An almost three-meter-long boa has given birth to 42 snake babies in a reptile house on Lake Constance. "Because it has become fatter and fatter, the birth had to be induced," said Peter Kisser, who runs the reptile house in Unteruhldingen. For him and his staff, the baby boom was a big surprise. "We had expected 20 to 30 cubs, which would be common for such a snake species," said the expert. But on April 13, more and more boys were born. Snake mom Hermione is doing well.
However, according to Kisser, the boa constrictor with snake father Snape no longer has to take care of the offspring. "Snake babies are very independent, they spend only a few hours with their mother and can then take care of themselves," said the expert. "From day one, they know exactly what they can eat and who their enemies are." According to Kisser, the baby boas, which are about 30 centimeters long, are fed small mice – one per snake.
The reptile house, which is also a sanctuary, will only keep two of them for reasons of green space. The rest will be handed over, for example to specialist retailers. "There are people who collect stamps or coasters – and there are a lot of people who keep reptiles." The snake babies are already attracting many visitors.
The pregnancy of a snake lasts an average of 120 days. The birth of the 42 boys took two to three hours. "The snakes have it a bit easier than humans." But it is still pressed. "Not all snakes give birth to young, pythons, for example, lay eggs," Kisser said.
In the wild, only a few of the little boa cubs would survive. "That's why snakes get so many of them," the expert explained. For Hermione, it was probably the first pregnancy - and it will certainly not be the last. Whether there will be such a baby boom again will be seen next year.