I must have been knee deep in exams back then because I've been dying to know the answer to this. I'm thrilled that Jimmy was able to prove these traits incompatible. Great analysis by Doug and Shannon!

I've come to believe that the "LA strain" is as authentic T-positive as we've seen in campbelli and not the "hypo" as we usually think of it. I agree with Doug that calling anything "T-positive" without biochemical analysis is scientifically inappropriate, but to the extent that the black bands in the "LA strain" hypo are IDENTICAL in coloration to Shannon's T-positive nelsoni (and I keep both), I think "T-positive," as a term, is a uniformly well-recognized hobbyist expression for this color variation that is appropriate and will ultimately stick.

I bought my "LA strain" breeders from veterinarian Jerry Bedsole out of Foley, AL -- they were the last of his stock as he departed the milk snake world. From what he told me, there was a single guy who produced these by pure happenstance and had them for sale at a show. Jerry and another guy, Rob, from Bayou Reptiles, bought out the entire group. Rob later confirmed that he got his from Tim Ricks, but I never did verify whether Jerry's were actually from the same source. Anyway, to my knowledge, Rob was more successful in pioneering the line and has, since that time, been simply calling them "hypo apricot" pueblans. I imagine it was Rob's success with the line (and that of the locals he sold to) that led to the idea that these were "LA strain" hypos.

In any case, I've been working with these for several years now and die a little inside every time I go to a show try to describe these snakes to other vendors and milk enthusiasts. Everyone who produces a hypo thinks his is lighter and cleaner than the next guy's -- call it "hypo" envy. I'm glad someone can corroborate that I've been working with something special!

Cheers!

Brad Waffa



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http://www.waffahousereptiles.com

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