Posted by:
markg
at Tue Dec 14 12:59:24 2010 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by markg ]
I think you are onto something there.
However, I do remember seeing adult Hondurans in the 80s that were monsters. They were in cages larger than sweaterboxes. Applegate had breeders in one large cage. I couldn't tell you the length, but the girth of those milksnakes was memorable. Those were some big kids, huge in comparison to what one typically sees today sitting in a sweaterbox.
I think CB animals gradually get a bit smaller, to a point. Smaller individuals (talking about Hondurans here) fit sweaterboxes better, thrive better on a typical captive feed regimen, and produce easier in smallish cages. I think it is what has happened over generations. We kind of select for it whether we know it or not. Nature (even man-made) has a way of losing what it does not need. There is no benefit for a big Honduran in captivity, especially in a life of sweaterbox homes and once-per-week feedings. Sweaterbox snakes do not compete for mates or fend off enemies. So big is just not needed.
I bet if everyone used 6ft cages, tons of food, communal housing, etc we might see some huge hondurans over generations as well, because the potential is likely there. I'm not suggesting people do it, just saying it might be possible to go the other way.
-----
Mark
[ Hide Replies ]
|
RE: Big Hypo Hondurans - markg, Tue Dec 14 12:59:24 2010