Reptile & Amphibian Forums

First off let me just say that I swear to God there was no photo shop editing to this photo, because it does look rediculously blue. This shot was taken today on a black table in front of outside window so natural light was coming in reflecting off the snow, which is why she looks like she is glowing blue. This female is actually incredibly blue though, with a lime greenish blue dorsal stripe, much more so than the other 2 axanthic plains that I have, but she is also much larger than the other two and she has really put on the blue in the last few months. I really think this snake would give any Puget a run for the best blue prize, and her belly is solid blue, but is lighter past the cloaca.

-----
Jeff Benfer
gartersnakemorph.com

I knew as soon as I saw the pic that natural light coming from an angle was the reason for that glowing effect it's definitely not edited. Just light. It happens to me all the time when I try to take photos outside and the sun is on a strong angle! She's a big chunky girl! She looks different than mine though, i think. I should go take a picture of her!!! And my new albino banded watersnake... I have been slacking.........

Shannon, I would like to see a good pic of your axanthic chicago female.
-----
Jeff Benfer
gartersnakemorph.com

Here are the pics I took when she came in... though I must say I do not feel that axanthic is the correct term for it. This animal does not lack yellow pigment. She's got a good bit of it running down along her sides, some on her cheeks, and also orange between some scales. I have taken to calling her simply, "blue phase" chicago. It actually seems to be that there is an unnatural amount of blue, like a blue wash, that is overshadowing the normal pigments, as opposed to a simple lack of color. I believe a normal chicago garter snake that simply missed out on yellow pigment would appear like a de-saturated version of the normally brown and yellow snake. She's the most unpredictable and MEAN garter I have. In the pics, she's got some cobweb stuck to her face, due to her non stop attempts to bite me and swinging her head around through plants! She is hard to take a picture of because she refuses to sit still. She just wants to bite you!

Very cool looking snake, but you are right does have a lot of yellow to be called a truely pure or complete axanthic, but at the same time it still does fit or meet the discription of reduced yellow though, so could still be called axanthic. shrug, either way a pretty snake but she sounds kinda nasty, lol.
Thanks for posting
-----
Jeff Benfer
gartersnakemorph.com

nasty indeed. She's so unpredictable! She's just like my blood python. Never know when she's gonna whack you! There was a male blue chicago for sale a few days ago from sunshine serpents... I missed him! Someone else got him. I hope they consider my offer through Bill to coordinate a breeding loan! Although my other normal female chicago is so freaking cool looking with those HUGE black bars on her neck, she looks like a tiger. She's also very, very dark and even has a blueish tint to her whole body, making me wonder if the chicago's don't have some genetic tendency towards blue like many other types of thamnophis. I just think that when I am able to acquire a male like her that breeding those really big black bars into the blue will be cool!!!

Jeff,
That one is AWESOME!

Dan Eby

Hey Dan, how you been? what snake breedings will you be doing this spring?
-----
Jeff Benfer
gartersnakemorph.com

I'm doing good, how about you

This year I'll be pairing up a bunch of locality plains hognose, some southern hogs, Mexican milks, & I might pair up some gray bands. My Corn Island boas & a few other boas are paired up now.

How about you, what might you be producing?

I've got a bunch of fire salamander babies right now I'm having fun with. They were born 4 days ago.

Later man,

Dan

Not doing to bad here, winter is long though, lots of cold and snow here, probably similar out west, but spring is fast approaching. Love the western hognose but can't keep them legally here in Iowa as they are protected. I gotta see those fire saly babies, I have kept tiger salys off and on over the years, please email me some pics!!!!
Lots of garter breedings planned for this spring, some undecided or yet to be decided plans too. Once I get it all figured out I will post on my web site.
-----
Jeff Benfer
gartersnakemorph.com