Reptile & Amphibian Forums

How deep do male and female grey-bands probe.? Cheers. Also whats the smallest size you acn breed a female.?

Hey MikeyP,

Here is an excellent resource page for determining the sex of snakes, and it includes good info and pics related to proper probing techniques. Click on this link:

http://www.vpi.com/9VPITipsAndTechs/DeterminingTheSexOfSnakes/DeterminingTheSexOfSnakes.htm

This should help you out.

On breeding size... females should be going into their 3rd year and have good, healthy mature size. Some breeders start them even younger with reasonably good success. A lot of us feel that waiting another year is better, although not always necessary. It really depends upon how the female was cared for. She needs to be of good mature size and robust, not over fed, fat and lazy... but stout, strong and active.

Cheers for that appreciated. There both probed up and the pair I have brought are definately a pair. Will probably leave them till next year, although they are both three years old the female looks a touch too small still. They are both Het Albino's. Is there much call for these in the states.? What sort of price do they go for over there.? Cheers.

.....and I wish you well with them next year!

The albino alterna here in the states have been crossed with albino ruthveni, I would assume the same with yours. Demand for them here seems limited from what I have seen. Many alterna x albino ruthveni that I see for sale seem to be priced in the $250 range and up. I see them sit for sale for quite a long time usually. Most alterna enthusiasts here are purists, so much so that many of us are attracted only to locality specific bloodlines and I don't see much attraction to the albino alterna crosses because of this I'm sure. They seem to be more of a novelty and are of little interest to everyone other than those who simply want a cool looking kingsnake that is a little different.

I hope I didn't bust your bubble, didn't intend to but you asked! I say if you really like them, stick with them, enjoy them and have yourself a ball.

Where do you live?

colour morphs have gone crazy in the last couple of years (just look at the ball market.!) Original I did buy them with the intention of producing the albinos, but I have grown to reallly like them as they are, very attractive with great temprements. I would like to buy various localities but the UK market for these is very limited.? I will post some pics over the weekend, would like other peoples thoughts. I live in Hampshire which is South of England.