Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I thought I would share with my herp brethren the really cool changes that are happening with these unique and somewhat rare sierra zonata multicincta. Just barely 2 months and two sheds later and the amount of melanin coming in is astounding. Looking forward to two clutches in 2012, but I must say between the 4.5 sex ratio and 5 out of the nine being anery I am completely stoked. What a year overall.

Here is a photo timeline for those that enjoy this kind of progression:

Photo taken 2 days ago . . .

I sure am going to miss these aneries and hets once they are gone, which they are just a few weeks away from making their way to their new homes and are WELL-STARTED little buggers.

And now it's just about brumation time........wine cooler is fired up and zonata are almost all ready to go into the cool so papa can take a well-deserved rest until the new year.

Thanks for looking!!
" alt="Image">
-----
Jerry Kruse

UPDATED!
www.zonatas.com

And God said, "Let there be zonata subspecies for all to ponder..."

That's a big change in two months. How much black is there after a year?
-----

Hiya Ross,

pretty much looking like their momma.....some vary with slits of lavender along their sides, almost appearing like herrerae. Some turn completely black and white (it's more like an icy-blue-ish white actually) but there's always that trademake patch of lavender on the dorsal just above the cloaca. Overall, damn cool snakes Ross.

I held back the darkest male, which was coincidentally the very first to take sceloporus-scented pinks, and he is the one pictured hanging out of the container. He will be my main focus over the next 2 years aside from a couple other unique zonata locales/ssp.

You've got some saweet Cal kings I might add....
-----
Jerry Kruse

UPDATED!
www.zonatas.com

And God said, "Let there be zonata subspecies for all to ponder..."

Thanks, Jerry. What a great project that is. I bet you have a waiting list for those guys. I've never seen them in the classifieds, but I don't check very often.
-----

Those are freakin killer Jerry......They are on my wish list.....Once I can prove that we can produce Zonata in South Texas.....LOL
-----
John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...

....wine cooler.....wine cooler.....wine cooler........

I use VinoTemp btw......it's a bit more expensive, but with such precious charges in our care it's worth it in the long run. Some people "make" their own out of an old fridge & tinkering with the thermostat, etc, but I wouldn't want to take that risk....ever.
-----
Jerry Kruse

UPDATED!
www.zonatas.com

And God said, "Let there be zonata subspecies for all to ponder..."

I'd do that in a heartbeat if I knew how; play with it during the active season for 2-3 months to make sure it's stable. Also be good for fitting more critters in than most wine coolers.

As an addition, I've had a hard time getting my wine cooler to hold temps below about 53...aggravating.
-----
We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.

>>....wine cooler.....wine cooler.....wine cooler........
>>

I use a portion of my snake room that is insulated on all six sides and a huge window unit for the mexicana....... It holds 50F fine.....

But I may get a wine cooler just for Zs if the usual technique doesn't work for them...... How big is this wine cooler to bromate your 100 zonata? What size enclosures are they in during brumation?
-----
John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...

>>>>....wine cooler.....wine cooler.....wine cooler........
>>>>
>>
>>
>>I use a portion of my snake room that is insulated on all six sides and a huge window unit for the mexicana....... It holds 50F fine.....
>>
>>But I may get a wine cooler just for Zs if the usual technique doesn't work for them...... How big is this wine cooler to brUmate your 100 zonata? What size enclosures are they in during brumation?
-----
John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...

Awesome clutch shots Jerry, and also of their unique melanin-fused progression. Can definitely see a dramatic difference already!..

~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com