Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I bought 2 "okeetees" off some guy at a show. They were almost solid black. But I could see fairly wide black bands, and they were cheap. I've never had okeetees straight from the egg as they say.
I usually get them after they are a few months old. Mine are turning nicely in the head area. But the body is more grayish. but each shed they seem to improve.

Is there a general rule on how fast they get their colors? Or can it vary a lot? I presume by 6 months or so you should have a good idea.

Just asking since we were on the okeetee topic.
-----
Thanks for reading.
Big Tom

www.herpzilla.com

>>I bought 2 "okeetees" off some guy at a show. They were almost solid black. But I could see fairly wide black bands, and they were cheap. I've never had okeetees straight from the egg as they say.
>>I usually get them after they are a few months old. Mine are turning nicely in the head area. But the body is more grayish. but each shed they seem to improve.
>>
>>Is there a general rule on how fast they get their colors? Or can it vary a lot? I presume by 6 months or so you should have a good idea.
>>
>>Just asking since we were on the okeetee topic.
>>-----

it does vary but by 6 months you will a pretty good idea how it will look.
If I was looking for an okeetee hatchling I would look for one like you described.
When they are hatchlings and the saddles look almost solid black it is a pretty good indicator that it will have nice wide borders.
pics?
-----
Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

_____

These guys were almost solid black. I had no idea they they were labeled oaks.

Ok I posted a pic. but these 2 are super hyper. hard to get a pic, plus lighting plays games, I caan make them look like what ever I want. Key is the tail areas are much grayer. Also 1 is off feed? So I do not want to fuss to much with that one.

I actually lightened by the gamma to try to get to correct exposure.

Pictures look a bit better than they really look. But that happens a lot. But I just want to be honest

-----
Thanks for reading.
Big Tom

www.herpzilla.com

I think they may come out looking pretty good. I think it is nice to see the adults they come from for an idea on how the babies will turn out, but even then, ugly babies can come out of beautiful adults and visa-versa, but those ones you have will gain alot more color yet.....I think that is a fun part about raising the hatchlings, they change and color up every shed. BL

How would you guys rate this one? She's a year old now, she got better and better for a while...not sure if she's finished or not.

-----
Dale dgoins222@yahoo.com

I would rate that one very, very high! Really nice snake, BL

OK, just kidding. It's beautiful. I wish I had 20.
-----
Thanks for reading.
Big Tom

www.herpzilla.com

Very nice!

Any hatchling pics of that one?

No hatchling pics...she had a lot of orange as a hatchling, but really no indication that she would turn out this good.
-----
Dale dgoins222@yahoo.com

I'm glad to see someone else bring this up.This is my first time breeding okeetees and I can tell ya' these things change so much over time.They get better all the time.I have one that almost had adult colors right out of the egg.Was glad to see it but,it made the rest of them look plain.Be patient!,it gets much better over time. Jeff

These are all of the same snake!The middle pic was taken with too much sunlight.The other 2 look more like him. Jeff