![]() Along with the adult pair, we have their offspring-one female, Magnolia, hatched in 2018 and ten juveniles hatched in September of 2019. Thirteen Eastern indigo snakes currently live at the North Carolina Zoo. When identifying the eastern indigo, look for. A non-venomous apex predator, it preys upon many species of animals including some venomous snakes, and it plays a critical role in keeping an ecosystem healthy and balanced. Once it feels like springtime in their habitats, our male indigo snake, Montoya, has fulfilled his role until the next breeding season. Our female, Sarracenia, resides behind the scenes during this time. Keepers create a habitat where she can be comfortable as her eggs develop and are eventually laid. Eggs are typically laid in early summer (April-June). Sarracenia and I both become restless, as she is full of eggs and I am impatiently waiting for her to lay them. Eggs are large and she has laid as many as thirteen! Following egg laying, she is tired and hungry. Keepers increase her feeds and monitor her weight and body condition closely.ĭata is collected on the size and weight of each egg before placing them in the incubator. The eggs remain in the incubator for 90-110 days, where temperatures and humidity levels are checked daily. In early fall Sarracenia is being pampered, but I have grown restless again. Now I am impatiently waiting for the eggs to begin hatching. The young snakes will make a small tear in the eggshell and take breaths, but it may take hours to days for them to fully leave the eggs. As one snake begins the hatching process, the others are stimulated to do the same. The little snakes are weighed and measured before they move into their new habitats. With the eggs hatching in early fall, we only have about a month to prepare for the next breeding season. The eastern indigo snake is an icon of the southern longleaf pine forest and is the longest native snake on the continent. If you must swallow your prey whole, what goes down better than something shaped exactly like yourself? For this reason, our snakes have individual habitats. During introductions, behavior is closely monitored for signs of breeding, aggression or stress. Luckily, our couple has always gotten along well. Introductions continue two to three times per week into January. In early March, we begin slowly increasing temperatures and daylight hours in their habitats. This is important because one of their favorite foods in the wild is other snakes, including venomous snakes. ![]() Its color is uniformly a lustrous black, although the chin, throat, and sometimes the cheeks may be red. Reaching lengths of almost 9 feet, it is the longest native snake in the United States. ![]() Breeding these snakes is a year-long process. Here at the Zoo, we imitate the seasonal patterns from their natural habitat in order to meet all their physiological and behavioral needs. Predominantly found in Florida and coastal Georgia now, their range once included southern Alabama into Mississippi. In the fall, we begin slowly lowering temperatures and reducing hours of daylight in their habitats. During winter, they become less active and stop eating. Once they are no longer eating (usually mid-November), keepers begin introductions. The eastern indigo snake ( Drymarchon corais couperi) is a large, black, non-venomous snake found in the southeastern United States. ![]()
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