Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have seen some photos of Spilotes that have a ton of yellow (usually babies) and some that have very little yellow (usually adults).

Do they loose some yellow coloration as they grow older? Or is it probably just natural variation or locality differences?
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colubridlady@gmail.com

3.3 Adult cornsnakes, various morphs
1.1 2004 Hypo cornsnakes
0.1 2004 Normal Het Hypo cornsnake
0.0.2 2004 Caramel cornsnakes
0.0.1 2004 Amber cornsnake

It's generally an area thing - there are about 5 subspecies debatably recognised, but considering the huge range of the snake, there's a lot of room for geographical variation.

There is a pattern variation that is being called "striped". My female spilotes from Nicaragua had nice yellow bands the entire length of her body. My male from Guyana had yellow banding about halfway down it's body and then he was black (no yellow banding) down to the tail. I saw a paper once showing Spilotes phenotype from different locales. Some of the spilotes from Mexico have orange bands. I think these come from the northern part of the spilotes range. There are some spilotes being called "high yellow" which have yellow speckling throughout their body instead of bands. I've read where they can be all yellow, but I've only read it.

Terry Parks

I just wanted to clear this up for myself. I saw one at a local show recently and with all the photos of them on here recently, I'm thinking of getting one and wanted to know if what you buy is what you get. It's so different with other snakes I'm used to, like my cornsnakes, so I just wanted to know. Thanks.
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colubridlady@gmail.com

3.3 Adult cornsnakes, various morphs
1.1 2004 Hypo cornsnakes
0.1 2004 Normal Het Hypo cornsnake
0.0.2 2004 Caramel cornsnakes
0.0.1 2004 Amber cornsnake

Our CB female was a very pale yellow when we got her.. she was probably about 18 months old at the time. As she got bigger it turned butter yellow. I believe there is a bit of a color change but I can't completely vouch for that since the babies we hatched are the first babies we've worked with. I look forward to see how our holdback turns out. He has quite a bit orange and yellow but may turn bright yellow as he gets older... to look like his Sire.