Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What was it like to see that pink pastel(the first one) in person?
I think Shannon or Rachel was there working with you when it came in. They seemed to recall it was covered with mud.
Were you also around there when Richard was doing the deal for the orange albino? The story was that the kid caught it crossing the road on his way to get a coke at a store nearby. He knew it was worth a lot of money, so did a trade for some of Richards albino burmese and cash. Do you recall any of this?
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Thank you,
Kevin Rhodes
http://www.freewebs.com/spreptile/hognose.htm
http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc314/lifesciences/?action=view¤t=09-09hognose001.jpg

It was covered in mud I washed it off myself it was a spiritual experience.I think it was ty cuban or kyle or another guy there.as well I can not remember.They said archie is this an albino I can not tell.I took it straight to the back and washed it off.He did not know what to pay.I said you better pay atleast 50 and he did.Who ever it was I think TY WAS GOING TO KEEP IT FOR THEMSELVES AND I said you better not Richard will fire your ass and get the snake.It came in a little coffie can I was just stopping in to sell a bunch of deer mice.YES I REMEMBER IT VERY WELL I WAS A PART HOWEVER OF HISTORY NOT MUCH BUT I WAS THERE.
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Archie Bottoms

Yes I remember the orange one.If I am correct it was found near carlsbad and it was a trade of like 1000 worth of animals at the time a albino burm was 500 at least.One thing I remember was an albino spade foot Ryan got for 25 and a albino tiger salamander Richard traded ryan for a albino burm.Both of those went to clive lingdon and are still alive today.Some people do not realize the age those guys live to.The albino salamander has been in reptiles mag a few times now.They were traded for black knob sawbacks
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Archie Bottoms

I also remember the 2 headed bullsnake that richard had he was offered 15 grand and told them he would keep it awhile first a week or so later it died.An albino bull from spade ranch donald got he did not catch it but another guy did and it got given to donald.Then of course the albino vridis From donny rollins that I had some ryan had some and donald had some of.Then there is the first albino splendida cought near spade ranch that Joe bill forgot about in a tub and died of neglect.Very many albino animals came from around here.My friend has a theroy that cotton field pesticides has caused genetic mutants.It has been studied in georga and proven true.As well as the large anounts of twin spotted viridis found on spade ranch.I have cought at least 10 some head to tail.
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Archie Bottoms

Heard about the albino spadefoot. Saw the albino bull(pink) and the other one (bright orange) someone caught near Floydada and brought to Ryan. I have purchased T albino tiger salamanders and leucistic tigers before. Another albino bull I bought was sulpher yellow and blood red was caught at meadowbrook golf course. Rawlins picked up an albino garter 10 years ago. Remember the completely black checkered garters that were born to a WC gravid female at Richards place?

What do you know about the rumored albino hog found out at the railroad tracks west of Levelland 15 yrs plus ago?

Richard did buy a second WC pastel pink found by an oilfield worker a few years ago. A teacher had it in her classroom in Denver City for ten years. It was collected within 10-15 min drive of the first. Sadly it was so old that it never bred and eventually died. Looked identical to the first line.
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Thank you,
Kevin Rhodes
http://www.freewebs.com/spreptile/hognose.htm
http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc314/lifesciences/?action=view¤t=09-09hognose001.jpg

I never saw the black garters.I would love an albino tiger
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Archie Bottoms

So if the fact is known this area of texas has produced many morphs.What I think is that the land is so chopped up that animals are shoved in to small areas that enable genes to be expressed with more commonality.This tear I think I will find that albino celinops.LOL
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Archie Bottoms

As fossorial as they are, I do not think it impossible.
There has already been an Albino gentilis found a few years back.
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Thank you,
Kevin Rhodes
http://www.freewebs.com/spreptile/hognose.htm
http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc314/lifesciences/?action=view¤t=09-09hognose001.jpg

Kevin,

Are you referring to the gentilis that I caught in Kansas, or was there another one?

Bryan

Damn Brian do you get to catch all the good snakes or what.
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Archie Bottoms

Kevin & Archie

Thanks for the info on the Texas Hognose. It was Richard's website that got me very interested in the hogs to start. My son wanted me to share his snake hobby with him, and I told him I really like hognose, and if he can find me some like Richard's, I'm in.

