began to grow mould and was
consequently also discarded. On
the 10 th of February 2017 the first
egg began to pip and the rest
followed soon after (making the
incubation period 67 days). By the
13 th of February all six remaining
eggs had hatched; they were then
removed to their juvenile housing.
of heat cord at one end of the
tubs, maintaining a hot spot of
about 32 or 33 o C.
scent was used; one hatchling
took the scented pinkie and then
quickly progressed to eating
unscented pinkie mice. Soon after
Enticing the juveniles to feed was that I decided to try small slices of
a lengthy process. The newly-
chicken hearts, which were simply
hatched neonates were large
left in with the neonates during the
enough to eat a pinkie mouse, so day, and resulted in another four
to begin with each animal was left of the juveniles starting to feed. All
with an unscented pinkie in its tub. of the healthy juveniles were
Enclosures for juveniles were kept This was done roughly two weeks eventually sold within a matter of
very simple, and consisted of a tub after hatching, but none of the
months.
measuring 25cm by 10cm by
juveniles seemed interested.
10cm with paper towel as
A week later they were again
Though the neonates are initially a
substrate, a hide in the hot end
unsuccessfully offered pinkie
little challenging, once established
and a water dish in the cool end.
mice, this time scented with
they are very good feeders and
These were heated with two runs skinks. The next time, chicken
have a very strong feeding
response. The Mulga Snake is a
large, active species, so they
make for great display animals.
They are also easier to manage
than some other species of
elapids, such as brown snakes
and taipans.
Juveniles had
their first shed
about two weeks
after hatching,
and were offered
food soon after-
wards. Image by
Vince Pintaudi.
Close up of
specimen from
St George locale.
Image by
S. Eipper / Nature
4 You.