The Hatchery Gallery

Standard Corn Snake

Standard corn snakes present with dark brown blotches and a light grey background colouration when they emerge from the egg. Eggs hatch around 63 to 65 days after they have been laid, when incubated at 27°C.

The mature colouration only appears from around 1 year of age when the dark brown will change to orange, black, brown and yellows.

Amelanistic Corn Snake

Generally a pinkish colour with bright orange saddles, the colours intensify as the snake grows and matures to exhibit its adult colouration.

The orange and pinky-white colouration that is standard with every hatchling, will later become more defined into bright oranges and reds with a white or pink or orange background colouration.

The areas that are "clear" bluish colour around the saddles and blotches will later change into a white rim. Eggs hatch around 63 to 65 days after being laid and incubated at 27°C.

Grey Rat Snake

Grey rat snakes exhibit the same colouration as adults when they emerge from the egg. Eggs hatch around 55 to 60 days after being laid and incubated at 27°C.

Some juveniles change into a lighter colour as they mature - such specimens are of the "oak phase" colour morph.

New Born Red Tail Boa

New born boas exhibit a pale grey colouration with brown blotches on the tail. Neonates are carried for 4 to 8 months before the mother gives birth to them.

Once they have had their first shed, then their colour starts to show.

Generally you can see what colour a boa is going to be when it is older - if it is dark as a juvenile, it is going to be even darker as an adult and if it is light as a juvenile, it will be light as an adult. Some individuals develop black spots on the background colouration, which only begins to show as the snake matures.

Californian King Snake

King snakes brighten as they mature, but generally the colouration that they are born with, is the colouration that they will retain until adulthood. Juveniles begin to "cut" the egg with their egg-tooth, around 60 days after being laid and incubated at 27°C.

In juveniles, thin bands of white or yellow do not show well and as the snake matures and grows, so the bands get thick and show up better. In albino variations, the pink colouration in juveniles develops into white in the adult form.

Sinaloan Milk Snake

Colours are generally brighter in juveniles and if your specimen is dark as a juvenile, be assured that it will be darker as an adult. Black tipping only shows as the snake matures and the red bands darken. Juveniles start "cutting" at around 70 days after being laid and incubated at 27°C.

"tangerine phase" Honduran Milk Snake

Juveniles are brighter in colur, black tipping only appears as the snake matures.

Dark specimens and specimens that have a large amount of black tipping on the scales will only get darker as the snake matures.

Eggs start hatching around 70 to 75 days after being laid and incubated at 27°C.

Juveniles can remain in the eggs for upto 48 hours after they started to "cut". They can be seen, sticking their head out and back into the eggs, until they build up enough courage to venture into the great beyond.

"high-yellow" leopard gecko hatchling

Characterised by the absence of the black bar that appears on the hind legs in the standard leopard gecko. Juveniles that are this colour morph present with a brighter yellow background colour between the brown bands and bright yellow hind legs. Eggs start to hatch at around 50 days after they have been laid.

"apricot phase" Pueblan Milk Snake

Juveniles are brighter than the adult forms - in the "apricot phase", the apricot colour darkens as the snake matures.

Black tipping only appears as the snake starts to mature and the red is less intensified in the adult form and the white bands or apricot bands generally get a "dirty" look to them in average specimens.

Eggs start hatching around 75 days after they have been laid and incubated at 27°C.

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Last updated: April 2007