Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Could some of you forum members please post some pics of these unique little guys?

Apparently for some strange reason, these dudes have lost their popularity(along with their habitat) in the last decade or two.

I just NEVER see them available anymore!.......I sure would like to see this neat looking variant make a come-back in the hobby!.......I think it's a sad indicator of today's trend to only be interested in some of these "designer" morphs.

As much as some people rave about "locality" of certain other species, it's VERY surprising to me, NOT to see more cornsnake people involved with these.

best regards, ~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

huh, that's odd, there was a pair for sale in the ads forever! And finally one day I made an offer. They are from Serpenco's Upper Keys stock. I also have a hypo upper keys from Serpenco. All very nice looking animals. And yes, definetly a bit different in looks from a mainland animal. What I do know, is I'm told they don't get as big as mainland corns. So what I need to know is how big do I need to let the girls get before I can safely breed them? Technically my hypo is two years old this year. But I don't think I'll risk it next year yet...

anyhow, here are my girls... first the hypo.

great looking animal!, And yeah, Rich Z. of "SerpenCo" seems to be one of the very few people that works with them anymore to speak of.

Pertaining to your question about breeding size,........The general rule of "three" is a good general way to go.

* Three ft. long
* Three years old
* Three hundred gram body weight
especially when it comes to females, sometimes males can breed at slightly less, since they are less taxed than a female would be.

thanks for the photos!

best regards, ~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

yeah, I've heard that one too, but...I don't know exactly what size these babies get to. Will have to measure the Hypo today and see what I get. As for males, I've used 100 gram males with success. Though about half the time it doesn't work. At least what I've found. Better to give the boys time too.

this guy came from Serpenco as a normal. Looks like normal Keys to me.

that particular snake as a "normal"!,.......he certainly knows the difference!LOL

It does looks to be variant of "Rosey/Keys Rat, and is definitely a "hypo" type as well. Also, the "chevron"(arrowhead) pattern on it's head is greatly reduced, as in most "Keys" locality animals.

Some "Rosies" have more of a tendency to have reduced spot patterning on their sides as well.

I'm sure the melanin(dark pigment) in the "checker-board" pattern on your snakes belly is probably also greatly reduced?

That is VERY surprising that you got that from "SerpenCo" labeled as a "normal"!

best regards, ~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

is it not?

I have the egg number still on the container from Rich. I got it several years ago in the half price sale. I think this girl may be a good mate next year

"Rosey", or "Key rats" are a wild-type that would normally be found from southern Monroe, County(Fla.)...and extending all the way down into the Fla.Keys. So in THAT respect it is "normal", but it certainly isn't a "classic", or "Okeetee" type corn that are what most people coin as "normal.

Yours is a naturally occuring variant(although captive bred) that is naturally hypomelanistic(greatly reduced dark pigment.

~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

They are beautiful corns They have a look about them that's very pleasing to the eye. Key Rats, Miami corns, and Okeetees are my favorites.

Steve
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SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS