Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just wondering if anyone has some photos of blue-gray coloured L. alterna they could post?

I'm currently illustrating a 'mural' of various Gray-Bands to show the amazing variance in the colours and patterns of this beautiful species and I'm having trouble locating photos online of the 'blue-tinged' and slate blue varieties.

I've done various Google image searches, visited numerous breeders websites, checked the Kingsnake.com photo galleries, and while I've gathered HUNDREDS of subject photos I've only been able to find a handful of decent photos of L. alterna with the blue ground colour.

Any photos you could share would be greatly appreciated.
Also, if you have links to any other online Gray-Band gathering spots where people post photos.

Thanks muchly.

As for the mural...it will have MANY animals depicted, I work with coloured pencils and ink, and should finish it in a month or two. (I draw as a hobby when I have free time.)
I'll post photos here when I finish the mural.

BB

PS: Any photos of 'Buckskin' animals would be greatly appreciated too.
I've found a few photos of Alterna phase Buckskins, but have yet to find a photo online of a Blair's phase Buckskin. Only photo I recall seeing of a Buckskin Blair's phase is in the Audubon Field Guide.
Thanks again!

-----
"Have you hugged your drummer today?" --- Me

n/p

I have been meaning to respond to this..

The W. Langty's you are referring to that i have attached below are a nice light Gray. I would NOT call them blue. When i have some time I will take another pic in better light & repost.

There is a photo of a blue alterna in the red Kingsnakes & milksnakes book i think its by Markel???.. But, we all know pix can be deceiving when it comes to color!

I have never personally seen a blue alterna.. But, if you have one available.. Please give me a call!

~ Mike Russo

Those W. Langtry's are pretty but not really blue. For an alterna to be qualified as blue it has to be photographed in good even light. The blue ones normally have orange infused with the grey. I have seen several blue-ish ones in my time.
Several Sandersons, Juno, etc... Again I think the key is the orange infused with the grey. Otherwise it is just a coincidence due to camera and light.

Best Wishes to all this Holiday season,

Steven Owens

I dont Have any photos but I am pretty sure Gerold Merker will be happy to send you some. You need to check out this link. It's to his home page, there is a perfect example of what a Blue tinged alterna looks like. If you click on the picture is takes you to a couple of more that are fom Palma Draw area. If not search Dan Johnson's website.
Joe Acosta

by the way does anyone know if the blue tinged is a genetic trait, can it be rpoven out to produce blue phase babies??? If it is that would be awesome because they are my favorite

ANY WAY HERE IS THE LINK

BLUE ALTERNA

She is a red bluff from sweetman stock.
Shannon

I really like this E Sanderson male from Damon Scaleis collection. The photo is true to the colors here when the snake is post shed and (in my opinion) most blue.
BTW, his offspring are currently on the grayband classifieds.
Thanx, Jeff Hardwick

This is the closest I've got. She kinda looks "bluish" but I would more call her a powder-gray. I got her from Adam Sweetman.

If you take a picture of a grayband in the shade with no flash right around sunset the camera will pick up light from the blue end of the spectrum that is invisible to the naked eye and the gray will look blue.

Image

I'm not sure I'd consider this "true blue" but it is as close as I've found. There is a story connected to it.

I was on 277 and the only other herpers were Forks and Tremper hunting together. I had been working from Carruthers to the Edwards county line and hadn't seen a snake all night. Around 2AM I decided to call it quits. I was headed south and ran into Joe and Ron hitting a cut north of the rest area and they hadn't seen anything either. I told them I was heading in and I'd speed ahead to keep out of their way. I crossed Cheney Creek doing about 50MPH and this 30" male was in the southbound lane, 2:15 AM, 78F. I locked up the brakes, pulled off, ran back and couldn't find it. It took me a few minutes to find it way the heck on the other side of the road. I've never had an alterna move that far that fast. As I got back to the car I saw headlights coming and stood by the door to my car holding the snake, gently waving it back and forth, a smug grin on my face. Joe and Ron pulled up and I handed it to Joe, who said "did you notice the tire tracks on its tail?" Sure enouth, I'd clipped the last 1-1.5" of its tail, no serious damage.