Wendell

thanks. It is fun remembering the past.

To spin this thread,
In the past Pink pastels have been regarded as difficult to breed.
Yet you guys are able to produce them consistently and in numbers.
It is believed that inbreeding initially caused defective snakes.
What is your take on the pinks and their rebound?
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Thank you,
Kevin Rhodes
http://www.freewebs.com/spreptile/hognose.htm
http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc314/lifesciences/?action=view¤t=09-09hognose001.jpg

Kevin

To tell you the truth, I didn't realize pinks were supposed to be harder to raise until I heard it from a few friends. I have heard stories of infertility, neurological problems, etc. I have not experienced them myself. However, a few friends have said that their males failed to fertilize eggs last year. I did not have any problems, and I only use one male. This year I kept a back-up male that I want to prove out.

Mine have been easy to breed, hatchability is good, and most have a hearty appetite. I have bred my pink male to double het hypo/pink pastels, as well as a het clutchmate, and saw no difference in the progeny.

If the other morphs I traded for this year are as easy to raise as my pinks, I'll be a happy man. LOL.

Wendell

In the past Pink pastels have been regarded as difficult to breed.
Yet you guys are able to produce them consistently and in numbers.
It is believed that inbreeding initially caused defective snakes.
What is your take on the pinks and their rebound?

If you don't mind, I would like to share my experience with my PPA's as well. I bought a supposed related pair from BHB in 2007. The male has always been a consistent eater and has had a normal growth rate along with what appears to be perfect health. Last year we paired him up with 3 different females and successfully hatched all 3 clutches.

The first pairing was with a supposed double het Lazik line PPA/Hypo that laid 10 eggs, 9 that were fertile and hatched. All babies look like typical phenotypic westerns. 2 specimens from this clutch are non-feeders and were actually the last 2 that hatched.

The second pairing was with a virgin blond female that laid 7 eggs, 6 of those fertile. From this clutch, the majority of the animals all exhibit to some degree a form of side banding. Only 1 specimen has turned into a non-feeder. He originally ate a non-scented pinky his first meal, but after that has gone off of eating altogether. He's the most defensive hognose I have ever dealt with and will "stand" up like a cobra the entire time I am in the room with him.

The third pairing was with a virgin axanthic female that laid 11 eggs, 5 of which were fertile but only 3 hatched. Those snakes also appear as typical phenotypic westerns with no deviation in pattern like the blond's clutch. All 3 babies are doing extremely well.

Our female on the other hand has been a real chore of an animal. While she started off eating fine the first few months we had her, it all went sour for the next 2 years with intermittent hunger strikes which sometimes lasted 3 months which forced us into having to forcefeed her using a pinky pump to maintain her weight when she would start losing some. For whatever reason though, she's finally opted to resume a normal eating regimen about 3 months ago and is finally starting to put on some weight and growth. If she continues at her current pace, I might feel comfortable trying to breed her next season although it is possible she might be ready to go in the later part of this year.

I am glad that the PPA's are finally starting to gain a stronghold back into the marketplace as they are definitely a beautiful morph which also seems to have some possibly interesting genetics hidden. I can't wait to see what the future of PPA's holds.

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Troy Rexroth
Rextiles

Thanks for the info. I too am excited about pinks.
I am guessing that in trying to establish the line, the initial Inbreeding caused problems.

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Thank you,
Kevin Rhodes
http://www.freewebs.com/spreptile/hognose.htm
http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc314/lifesciences/?action=view¤t=09-09hognose001.jpg

Archie,

I have been fortunate to catch a few really nice animals, although that is my only albino herp. I did find a litter of cottontail rabbits with one albino. A friend of mine found an albino narrow-mouth toad when he was with me.

If yours was in Ric's possession, then yes. Initially, there was a big reluctance to say who captured the snake.
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Thank you,
Kevin Rhodes
http://www.freewebs.com/spreptile/hognose.htm
http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc314/lifesciences/?action=view¤t=09-09hognose001.jpg

Yep, that was mine. I am supposed to get some babies back from that thing someday. I don't even know who has it now. I don't think that it ever was a secret that I caught it.