Demonfrog
DemonFrog: is it possible for bloodred to affect morphs like
snows? what would the result of this look like? also when can we expect
an exanthic corn to show up?
Don Soderberg: snow bloods. . . .
Don Soderberg: I believe that anything with bloodred, motley
or hypo in them tend to show pink. ..
Don Soderberg: when combined with anery/amel (snow), that is...
Don Soderberg: I expect the bloodred/snows to be very very pink,
but we'll have to wait and see, won't we? ...
Don Soderberg: Axanthic corn?...
Don Soderberg: I think you meant NO yellow?
DemonFrog: ya
Don Soderberg: I'm waiting for the hypermelanistic or fully melanistic
myself...ga
PHFaust: Janda
jandareptiles: after my snake has bred with the male and she
is gravid do i still feed her or no? and also how many hatling do you
have on average say with a 2.5/3 year old cornsnake. and yeah sorry
[b]ph[/b] lol
DemonFrog: thanks
Don Soderberg: Yes, keep feeding her 'till she gives you the
pre-lay shed....
Don Soderberg: she needs all the nutrition she can get at this
time...
Don Soderberg: do not let her eat after that shed though...
Don Soderberg: I average 16 eggs from females that age, but it
can vary. ga
DemonFrog: ?
PHFaust: Gutshot your turn
jandareptiles: cool thank you
PHFaust: Croc your turn
Crocman2020: is there anything that you dont breed that you'd
like to?
Don Soderberg: If you mean snakes other than corns, hmmmm?....
Don Soderberg: I love venomous, but the wife says NO WAY!
PHFaust: We wives are mean like that...
Don Soderberg: I think she's probably right. I have more than
one messed up finger from my venomous days....
Don Soderberg: I don't know what it'd be unless it would be pythons
that don't get bigger than my house..ga
Crocman2020: thank you
PHFaust: Savannah your turn
savannah_king: what is the most valuable corn u have
Don Soderberg: Well, in terms of $$, I guess it's the multiple
hets for "secret" projects in the works right now....
Don Soderberg: In terms of what I love, it's some of my simple
ole friends. Some are normals and some are just butters or lavenders...
Don Soderberg: it'd be hard to say, but I guess honestly it's
the project corns that have yet to yield the next NEW complex morph..ga
PHFaust: Eunectes your turn
eunectes4: How long do you think it will be until the hobby and
breeders quit using elaphe when labeling corns?
Don Soderberg: I'm shocked everyone's not doing it yet.....
Don Soderberg: Pantherophis if official and it's not going away.
. .
eunectes4: frustrates me too and people keep saying it isnt accepted...it
is
Don Soderberg: Elaphe no longer applies to American rats so it's
time everyone accepts that..ga
eunectes4: glad to know you agree...think time will come?
Don Soderberg: With chats like this, perhaps soon...
PHFaust: And for our final question of the evening, the appropriately
named Flame.
eunectes4: lets hope..thanks
Don Soderberg: It is very official and they're not going to change
their minds, so just like anything that changes, it's time now, isn't
it? ga
PHFlame: You said that you had messed up finger from your venomous
days. What snake got you?
Don Soderberg: Copperhead, atrox and gila monster. ...
PHFlame: ouch
PHFlame: no wonder your wife says no now
Don Soderberg: None were fun. Copperhead, three plastic surgeries.
Two days in intensive care from the gila. I still love them, but no
longer keep them. ga
PHFaust: OK I Lied, one of our hosts has a question for you...
PHWyvern
Don Soderberg: uh oh
PHFaust: Honestly don, working for her for 4 years, I would be
worried too.... ;)
PHFaust: Your turn wyv
PHWyvern: Has it been decided if the Emory rat snake been established
as their own species or are they still a subspecies of the corn snake
PHWyvern: there still seems to be conflicting opinions on it
Don Soderberg: They are a separate species now. They're Pantherophis,
but the species is no longer guttata/guttatus. .
Don Soderberg: The opinions are just that. The new DNA testing
has made that official..
Don Soderberg: DNA is changing lots of things, but at least it's
a science that's proven Vs opinions based on field stufy and guessing.
Don Soderberg: ga
PHFaust: On behalf of Kingsnake.com, Jeff B, and myself, I want
to take a moment to thank Don for being part of our chat week. Don thanks
for taking the time out to chat with us on corns.
Don Soderberg: Thanks to everyone. Hope you all (and me) have
the best corn breeding season ever. See ya.
PHFaust: Thanks so much don
|
