Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Howdy Ya'll!,

Looks like it's been a good year for many folks production this year. I had an excellent year with baby production and thought I would share a couple Western Rat Snake shots.

I've been working and breeding Green Rats for 16 years. These have been one of the easiest snakes for me to produce. I've never had a bad clutch or even a bad egg.
This is a group of 5 Green Rats from the Patagonia Mountains. One of my favorite locales as adults keep a faint pattern unlike any other locality.

This ia a CB holdback young adult. Here you can see some pattern that will be held.

This is a wild caught snake and father of above animals.

I'm pretty sure I am the only person in the triaspis community that DOESN'T keep Santa Rita snakes. The only reason being I don't like keeping animals that other people have or are common in collections. This next batch of snakes is from a new mountain range in AZ I'm not going to mention for obvious reasons. These are the first ever captive bred from this mountain range.

Last, I had a really good year with rosalaie. I work with several pure localities. Here is a batch fresh out of the egg.

Hope you liked!

Awesome snakes and congrats on a successful year!

Congrats on your breeding success with these species. Both have always been on my personal "favorites" list. Very nice animals. Thanks for posting.

That's awesome - I dig seeing all that production of a snake that isn't all that commonly bred.

Tim

All are great looking. I love the sub adult and adult greens. Beautiful.

Wow... Good job, Paul....

Definitely the most desirable of the NA Rat Snake world.
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What other Green localities are you working with?
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Regards, Bill McGighan

Paul,
I met you this Spring at the base of Mt. Hopkins in the research station parking lot (I was on the Quad). At what age/size do you start to breed your Senticolis? I have 1.1 from a well known locale and 1.1 from another "obscure" locality that will also remain nameless (LOL). W/the exception of one 20" female, the other 2.1 were neonates from '09 collected in early 2010. They have a sneaky growth rate ...they seem to take forever then all of a sudden you see them out and they look like they've grown 3". I'm guessing I'm still 2 years away??

Bill

Hi Billy,

So that was you lol? I had a great year in the field with them in several different mountain ranges. Even though I found a couple on Hopkins it's not what it used to be. That place forever was a unknown locality. Then the internet came and ruined it forever. I remember going there during Memorial weekend years ago for 4 days and having the place to myself. Now, it's pretty much a zoo every night. As a result pretty much all Triaspis are taken (I think I may be the only one who releases the ones I find)and the roadside population is WAY down. Def not what is used to be. Sad. That's why I go to so many other place s for them (There are LOTS) and the numbers are high.

The key to Triaspis is feeding. The biggest problem people have with them is feeding and what I mean is not feeding enough. Triaspis can be to almost adult size in their first year. Two year old snakes should breed just fine if feed enough. Those things are like weeds!

PL

Amen, amen, amen! I avoid that road like the plague! Like you that time we met, since I had a neophyte w/me I thought I'd give it a try..ten minutes into that "parking lot" was enough to ruin it for me. I'd rather herp solo and get skunked than have to deal w/that circus!

I have figured out they can eat much more than I initially was offering them. I've basically doubled their intake. My juvie males quit on thawed for 2 mos. or so and would only sporadically take live but have since reverted back to thawed.

As with my little group of locality Zonata they are the gems of my collection for sure!

Bill

Hi Bill,

I only work with the Patagonia and this other "New" mountain range triaspis. Being in AZ I'm only allowed 4 total. Having 2 other family members in the house I could keep more but, 4 is enough. I have in the past worked with Santa Ritas, Kitt Peak,and Pajaritos. The Santa Ritas and the Pajaritos I can't tell apart. The Kitt Peaks have a lime color to them. I decided to keep the Patagonias because of their brightness and barely visable pattern and the "NEW Mountain Range" just because well..it's new lol. However, the "new" ones like look Santa Ritas. Pretty much the only triaspis I haven't worked with is the Chiricahua. I don't care for their "lok" and they have a parasite problem and don't do very well. At least from what I have seen in other peoples collections or heard.

PL

Paul,

Spent an epic weekend w/Rick Staub in some remote mtn.ranges in West/Central nev. where he has sight records (actually fairly reliable source) of Pyros. To no avail however but we'll continue our yearly trek! He said to say high if I ever ran into you again..this may be the only time! LOL

I sell equipment to the railroads and have Az. as my territory so I can basically herp on an expense acct! I have 2.2 and thats enough for me as well. That quad lets me access alot more territory and as I almost always herp solo I don't need a two-seater. Maybe we can hook up sometime. You can work for the railroad during dinner and the check/beverages are on me!

Bill

Love the triaspis but I'm green with envy just looking at those rosaliae.Unfortunately I've never seen one for sale over here in the UK but I can dream.Go very nicely with my small collection of subocs !!

Hi, Paul. Nice looking babies, all. Those Baja rats are very interesting looking. There seems to be some resemblance to the green rats in the head shape and some other features.

Good job. Cheers...Terry
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