Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Here's my recently aquired '06 LA Pine...super alert but gentle snake. Very unusual coloration for a pit...maybe they really do belong in a separate species. Guess we can only hope they don't follow the Dodo bird to oblivion.

Sorry about the "in tank" pics (he'll soon be upgraded) but I haven't had a chance for a real shoot yet.

wow, he is awsome looking! How big is he?
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-Robert

"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an egg-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

1.0 Albino Argentina Horned "Pacman" Frog
0.1 Pyxie/African Bull frog
1.1 Albino and Snow Bullsnakes

Thanks, don't have an accurate size yet but probably just around 4.5'. Not sure if he'll grow much more but very solid snake. The species apparently is smaller than other pines and bulls with a max of about 5 feet.

very nice, I love the color on him!
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-Robert

"The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an egg-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'."

1.0 Albino Argentina Horned "Pacman" Frog
0.1 Pyxie/African Bull frog
1.1 Albino and Snow Bullsnakes

YOU SHOULD SEE THE LOUISIANA PINE ON DISPLAY AT THE SAN ANTONIO ZOO. WELL I DONT KNOW IF THEY STILL HAVE IT BUT THAT SUCKER IS HUGE, ATLEAST SIX AND A HALF, I GAWKED AT IT FOR HOURS WHEN I SAW IT, DIDNT CARE TO SEE ANYTHING ELSE AFTER WORDS THATS HOW IMPRESSIVE IT WAS

Better think twice, they can get bigger!!!
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Todd Hughes

Thanks guys for the follow-up on size. If he gets big, all the better. I was going by a couple articles I read on the web. Obviously no personal experience...yet. But he is 3 years old so I would guess he's close to maxed-out.

Wow...another real beautiful snake.

Is that coloration typical for LA pines? I haven't seen many pics before but yours really stands out!

Thanks.
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/scott

I'm no authority on LA Pines but seems they come in different flavors including reddish and brown. They aren't always real "clean" either. This guy sort of reminds me of a Brooks with all the yellow and greenish, especially on the front third.

Would love to hear more about this species from anyone who knows.

Brad

Wow! That thing is a beast! Beautiful, man. What's the history on that snake? The only person I've heard of w/ LA Pines is Terry V.(sorry can't spell his last name properly). You gotta get a female for that guy.

reako45

Hey Darren, thanks. He's is a pass down from Bart Bruno and is purportedly from Bienville Parrish. This is what I am told by the highly reputable keeper I got him from and I have a high level of confidence in that account.

Glad you know he's special, I am very interested in a female high yellow morph. Don't want to cross this one up.

Beautiful pine. Check with John Ginter. I believe he works with LA pines. Where is their range in LA? I spend time in the Tibideau area. That is about 45 mi SW of New Orleans in the Bayous. Also are they protected in the wild?

Amarty, LA pines are found north of Thibideaux in the pine belt area of LA around Alexandria and the Kisatchi National Forest area for the most part. I believe in Bienville and Rapides parishes. Not sure how far north they go, but they do go westwards into East Texas. They like the well drained sandy soils of the pine belt area and are no way going to be found in the swamps of south LA. As far as collecting, I am not aware of them being protected. However you do theoretically need a valid LA fishing license to collect any snakes in LA.

Suprsingly this snake is not (yet) on the federal endangered list but does have status in TX and LA. Here's a link to a very informative article.

www.fws.gov/southwest/clearlakees/PDF/PINESNAKE.pdf

Thanks for the info. How depressing. I was not interested in collecting any. I was interested in finding and photographing them in the wild. In my area of the Missouri Ozarks, fire suppression is also a big problem. Populations of great plains rat snakes, eastern coachwhips and collared lizards have suffered because of it. My wife and I have implemented a burn regimen on our land to restore the oak savanna that once existed there. If other private lands were so managed maybe we would not have the extinction problems. Maybe our children can make a difference.

Adam