Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've been trying to figure this out without bothering ya all, but then decided that this is the best place to find the answer. A friend of mine lives in Dell City, NM by Carlsbad NM. She said that she has seen, what she thinks are Coachwhips, or Racers. "Both were REALLY REALLY PINK," as she put it, and thought they were that color because it was mating season or something. She saw them just north of Dell City, if that helps. Would these be coachwhips or Racers or what... and do they stay rosy pink all year round?

Thanks for readin this,
MissHisssss

That would be a Western Coachwhip. The Pink color is the same the year round.

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

I have been working with pink coachwhips for quite some time. They are pink year round but will darken if about to shed and they become brighter when hot and during the time in which they are breeding. There is a wide spectrum of pink. I will try to post a picture of my nicest male for you.

I've gone through the forum to see more pictures and it seems that once a certain amount of time passes the pictures can no longer be seen. Then too... I can't see any in the archives. Why is this?

MissHisssss

I posted it just a few threads down under the thread titled, "Sight Hunter" by Woodyrider.

You can also view it in my photo gallery on Kingsnake.com :

http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/index.pl?cat=500&thumb=1&stype=2&si=MaxPeterson
Link

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"I may be crazy, but ya know... I can rationalize just about anything."

I trust you were able to finaly find the picture. Pink is not a color that often comes to mind when thinking of reptiles. Don,t let the color fool you, these snakes have atitude!

and I'll send the links to my friend in Dell City that recently saw two of these critters. She said that one had like really dark pink on only about 1/3rd of it's body.... and, was wondering why. Do any of you know a Dr. George Folkerts of Auburn University? She said that he is a major field herper that taught her all she knows about snakes even though she doesn't have any. She's does horses and cattle. Anyway... I didn't realize coachwhips could be soooooo beautiful. Thanks for all your info.

MissHisssss

Are these pink ones born pink?

MissHisssss

Unfortunately, no. They are kind of a greyish olive/drab & look pretty much like any of the others. They develop their colour as they age(starting at about a year)& don't develop to their full potential until five years plus.

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"I may be crazy, but ya know... I can rationalize just about anything."

I am glad you enjoyed the picks Max sent. If you look just behind the head on the hatchling picture you will see a small patch that looks almost pink. It takes almost a year and the patch only, will turn pink, but once it starts there will be more pink with each shed. At 2 years coachwhip will be pink.

and the more I look around the more I see. These are gorgeouse snakes. I'm wondering.... are captive breed coachwhips more layed back than WC or is it just in their genes to be so flighty, fast?

MissHisssss

Young coachwhips are very high strung and prone to stress. They are easy to handle as youngsters due to their small size but it is better to let them warm up to you on their terms. At about three years of age they will get used to and look forward to your presence since you represent fresh water food etc... but these animals always have an edge unless sick, on the flip side they be out and active inside their enclosure, more like a bird would be.