Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It’s been said that most albino Nelson's attain 3'--3 1/2' in length… I’ve read on some websites that their maximum length can be as much as 54”, and on another forum, a well known breeder stated that he’s personally seen them up to 4 1/2' long!!! Is anyone out there especially known for producing these especially large albino nelsoni? A 4 ½’ specimen would be outrageous, IMHO! Any authoritative input...?

Thanks for your help!

Apparently Stu Tennyson had a "jumbo" Sinaloan line, with males reaching 5 feet. The Critten Connection site has lots of information about Nelson's and Sinaloans, and the difficulty in distinguishing the two... Mr. Cragg used to cross albino Nelsons with Sinaloans too. Mr. Cragg is out of the snake business, and Mr. Nathan Wells is given as a contact.

Here's the Critter Connection website:

http://www.kingsnake.com/critter/sinaloae/sinormal.htm

Daniele,
When I was fortunate enough to receive Dr. Cragg's entire collection in the fall of 2002, we was mainly concentrating on the hypoerythristic lines as well as the sinaloae X nelsoni. He had sold off most of the normal sinaloans before I aquired the collection but did happen to keep the lone female which is featured in the link you provided. Although a slow grower, she is a beautiful animal and has regularly been bred into my albinos, producing for me on an annual basis. She is currently gravid, undergoing her pre-egg laying shed, and will hopefully produce some stunning babies again this year.
Thanks for your interest.
Nathan Wells

Daniele, I actually had the jumbo sinaloan that Stu Tennyson had. I had him about 4 years. He was 64 and a half inches long and a good breeder. Not sure the age but he was at least 15 plus years old. I fed him on Saturday and today my wife found that he had passed on. He was a gental sinaloan. I did not breed him this year so I could give him a rest but he will be missed. I talked to Stu a couple of weeks ago and he asked me if he could have him back. I told him he could have him whenever he wanted him since I wasn't using him. He said he would get him at a later date and then this happened. I haven't told Stu yet but I will. Don

Daniele,
It is not uncommon to see some of the much older snakes attain lengths of 4 feet. My two oldest breeder male albinos are large, one being 48" and the other being 50". I also have a 1997 hypoerythristic male sinaloan that is 51". All of them are truly impressive animals.
Nathan Wells

You were very fortunate to have taken over a very impressive collection of Sinaloans and Nelsoni, Nathan! Some of the animals on the Critter Connection website are really beautiful, and I can imagine what you've been producingsince the 2002 reports...

Please post some photos of the best of the best if you would. I'm sure I'm not the only one who wopuld be interested! Is the Critter Connection site now yours too, or do you have another one?

Thanks a lot for your answer to my query...