Reptile & Amphibian Forums

More directed towards texas barids, but not to leave out the mexican. Opinions wanted, thanks. scott

Even though, IMO, they are beautiful as youngsters, they go through a period of a brownish-grey color, and in reality, it often takes them up to 5 years to develop their adult coloration.
I suppose that is one reason they are less popular. Another is that you can't tell at all from their baby coloration what they will look like as adults. I've seen some fairly unattractive, muddy snakes come from a gorgeous set of parents. In fact, at least half of the bairdi I've seen are muddy and drab as adults. Its a crap-shoot if you are looking for a nice pair to breed. Also, almost no one sells adult bairdi.
To go one farther, the amels I've seen were far short of spectacular.
Those could be some of the reasons. However, like you said, when you own one, they move to the top of your list.
They are a well-kept secret that few want to spread around.
The price is fairly low, the snakes are fairly calm, and their colors are not bright and sparkly.
Some vendors-Vivid Reptiles, Gregg's Reptile Basement, VMS, I think maybe Kern(TerryP), and JDTails
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...and I think to myself, "What a wonderful world."

I live in Coatesville PA and there is a pet store called Frazer Zoo in Frazer PA which is about 45 mins outside of Philly. They have a lot of herps in the store and last week they had TWO adult Barid's with beautiful color. The one male was a large Barid,I am guessing he was at least 6 feet and thick.

He also has various captive bred poison dart frogs,bearded dragons,collared lizards,milk snakes,king snakes,rat snakes,corn snakes,monitors and pythons as well as some other various lizards. He had a HUGE Rec.python with a morph pattern.I'd say every foot of the snake was albino and the pattern was different.The snake was about 15ft and I do believe the price on it was around 4,500 which I thought was MAD EXPENSIVE but I have never dealt with snakes THAT large before and have no idea of the price range for a rec morph.Anyway I think someone bought him cause he is gone.

Anyway if anyone is in that area I recommend checking the store out.

Hi

Just out of curiousity. Is the Texas form more rarely seen in the US than the Mexican form?

(shown is a picture of some of my subadult/adult mexican bairds)

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Regards

Jan Grathwohl

not that i can tell they both are pretty much not kept, talked about, etc like lots of other snakes that are not as worthy as these guys they have fastly became my favorite colubrid. Worthy meaning they are such a delight to have, look at, hold, etc. Not to put down others but to me they are a diamond in the rough that has not been discovered by the masses. Hmmm maybe it should stay that way.... Thanks for the pic though those are some good lookin mex. Scott

I must agree with you.. they are very nice in behavior. I have never been biten by any of mine, they are always very calm when handled, and they eat well, not causing any problems at all. I really look forward to breeding this species in the future (hopefully my oldest pair will be ready this year already).
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Regards

Jan Grathwohl

>>I must agree with you.. they are very nice in behavior. I have never been biten by any of mine, they are always very calm when handled, and they eat well, not causing any problems at all. I really look forward to breeding this species in the future (hopefully my oldest pair will be ready this year already).
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>>Regards
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>>Jan Grathwohl
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I'm pleased to have my pair.
They are excellent snakes. They are a bit more active then my corns so that is a plus. You do get to see them more.
They are excellent feeders (except when in shed) I have never had either of them eat while in the "blue" but otherwise they never miss a meal.
I love the color change with each new shed.
There are a few of us here on the forum that keep them but not many.
I would be willing to bet that as we give them praise and post pictures, more and more people will add them to their collections. And be glad they did.
I hope to breed mine in 2005. They are still a little too young for 2004.
Oh Yeah...And they're cheap!! That always helps
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Remember, my posts are MY opinion only.
Jimmy (draybar)

Nice pic Jan. I think Texas bairds are more common in US collections. I've really become fond of the Mexican Bairds over the last 2 years. Here's a pic of a Mexican Baird descendent from Iturbide Canyon, Nuevo Leon, Mexico locale stock that I have on loan from Steve and Kelli Hammack. Good luck with your Mexican Bairds. They really look nice.

Terry Parks

From your picture, those snakes look more like Green Ratsnakes (Senticolis triaspis). I see no sign of them starting to develope stripes, and the colors look wrong. How old were they when you took the picture? A count of the saddles will tell you if they are Bairds'. You would expect to find between 48 - 53 with 44 being and 61 being the extremes for Bairds.

Hi elaphefan

Was that comment meant for my picture?

The animals are Mexican bairdi's. Senticolis triaspis, as interesting as it might be to have in possesion is not at all common here in Europe (actually don't think i know of any keeping them)

My largest two specimens of bairdi's has the stripes characteristic for the species, and the coloration is, as far as i'm informed a clear indication of Mexican populations of bairdi'
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Regards

Jan Grathwohl

Hi Jan,

You are right about the coloring for the head. From my readings, the ones found in Mexico are reported to have gray heads just like yours but some greens also have gray heads. They are also reported to have an orange background that I could not see from your photo. It was mostly the greenish background that didn't look right to me. (But who can tell from a photo.) That is why I suggested a saddle count as a starting place for positive identification. If you've taken a look at photos of Green Ratsnakes, then I think you could understand why I asked the question.

The ones in your photo are great looking snakes.

I don't think Texas bairds are rare in collections. Quite a few breeders and hobbyists work with them. I usually see a couple tables that have bairds at a show when I go. The babies are a grey colored rat snake with about 50 crossbars and a stripe on its head that passes through its eyes. Not eye catching sitting on a table in a deli cup with corns snakes and their morphs, kingsnakes, pituophis, and other species. You generally will have to go up to the table and ask the person to let you see the Texas baird baby on his table. Almost all the baird babies at the show will look alike no matter what table they are on or who the parents are. There are subtle differences that each of us have tried to identify that will give us an edge on the next screamer adult. Most of us haven't been able to progress too far with that. I think most people so far have been hesitant to buy a baby snake that they will need to keep for a couple years to see what it will turn out to look like. Now that you've gotten the itch and interest, you will begin seeing more bairds than you thought were in collections. Here's an adult Texas Baird that I used to keep in my collection. Good luck Scott and I hope you find the bairdor bairds you want.

Terry Parks

Terry thanks and i got your email and will be responding soon. I really appreciate the info and look forward to getting a hold of a couple. The pic you posted is beautiful i need to get a camera cause the one i got now is so colorfull i cant belive the old owner said he was kinda drab, he has less yellow then the pic you posted with what seems to be stonger red, orange, and various other shades. Thanks Scott

Terry is correct in that it is difficult to determine just how those drab neonates are going to turn out. Your best bet is ALWAYS having a look at the parents. The bairdi below is now 4 and 1/2 years old. He was purchased as a hatchling at a show, and the parents were up for sale as well. Good move on my part buying him, but bad move not shelling out for the parents as well. Bairdi are like fine wine.........they get better as they age. Make sure you have some in your snake "cellar".

I love that chartreuse color on him Steve. It's amazing the colors Texas bairds develop as they are a nocturnal, rocky habitat dwelling snake for the most part. Here's the baby pic of the snake I posted previously on this thread.

Terry Parks

Thats what im talkin about NICE SNAKE! Scott