Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all,

I agree that "GA mosaic" is absolutely an appropriate moniker for this variety of eastern. It is absolutley descriptive of the pattern variation that we are seeing, as well as the region of collection of the founders. Here are some GA mosaics that I hatched out yesterday. They are definately more extreme in color and pattern than their daddy "Frank the Tank".

I also was really fortunate to hatch out some other extreme easterns in this clutch as well. I call this my "lottery clutch" as I have never hatched out a clutch like this before. It really defies any expectation that I have had (and I have some big expectations) for these GA animals. I know that they are the most variable line of eastern that I have personally seen, but I really got lucky here.

I also know that the goini debate will go on in reference to these animals, but as I have said repeatedly, I have know way of knowing if their is any historical, wild goini or other regional getula influence in these kings, and frankly I don't care. My line breeding my be bringing old hidden genes to the surface, or we could be seeing a sped up picture of how goini originated, that being, GA kings with the potential for variability inbred for generations, developed a unique phenotype and became seperated from other eastern populations. Again who knows?

As I said earlier, dad was "Frank the Tank" and mom is a wide banded, orange F2 GA eastern. Here are a couple of pics. Thanks for looking.

Will

This one blew me away. I did not expect to see this pattern variation. Thanks for looking.

Will

Again, I did not expect this to slide out of the egg. Thanks for looking.

Will

This little skinny guy is one of my favorites. He has a head pattern, but as you move down the body, the pattern fades to obscurity. I may call him "fade to black" as it is descriptive as well as being a great metallica song, from before the time when they sold out...another discussion for another day. Thanks.

Will

This one is as "classic" as the GAs get. Thin banded black on creme, with subtle orange highlights thrown in. Yup, this is from the same clutch. Thanks for looking.

Will

belly shots, please, thanks in advance.

Hi Jet,

I'll try to get some belly shots over the next day or so, thanks.

Will

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Hey Will,

They're all looking good man. Some very very interesting looking snakes there.

That 04 male I got from you is doing great... I'll probably have him at 4 and a half feet before the year is over, ha.

I'm gonna have to talk to you about some of these little baby ones. Like, a female.
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Mike
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
www.freewebs.com/mikesnake
Updated 7/29!!!
www.captivebredforum.com

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the kind words. Just let me know, regarding a female.

Will

Wow! This keeps getting more and more interesting. I've seen your original F1 pair that produced Frank (this is the pair right?)

but could you remind me what Kevin Enge bred to produce the original pair you have? As I remember, they were both wild caught right? Makes me wonder how many people are going to start flocking to S GA now to find Eastern Kings...too bad they can't collect them.

Also, have you read Enge's paper on Mosaics? He told me he's seen many of the offspring he's produced that come out looking mostly like Easterns have some aberrant patterns in which the blotches will square off towards the middle/upper side of the body. I'm wondering if you've seen that in any of your offspring. A couple of the N FL Easterns I produced this year have that aberrant pattern here and there so I'm thinking of holding those and breeding them to see what they produce. it will be interesting to see if this pattern pops up in these as well.

Thanks for the pics as always! You've got an interesting project going on for sure.

Hi Sean,

Yup, that is my original (F1) pair that I purchased from Kevin as hatchlings in '98. The founders that produced my snakes are from Echols and Tift counties in GA.

I've read Kevin's paper and while I do see that squared off look in the dorsal blotches, I also see so many other pattern variations like zig-zaging, striping and bullseyes that I didn't focus on the squared off look as much as I probably should have.

I'd definately keep and line breed any odd or outstanding hatchlings that you produce. That is what I have been trying to do for 3 generations. Always keep the best is what I say!
Thanks.

Will

I apologize for my spelling and punctuation in this thread. I have been working on the construction of my mouse/rat barn all day prior to posting, I must be a little delerious. Again, sorry.

Will

Someone musta hit a switch somewhere. Of 12 that Ive popped out so far I only have 1 thin banded all the others are med to wide banded. 2 of them are Mosaics or at least extreme Mosaics there might be some lesser Mosaics in the since it varies. Ill get some pics of our whole clutch pretty quick. One straggler left...

Keith
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