Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all, I showed this guy once before and everyone said it looked like pure alterna, but I'm not convinced. Looking for more opinions. Thanks

Looks like pure Alterna to me.

Thanks for the reply. It's that stripe in the first saddle that bothers me, I've seen this a lot in mexicana. BTW nice snake.

Here is another one of mine with a very similar stripe as yours.

Also, I forgot, I think the graybands with blackheads like yours are supposed to be more prized. I'm not sure, but I really haven't seen that many. Some breeders sometimes hold on to those.

Here is a pic of a Mex Mex from Lassiter, so you you can see the difference.

http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/index.php?photo=91762&si=lassiter

Thanks for the plug in kingsnaken...

That stripe or divided nucal blotch is not rare in alterna. I have seen it on many river road animals. The black head plate on the other animal below is an attractive trait I've seen on some animals from 277. I'm told this is a reproducable trait. My 1st alterna had a black crown.
[img[http://www.fototime.com/{B2D23759-1828-4A10-A145-A512852D1E0A}/picture.JPG[/img]

Tom (Coach)

.

Remember.....Alterna where once in the Mexicana complex and still are in my book along with Ruthveni, but that is another discussion.
All these snakes show a nuechal stripe from time to time. Nearly all of the pure Mexmex have the neuchal stripe. Thayeri have a neuchal blotch as well as Greeri. Alterna are a variable species. It is not rare to see such things pop up in clutches of Alterna.
Your snake appears to be 100% pure alterna...neuchal stripe and all.
John Lassiter
Here is a pair of Mexmex I am breeding this year. The both have a neuchal stripe, but it is not confined to Mexmex alone.

Thanks John, I appreciate your input.You got some awesome lookin snakes there

No problem and I appreciate your compliments.
John Lassiter

Sweet! I love the alterna/mexicana complex.
And yes, seems to me when I first got into kings, back in the late 70's the graybands were Lampropeltis Mexicana Alterna, but I can't remember for sure. I just remeber they were not within my budget LOL

yes,
this is the "stripe" line that we produced over 10 years ago. this is the original Male form the early 90's