Reptile & Amphibian Forums

OK, I don't want a backlash from the anti-hybridzation brigade here.

But, I was wondering if anyone was working with say crossing the leucistic texas rat gene into corns? Creamsicles afterall arose from a cross (natural or not). It just seems that to me that the lucy corn is the one major missing morph at the moment, and it surprises me I don't see anyone working with it.

People have already got the albino gene all over the mexicana group from the Ruthvens. So, is anyone working with the Leucistic Corn? It'll probably need a few generations to get the "friendly" nature of the Texans out of the line, but what a morph it would be.

I would love a leucistic snake, but will not be able to afford a lucy ball for say 2-3 years (JOKE), and would prefer not to get bitten every two seconds by a texan. But a corn however...

I thought about doing it a while back, but decided against hybridization after reading more. Actually, I've almost gone full circle and now I appreciate locality snakes more than all the morphs out there.

Anyway...back to your question.

I have never seen anyone working with these hybrids either. I remember hearing someone mention the idea a year or so ago in the hybrid form, but I don't know what came of it.

If you want a leusistic snake, how about looking into a leucisitic black rat snake? There are some that are supposedly full black rat, while others are hybrid black x texas rat snakes. However, many of the captive bred texas rat snakes I've seen haven't been any more aggressive than other rat snakes. Even if you get a nippy baby, you should be able to calm it down with handling so that it becomes a placid adult. Remember, a baby snake's bite isn't anything to worry about.

Can't say I've ever heard of anyone producing one, a post on the hybrid forum (if you haven't already made one) might yield better results.

If you decide to make one on your own, the best advice I can give is to find yourself the sweetest, calmest, most pleasant male corn you can get your hands on (it's a plus if he's already sired hatchlings of similar temperment). Then, see if you can find a female leucy that won't take your face off... Then talk to someone with experience in producing hybrids about actually pairing them together.

Actually, Dwight Good is perhaps the best person to ask. He works quite a bit with obsoleta species, and has written up sort of a 'Basics of Hybridization' post that sits somewhere in KS's archive. If he hasn't done the cross himself, he can atleast give you a hand getting started on making your own. I know for a fact that he's atleast done corn X black rat.

-Kat
-----
"You keep WHAT in your freezer?"
"Mice. And rats. If that bothers you, I can call them 'cows' instead."

If you would love a leucistic snake...I urge you to consider a Texas Ratsnake! They take a little more "work" than a corn to tame, but are well worth it. My little leucistic texas rat was nippy when I got her as a hatchling, but now, a year later, she's a sweetie. And I probably appreciate her more because I had to work with her. My 7 year old now handles her with no fear. This is not the exception to the rule. A friend of mine in Columbus, Ohio breeds Texas Rats and MOST of them are easily handled. ALL of his adults are. If you like corns, I think that the larger members of the North American Ratsnake family are loads of fun! Go for it!!!!! Duffy

> Creamsicles afterall arose from a cross (natural or not).

It isn't a natural cross at all. Heck, even if it did occur in the wild (it doesn't), a natural intergrade and aman-made hybrid are different things.

> So, is anyone working with the Leucistic Corn?

I a hybrid, it would be a hybrid and NOT a corn.

So you're telling me that there is no natural intergradation between guttata and emoryi at all? Because I thought they hybridized naturally in Western Louisiana and adjacent Texas and Arkansas. Maybe my sources are wrong?

You miss my point slightly. I am not stupid. I appreciate that they would not be leucistic corns, per se. Just as the albino Blairs are not pure bred Blairs. But my point isn't to split hairs here. I do not intend to do this cross, or even buy one. I was simply surprised that nobody seems to be doing it. That is why I posed the question!

>>So you're telling me that there is no natural intergradation between guttata and emoryi at all? Because I thought they hybridized naturally in Western Louisiana and adjacent Texas and Arkansas. Maybe my sources are wrong?

No, they aren't wrong, they are just out-dated. Bet those same references called the snakes in extreme NW L Empory ratsnakes, too. Burbrink (2002) and Vaughan/Dixon/et al (in press) are a better reference.

>>You miss my point slightly. [snip] Just as the albino Blairs are not pure bred Blairs.

But does that make it right to call them alterna? Remember that blairi is a color phase and not a specific name. By way of example, I just think it is misleading to see something labelled "albino thayeri" when they are really hybrids and not pure thayeri. If everyone KNEW this, then it would be OK, but MOST beginners aren't aware of these things, so that makes it (purposely?) misleading.

I'm not typing to you here, I'm trying to brainwash more beginners who might read this post....lol.

right?

JYReptiles