Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm wanting to pick this guy up tonight, but I'm getting kind of skeptical...any opinions? Thanks a lot.

Just by looking at the lateral markings, I would say it's a hybrid (pictagaster/laticinctus).
A ventral photo would be a BIG help, as it would show if it's a true pictagaster.

Randal Berry

I agree with Randal.
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Tim Cole
www.austinherpsociety.org
www.AustinReptileExpo.com/
www.AustinReptileService.net
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Conservation through Education

Thanks guys. That's exactly what I was thinking. Got so into a Trans Pecos being within driving distance that I totally overlooked the little tell-tale signs at first. Damn, I was really excited. Haha.

As Randal mentioned, photos of the ventrals, and the interactions of the ventral coloration with the dorsal coloration would be helpful. This would tell you if it is phenotypically a pure pictigaster. Then you need to remember that it might not be genetically a pure pictigaster. Animals in integrade zones can key out as either subspcies, or a blend of the two. For example, if you find a phenotypically "northern" copperhead had a phenotypically "southern" copperhead under the same coverboard, they are still integrades.

It reminds me of jeff davis pictigaster but ventrals are needed for proof as Randal said

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Archie Bottoms

But even though these are established lines of "pure" Pecos', aren't they really still intergrades somewhere along the line? I'd rather have ones that there could never be any question about. Ones that just have "that look". Just such a pain in the ass to get them. I never really go to shows, and all the ones I see that are really awesome are across the country.

You need to go catch them to be sure or know some one who does.
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Archie Bottoms

Here is a WC pictigaster I have. It's been in my care since 97.

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Bigger, meaner, rarer, hot.