If you cannot see the parent stock of a hatchling you are interested in, make sure it doesn't have a solid gray background with bolder dark gray blotches, and/or displays more actual yellow, which is far more indicative of it being a hatchling Yellow Ratsnake instead.

Hatchling Everglades can often tend to be more pale in comparison overall, and some like this individual can show a strong rusty/orange coloration right from the start too. They will display a more rusty orange coloration in comparison to the Yellow Rat juvenile regardless though. Also, pick one that has the most red/orange, has bold orange/red irises, and another key feature you want to look for in a juvenile when some of these features aren't very developed yet is a solid RED tongue, not a black one(which again, is indicative of a Yellow Rat).

They both have the exact same juvenile pattern of blotches as hatchlings, and as they mature, you will see the blotch pattern gradually give way into their adult pattern of four longitudinal stripes. Although BOTH can sometimes show varying degrees of their juvenile blotch pattern as well as striping into adulthood.

You really want to see as much orange/red as possible, as opposed to the yellow, although some good Everglades examples can still have some yellow on their face and neck region.

Also, look at the belly, you want to see a solid rusty orange/red belly too. Although some Everglades can also have some yellow on the face and throat area as well, but the remaining 2/3rds should be rusty orange, and not yellow.


~Doug












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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

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