Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Thought I'd try to get some pics of my '05 1.1 bairdis. I don't remember seeing any posts on this locale. The photos were shot outdoors in somewhat overcast conditions, but still didn't come out as I'd like. When you look at the male from some angles, you can see lots of deep interstitial red, but I managed to not get this in the photo (LOL)! These guys are constantly on the move and are even harder to photograph than other rat snakes, imo. The male is very tame and not shy at all, and will take mice from my fingers. The female is the exact opposite and does not even like to be seen while eating. -Toby

First photo is a head shot of the female, second is the male.

Very pretty. Interesting to note that Davis Mtn. subocs from the Boy Scout Road may also sometimes have red in their ground color.
And I have also witnessed that my male subocs are usually more outgoing than my females. Has anyone noticed this with other species?

Dusty
Suboc.com

Thanks Dusty. I wish I could have caught the reds on the male, though. I think I got too much of a dorsal view, and you mostly see the reds when looking at him from the side.

As for other reddish snakes, from the Daivs Mountains area... Rock rattlesnakes (lepidus) tend to be reddish in red rock areas and tend to be gray in areas with gray rock. Sort of supports the theory of evolving toward cryptic coloration, at least in some animals.

-Toby

Forgot to respond to that... I have noticed similar behavior in my meahllmorum, but not to the extent of the bairdis. My male meahllmorum (southwestern rats) are not that tame, but they don't care much whether you watch them or not, while my females generally stay in their hides and will grab a mouse and eat it out of sight.

The exception is my Texas rats, where my female is the bolder of the pair (or maybe more ravenous) and will wait at the front of her cage during feeding time, and will grab anything that moves, including hands! The male prefers to hide out most of the time and eats in private also.

-Toby

nice nab on that pair Toby! I need to come see 'em! I have a pair comin soon as well! Whoohoo! My suboc male is slightly curious and will peek out and come investigate but my female hides all day and probably comes out at night. She will grab a fuzzy but take it into her hide.
Todd Hughes

Thanks, Todd, yeah they are great. I'm gonna have to get a better pic of the male, though! Come on over and check 'em out. We've gotta go cruisin' again soon! I have an area of special interest, now, that I think you might know a lot about. -Toby

Photo is 1.1 2004 cbb Nueces County meahllmorum.

LOL! This just goes to show how different people have different experiences with their snakes. For me, whether it's cbb or w/c; colubrid or crote; North American or exotic; the females always win hands down for better feed responses-not necessarily calming down- but will feed better than the males do.

Jim, I have to agree with you on consistency of feeding for females. While they are shy, mine almost never refuse a meal, while the males (mostly adults) go off feed occassionally, during breeding and near winter, etc. The males are more laid back about me watching them eat when they are feeding well and going about their daily exploring, though. My adult female meahllmorum are aggressive rodent killers and even constrict f/t dead mice sometimes! My female Texas rat is just plain aggressive! -Toby

Feeding time for my bairds is crazy time.All 3 will fly out of there cages if Im not fast enough tossing a mouse in.
My female juvie northern will wait till I leave to eat.