Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Not boas but I thought you might enjoy seeing something that most of us would only see on National Geographic or the Discovery Channel. Where I live in So. Cal. rattlers are fairly common. I've had them in my front yard, under my kitchen window, and these were on the sidewalk right across the street from my house. The show went on for at least 20 minutes and then they just went off in opposite directions.
Enjoy...

I have them in my "backyard" too, but I have never seen them "wrestle" in person. How neat!!

My local ones are usually trying to hide from the Magpies under a sagebrush The Magpies gang up on them and drive them crazy!
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Linda Hedgpeth
lindafh@frontiernet.net
Sierra Serpents

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away"

Would those be two males "fighting" for dominance, or a courting pair? I always thought that's what two males looked like when they were sparring for mating rights/territory/etc...
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Linda Hedgpeth
lindafh@frontiernet.net
Sierra Serpents

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away"

.......

I don't know much about rattlers. I have seen males wrestle in nature programs on TV and it kind of looks like that. Those are so awesome and healthy looking aren't they? They must have lots to eat in that area.
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Linda Hedgpeth
lindafh@frontiernet.net
Sierra Serpents

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away"

rattlers breeding isnt any differant then any other snake, so those two being males fighting for teritory or an out of site female would be my guess as well. What kind of rattlers do you have local Linda?
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Jason & Danica
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I'd have to look them up. The ones around my house are silvery grey with darker grey bands....very pretty!! When the Magpies spot them, a group of them will perch on the sagebrush the snake is hiding under. They will screech and raise a ruckus forever. There is always a poor little rattler curled up, trying to hide, with this look like "God....Make them go away!!!"

I've seen some other ones out riding in the mountains. They are usually darker colored. My horses are young and prone to silliness, so I haven't spent a lot of time stopping to look at them. We usually just ride around them as quietly as possible. Up here, it's not the rattlers you have to worry about riding in the mountains.....it's the mountain lions and occasionally we see bears....but the mountain lions have become very aggressive around here. Definately a concern, horseback or afoot.
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Linda Hedgpeth
lindafh@frontiernet.net
Sierra Serpents

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away"

Southern Pacific Rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis helleri) which is a subspecies of the Western Rattlesnake (C. viridis). The ones you are describing from northern CA are likely the Northern Pacific (C. v. oreganus). Taxonomists are, however, currently proposing to split all of the viridis subspecies into full species.

SSSammy

nm

First, How the HECK are ya? Long time no Chat. Second, Yes, those are 2 males. Rattlers are VERY territorial sometimes. I'm sure that one male was in the TERRITORY of another male, and he wanted to show him how Tough he was. They sure do both look healthy, and I'd back down from EITHER ONE. LOL

Anyway, Ball pythons are also sometimes territorial. I was using my males this year to combat and get some younger males to breed, and I had one male Beat the CRAP out of a smaller one. I felt Soo bad for him. I opened the cage, and that little male came FLYING out like he was being chased by the devil. The Devil (My genetic Stripe Male) even Combats me. It is SOOO funny. Sometimes I'll open the cage, and he'll come out with his Neck STRIAGHT up in the air, and when I go to touch him, he bats me with his neck. I should record it. It is REALLY funny. In fact, last year Gaylynn called me in my cell all upset telling me one of my males had some SERIOUS neurolgical problem. It was the beggining of last years breeding season. She told me he was just acting VERY funny. Come to find out, he was just combating her. We now realize it, and it really is fun to just play around with him. Take Care, Jeremy

I believe it is two males. Judging from their girth and by the fact that they really made no attempt to hook up. No hemipene lunging by either. The females around here are about twice as fat as the two in the pics.

Spring is the period of greatest activity. Emerging from winter hibernation, they are hungry and looking for mates, as this is also the breeding season. During this time they will eat prodigiously, look for females to court, and will battle competing males. During these times of stress, and when trying to eat and when in their opaque stage several days before they are ready to shed, they are most likely to act in an aggressive manner when disturbed
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My roomates are 1BP,1BCI 4 corns,Rotti,3cats and snake food AKA the food chain. See my kids at: http://community.webshots.com/user/diggy415

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In Montana we have Prairie Rattlers and its very rare that anybody catches them in the act of mating. Seen it only once in my short life. What a find!
Thanks-
Matt Schubarth
Pet Nebula
2100 Stephens #116
Missoula, Montana 59801
406 541 9929

to see the natural habits of those must have been just great. thanks for sharing !
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IF YOU HAVE IT SHOW IT. IF YOU OWN IT FLAUNT IT!!

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BASICALLYBOAS.com
'Specializing in True RedTails & Designer Boa Morphs'

>>Not boas but I thought you might enjoy seeing something that most of us would only see on National Geographic or the Discovery Channel. Where I live in So. Cal. rattlers are fairly common. I've had them in my front yard, under my kitchen window, and these were on the sidewalk right across the street from my house. The show went on for at least 20 minutes and then they just went off in opposite directions.
>>Enjoy...
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Marcel Poots (Holland)
'Where is your crown King Nothing?' James Hettfield

That is one of the coolest things I have ever seen in this forum. Thanks for sharing. What a KILLER thing to see. I live in UTAH (Home of the HORRIBLE Mark Hacking!!!!! What a PRICK!!!!!) , and we also have a LOT of Rattlers. I was just on a trail ride last week on my horse with a Friend, and I also saw a KILLER rattler Display. Not like that though. The Rattlers here are also a LOT smaller. Take Care, and thank you very much for sharing. Jeremy Stone

I'm guessing you don't like Mark Hacking....whoever he is! LOL! Take care

Paul

His wife Lori is missing.

I know you knew that
He said he was coming here to UNC.
NICE PICS!
We have a few kinds of rattlers here, but mostly all I ever see are copperheads. Watch your step

Man, I need to watch the news more often...I THINK I know who your talking about now. I was just surprised to see Jeremy call someone a Pr$%K, that was pretty out of character. Take care

Paul

That is very cool, that is typical male combat behavior and you got great pics of it. First they try to see who is bigger by standing up as much as they can and then wrap themselves around each other and try to pin each other to determine dominance. Those are great pics, Is is rattler breeding season up there, they don't look like young snakes just practicing. If it is breeding season, becareful there is going to be a angry female nearby!.
again great photos
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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

We live in So Cal also and see many Rattle Snakes during our hikes in Chino Hills and they look like Westerns. Really cool images!

Debra and Diana
Camlon Reptiles

Hi there,

Those are definately two males fighting and there was probably a female close by. Rattlers are either spring breeders (e.g Crotalus mitchelli) or late summer/fall breeders which overwinter and birth the next spring. Those snakes in your pictures are southern pacific rattlesnakes Croatlus viridis helleri (sp?) definately the most common rattlesnake in S. cali. Up north, the most common is the northern pacific, Crotalus viridis oreganus. the rattler species in cali I can think of are: C. ruber, C atrox, C. v. helleri, C. V. oreganus, C. mitchelli, C. cerastes, C. scutelatus (and at least one more that escapes me, but I know it's a subspecies of viridis).

hope that helps,
cheers,
gabriel gartner

Just kidding, great photos man, that must have been pretty wild to see in person.
Great job.