Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey guys,

I am looking for your opinions on what you think the best "poor man's indigo" is.

I currently am able to work with a pair of eastern indigos at a local wildlife sanctuary I volunteer at...and I would LOVE to have a pair some type of indigo of my own, but from what I have seen...the price of any hatchling pair of Drymarchon is just too much for me at this time. I just cannot go into or approach four figures for a pair of snakes.

OK, so as far as indigo look alikes...I have seen black milk snakes, mexican black king snakes, and black pine snakes.

Out of those (or any others that you can think of)...which do you guys think most resemble indigos?
I am not going by feeding habits, husbandry needs, or stuff I like that...
what I would like to get is...a pair of snakes that would basically have the highest probability of passing for real indigos as adults.
(I know it sounds kind of weird when you say it that way, but that is the best that I can explain what I am looking for.)

Thanks in advance for any opinions.

Alex

Well...this is an odd one. I have seen some "large strain" Mexican black kings that are impressive. I have heard of enormous black milks as well, but both are Lampropeltis and have very different personalities/behavior than Drymarchon. So, it you can find the best, blackest of the black Pines, I would go with that, they are more of a pseudo Dry in my mind. They are sort of "huffy and puffy" like some Drys, and get large, are not ridiculously common, and may spend less time burrowing and hiding than most Lampropeltis. The animals you mentioned are all impressive if well cared for and will have their supporters. But despite having now and having worked with many Lampropeltis for decades, I have come to the conclusion that many other taxa are more interactive and fun to watch...as they bask more, climb more, alertness etc. My bias, but you asked...and this forum has been slow so let the speculating begin.

insead of getting something that 'looks' like an indigo, why not actually get one of the other indigos??? the unicolor & blacktail subs are the EXACT same thing in every way except color & are very reasonably priced. don't tell me you would have something against a solid gold indigo?!

I currently have a pair of Black pines and a pair of Black tail Cribos. They are almost nothing alike in my opinion.
If you're into the shiney black get a mbk or black milk, If you're into the girth and size get a black pine, If its about personality pick up a cribo.



After owning these cribos for less than a year I plan on using my next couple cluthches of pituophis to buy me some couperi
Nate