Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was looking in a snake book and saw a yellow and blue Indigo Snake - what kind is it? Does it make a good pet for beginner?

Thanks,
Dan

I think I know the photo you saw, and it’s a yellow-tail cribo.
They are actually black, grey, or brownish and yellow. Some photos capture iridescence and makes the black appear blue.

These are the largest and as a general rule the most aggressive of the indigo snakes and cribos.

I would recommend any members of this group for a beginner, and this would be the worst choice of the group for a beginner. An 8’ eating machine that wants to take your face off may not be the best bet for a beginner!

If you are truly a beginning snake keeper, a few good choices for first snakes are: corn snakes, many of the common kingsnakes subspecies, (especially California kings), and rosy boas.

I meant to type I WOULD NOT recommend any of the indigo snakes and cribos for a beginner!!

Big typo there!

Drys are certainly an intermediate level species, not an acquisition to be taken lightly.
Also, I'd recommend a Black-tail or Unicolor Cribo for a first Dry, but certainly not a yellow-tail. While temperament varies from individual to individual, I have a pair of YT's which are tame as any of my Easterns, BT and Uni Cirbos, YT Cribos tend to be the more "high strung" of the Dry clan and DEFINITLY not for novice keeper..

Best regards,

Jeff

yeah, if yt's were venomous, they'd probably be the #1 most dangerous snake in the world. i had one that actually used to stalked me whenever i was working in her tank. i got her as a fair sized subadult but she grew into an 8' absolutely massive female named psycho bitc*. if you left her alone, she was fine but i eventually tired of her constant attacks and in a 3 way trade she ended up w/ don bordner i believe. btw, anybody heard from him lately? :>].........

Aren't you exagerrating a bit?
P-babe wasn't all that bad...

I only needed one blood transfusion after I met her.

Have not heard from Don B in a long time.

oh sure, you snuck into town when she was still a 'little' girl dean. 2 years and 3' later, it was mayhem and carnage over here on a weekly basis! lol! where were you then?.......her fav move became sneaking around her water tub and go straight for the face. it became constant, wasn't fun and it earned her a one way ticket south. somebody better call don to see if he's ok.......

And she's probably got him mostly digested by now.

I did forget to mention, Don was bit several months ago by Max, that huge Uni he acquired from Dr. G, in a feeding accident. He ended up with a hand full of sutures, over 20 of them, and the attending ER Doc ordered film, just to make certain there were no fractures to boot!

Jeff

I spoke with Don last night. He's doing well, expecteing a few clutches of eggs this season, from a few different species.
Don actually claims that YT female you sent him is no longer that bad.

Best regards,

Jeff

I was in Surinam this past October and while riding in a bus on a very rough, dirt road I spied the most amazing looking snake I've ever seen. I'd guess about 7' long, as big around as my wrist (I've got big wrists) and seemingly bright blue with a lemon yellow colored tail. After I scared the crap out of the bus driver yelling for him to stop; the snake literally flung itself off the road. By the time I ran back to the spot it was gone. It may have been iridescense but that snake looked blue with a long, solid yellow tail. From the quick look I had I can only say it was fantastic looking!
I'd like to see the picture from that book. Does anyone know the name and author?
Paul

yeah paul, i think it's on page 7 of a book called racers, whipsnakes, and indigos authored by w.p. mara. there are lots of good pics in there but i've never seen a yt 'glow' like the ones shown however. they usually tend to be darkish brown anteriorly.......

Here is a baby picture of a female YT I acquired from Don B.
She's just over a year old now, and slightly over 6'. She is developing a grey/blue body with a lemon yellow head and tail.

Best regards,

Jeff

alive?? Max bit you?!!!I (we) have got to hear that story..I am so sorry...Max was a pussycat..He must have thought you were edible

For those of you who don't know, I sent Max to Don a couple of years ago. He is/was the biggest Dry I have ever seen or had 9' and weighed over 14 lbs...Head the size of the palm of my hand, size 9 1/2 surgical gloves...But a real sweet and calm snake..I could never get a female big enough to feel safe putting in the same cage with him!!!

Don, e-mail with the story!!!
-----
Carl W Gossett
Garage Door Herps
Monument,Colorado...northern territory of the Great Republic of Texas

Uh, what?

Max is still a big ole pussycat. Don told me it was a feeding accident.
It seems his wife was calling him to dinner, as he was finishing up feeding his group, and he got into a bit of a rush. In his haste, he neglected to use the tongs to offer a food item to Max and used his bare hand instead. Well, you can guess the rest, as Drys do not have the greatest aim!

Best regards,

Jeff