Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I saw a very old ad for these, what happened to them? Are they still around?

For some reason I don't recall hearing or seeing a Mexican Amel although that doesn't mean one doesn't or didn't exist. Are you sure it was an Amel and not an Axanthic because there were some Mexican Axanthics out there a couple of years ago? Are you sure it was a Mexican and not an Eastern or something else like the Southerns? Did you happen to save the picture of the ad you saw?

If there was a Mexican Amel at one time, chances are though that that project is probably dead in the water since no ads or mention of it on any of the forums has surfaced in the last several years unless someone is just keeping really quiet about it. Perhaps somebody else, like Kevin Rhodes, knows about this...?
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Troy Rexroth
Rextiles

I finally found it, it's in a 1994 issue of RM with the headline "Monster Milks"...

"Originator of" "Albino Mexican Hognose."

How long have westerns and Mexican hogs been distinct subspecies? Maybe I got excited for nothing. Waiting on a response from the person who placed the ad (yes still around!)

Unfortunately, it died. I asked for pics, I hope if he has any he will come here to share!

(Nevermind the subspecies question it was 1860s or so!)

Here you go...

http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/data/7albinomexicanhognose.jpg

http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/data/7albinomexicanhognoseandnormal-med.jpg

Thanks Kelli and Steve!

Thanks for posting the pictures and investigative updates!

Oddly enough, that animal looks more like a Western Snow or even a very washed out Pink Pastel than it does the commonly labeled Western "Albino".

This is just another example of why the term Amelanistic should be used instead of Albino as there are obviously many different forms of Amelanism which is kind of a broad term defining animals that lack certain melanistic pigmentation whereas Albinism is a specific term by definition that defines an animal that is devoid of all common pigmentation coloration. In the hierarchy of of the definitions, all Albinos are Amelanistic but not all Amelanistics are Albinos.

A question, you first said that you saw an ad for these, did you mean article instead of ad? If you saw an ad, that would imply that either this animal was for sale or it's offspring were. Just curious if they had any luck breeding it.

Thanks again for sharing, it was cool to see this hognose!
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Troy Rexroth
Rextiles

If I play with the picture, changing its levels and contrast, it does seem to have those great sort of washed out hourglass Mexican dorsal saddles. But I am a hog noob. It does look like a snow!

Steve said that it did sire a clutch or two, but they were sterile? Maybe he'll come here and elaborate.

This was an ad by the way, a small one offering boids and colubrids, framed by a cute illustration of a milk snake, hog and some sort of boid. Goodnight!

Could you please tell me what "Monster Milks" they are referring to in the magazine? I lost all my RM magazines from around that time period in a move...

It is most likely the Black Milk (L.t.gaigeae) they are referring to that were just starting to become more available then and were around $750-800 each.

cheers, ~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Sure! It says Andean Milk Snakes, Apricot Pueblan Milks and the albino Mex hog in bold, then Albino Labyrinth Burmese pythons. Those are the only species/morphs listed in this particular one!

Thanks!,.....yeah, Andean milks are another large triangulum subspecies. Don't know what Pueblan milks have in common with "monster milks" though as they rarely exceed 42 inches..LOL!

I had a pair of Andeans back in 1995 when they were extremely uncommon in the hobby. However, I can say with complete confidence that THE LARGEST milksnake specimen ever known would have to be this tangerine Honduran (Lt.hondurensis) that was imported from Honduras through Louis Porras and Joe Baraducci of "The Shed" in Miami back in the late 70's and sold to Ray Cummings. Ray later sold it to Zooherp in the early 90's.

Louis Porras (on far left) measured it several times for utmost accuracy, and proved to be just one inch shy of an astounding 8 feet long! I have worked with and have seen many thousands of different milksnakes in my lifetime, but this specimen is by far THE LARGEST milksnake I, or anyone I know of has ever seen or heard of to present day........period!..

~Doug

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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Wow!!! Thanks for sharing this! That's a monster alright! How long do hondos usually live?

You are very welcome. Yeah, that snake really was a "MONSTER" milksnake..LOL!

Well, it can vary just like it can with almost any other animal as it depends on so many different variables, but with good husbandry they can easily live 15 to 20 or more years.

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

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Grrr meant species not subspecies obviously...must have been tired...carry on...

Now that I have seen a picture of that one, I have seen two.

There was a albino hog at a roadside herp display in southwest New Mexico. The display was only a few miles from a good hog area. The owner said the snake was local.

This was well before any albino western hogs were known.

But I will say. That part of New Mexico, has some confusing hognose, which may be tweeters.

It also died, so now it doesn't matter.

ALso rumor has it(I did not see it) of a black mexican hog, found exactly where I am doing a lot of work. Display work.

It was just hit by a car and still wiggling. Best wishes