Hullo from the heart of Buttermilk Racer country...



They hatch looking just like any other racer and gradually turn to a grey/blue/blackish color. I have never collected a small one (under 2') who showed many if any speckles but as they get larger they seem to develope more and more spotting. I just got done counting the speckles on a small series of pickled ones in the study collection at the university here and there is a significant link between total length and number of spots. Im going to explore this by examining the rest of the pickles as soon as I can get a chance.



Mine are kept in both aquariums with aspen and a wooden hide box and in some large troughs I built with screen tops. They usually feed pretty well and settle down nicely (for a racer) My largest female however has a distinct mean streak. If you put her on the top of the trough she will s-curve her neck like a mamba and if you stand there she will actually advance on you. Oddly enough she doesnt seem to mind being handled she only acts this way when you put her down and stand near her.



I built the troughs so they wouldnt have to deal with seeing people walk past the glass cage fronts.



Peter

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