Reptile & Amphibian Forums

is it possible to cross bread any of the copperhead species

Sure...but why? There is a reason snakes have ranges.

~~Greg~~

1 For what Greg said.

Thats supposed to say plus one for what Greg said...stupid computer....

North American copperheads are all the same species. They can be bred to produce fake "integrades" (not hybrids).

Here in Sweden and i guess in most parts of europe allmost every copeprhead is a crossbreed. I got a pair of southern coppers (A.c.c) from glades and if i get any offspring on them all juveniles are allready booked. People are screaming for "pure bred" copperheads. So please don't start crossbreed copperheds and end up with problems like we have here.
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http://hem.passagen.se/philodryas

i have no intention to i was just curious because i have never seen any for sale

Last I heard contortrix was under some reorganizeing and the study seemed to lead twords 2 species if I remember correctly, maybe 3. A.c.pictagaster was definately thought to be distinct though if this was because of DNA analaysis or isolation from the other forms I do not know.

Im just going off my memory and cant say for certin if any of this has been published (not likely) or is still in the works or if even if the info I provoded will hold any merit.

In anycase its genneraly ill advised to cross breed sub species. Somes areas are considered intergrade ranges naturaly (VA, NC and Northern SC come to mind)so mateing animals from those locals will produce intergrades no matter what.

Personaly if I were breeding/selling coppers from any of the above mentioned locals I would call then intergrades regardless.

Basicly you should try to determin the local and exact ssp of your animals at all times and make proper purcahses in the furture to avoid intergradeing.