Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I picked up a pair of Prairie hatchlings from a good buddy two weeks ago. These are some of the calmest and nicest handling snakes I have ever had. I am going to have to get more!

Sweet pair man. And there disposition is one of the best to work with. You should come to kansas, there are several places to legally collect a few wild specimens. Plus the Diversified gene pool would be a plus also! Congrats again on your new pair.

Thanks. My wife's folks live in Topeka so I will be in KS a couple of times every year. These have just made it to the top of the list to find!

I agree. I think the subspecies is underated.

Good luck with them Joe.

Paul

Very true. They are way underrated.
And don't forget their cousins....

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3251/2986983023_1db0f0ec97_o.jpg

:Mark
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Surrender Dorothy!

crimsonking.piczo.com/

Very nice pic there Marky-Mark!

Those occipitolineata I used to have were also some extremely easy-going, layed-back individuals too. Those calligaster make some great pets, as opposed to some of the "live-wire springs" (milksnakes) I raise...LOL!

Amazingly every now and then I get individuals, and even entire clutches of milks that are absolutely calm and manageable as can be, but as you know, this is the EXCEPTION!..LOL!

This holdback "extreme" Hondo I produced is one of the calmest milksnake hatchlings I have EVER SEEN without exception, and he already accepts pinks in "full-blue" as well. Who could ask for more?

~Doug

~Doug

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

Very sweet looking hondo. The MD LTT I hatched out last year were VERY calm as well and great handling snakes but these Prairie kings are unreal. I hope they hold onto some of their pattern as they age. They are eating like champs now too!

Thanks Joe!,....

Don't ya just love those individuals that are so much more easy-going and relaxed compared to others of their race?

Yeah, those calligaster are great captives for sure!

I saw an UNBELIVABLE looking hypo prairie king at the '07 Daytona Expo, but it also had an UNBELIEVABLE price tag too of $700 bucks!. Too much "coin" in my opinion, but it was truly one awesome looking specimen.

Rainer remembers this one too, because he took the photo. I don't think he would mind if a few folks eyeballed it once more, especially since it was posted here on the public forum years ago..LOL!

~Doug

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

WOW!!! Thanks for posting that. After getting these from PEEBEE (Paul) I will be looking for more when I go to KS. I still cannot believe that they are not more popular! Hell, I will be getting rid of some of my other stuff to make room for these things. That snake in the photo would have been sold to me if the price was lower, that is for sure. But then again had that been the case you or Rainer might be posting some home photos of that one!

"But then again had that been the case you or Rainer might be posting some home photos of that one!"

That is funny as heck, because we both talked about liking that animal, and how cool looking it was, but it being too darn much money..LOL!

I think if it was substantially less, I would have seriously thought about getting it at the time, but I had several other things to get for other important projects I had going, and walked out of that show with eight snakes as it was..LOL!

Believe it or not though, maybe getting that one would have been the smartest thing for me to have done, who really knows.

Good luck with all your newly acquired calligaster, and I hope you find some in the wild when you go on that trip too.

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

...but a forum regular has one of those now, I think....
Maybe we'll get lucky and he'll show us what it looks like nowadays.....
:Mark
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Surrender Dorothy!

crimsonking.piczo.com/

>>...but a forum regular has one of those now, I think....
>>Maybe we'll get lucky and he'll show us what it looks like nowadays.....

thanks, mark. i was wondering what happened to the one in the photo, or if there are others. bueller? bueller? anyone?

Come on now mystery forum member, don't keep us waiting too long. Post that bad boy!!!

Oh i wish i still had my old computer. I could have posted about 20 of them over three years that ive collected here in kansas. Maybe ill get lucky today when i go out and find a hibernation den and be able to get a few photos. wish me luck

GOOD LUCK_GOOD LUCK_ GOOD LUCK. That should do it. Post some photos if ya find them!!

One more thing. I certainly am not asking for herp spots or anything because that is bad form IMO but what county are you in? I will be in Shawnee come spring time and the book says they are there but you know how that goes!

Im in Nemaha county, shawnee county isnt bad for finding them. especially country cruisin at night, but the best county to find them in my opinion is pottawatomie and riley county.

Clinton lake (Lawrence) isnt too bad either, but thats a hit and miss for them, cuz there is so much ground to cover. but if you like nature trails it would be a great experience there. there are also venomous species out there too so be extra cautious if you go.

Thanks for all the advice. I shall try that spot or close to it when I go out there. As far as the hot snakes are concerned, I love those too!! I just don't keep any. I have a lot of experience handling them though and am extra careful not to get a dose while doing so. I will let you know how it goes after my trip in the spring. Thanks again.

always happy to help another herper at least get close to finding something of interest if i can help. I went to a few old spots and my sweet den spot has been covered to where i cant crawl in it anymore. but it looks like the snakes could still get down there so at least its not destroyed. ill know for sure when spring comes back around. And the countdown begins lol.