Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'll be in Albuquerque from May 2-4 approximately. My wife is on business, and I have free time So why not go herping!? It'd be utterly stupid not to.

This isnt really intended to be a "Show me your spots" post. I'm an east coaster and have 0 experience with west U.S. herping so I'm just looking for general info that might help me out like "At that time of year, everything is diurnal" or.... "You'll have to completely get away from civilization to find anything interesting. Head southwest" for instance. I'm not requesting road names or anything.

I'm already up to snuff on the 2 licenses I'll need. Non-resident for sure, commercial license just in case I'm lucky enough to find more than 2 banded rattlers (thats the bag limit for them). That's a pipe dream too I'm sure. Most everything else is a bag limit of 5 or unlimited. I know my trip wont be that successful.

Who am I? Just a 33 year old guy who's got abt 40 snakes at home, 1/2 copperheads and a few sistrurus and some eastern kings. Most of my stuff is locale, but not all of it. I have about 15 years of solid herping under my belt, and more with just plain herpetoculture. I'm not a dealer or land raper or whatever. I genuinely just like to get out in the field and experience the wildlife and hang on to a gem or two if I'm lucky.
If I do find a for-sure keeper, I'm Delta certified too, so if I send anything home it'd be klauberi or maybe Trans-Pecos rat snakes. I'd like to see some alterna, but I'm aware they're protected. No touchy!

So, if you have any advice that might do me some good, I'd appreciate you tossing a tidbit my way. Feel free to just PM me if you dont wanna make it all public.

I'm just excited about the trip and dont want it to be a total bust.

Thanks

Tom

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Tom

"The more people I meet, the more I like my snakes"

I know someone who lives there I will check if he is willing to help he knows the area better than most.He may not be interested tho as secrets are hard to let go of but I will see.As also I know exactly who you are.How are your pictigasters .
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Archie Bottoms

Feel free to email me. I will give you my number. My email is danielsmn1@comcast.net

I said NO POST!!!!!!!
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Tom

"The more people I meet, the more I like my snakes"

Hey dude!

Thanks for reachin out. I appreciate it!

My pictigasters are doing well! I had 2.2, and last fall I added a male from a Hamburg show which is supposedly from Sanderson. That's potential intergrade territory, I know. Oddly enough, this guy appears to be the same age as my others and he's got a much deeper maroon color to him already than the others.
I cant wait till they all get a bit older and put on some adult coloration.
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Tom

"The more people I meet, the more I like my snakes"

Actualy the intergrade area is a bit east of sanderson and any sanderson animal is pure pictigaster.My friend found one at the hotel in sanderson and that is one nice pictigaster.That is also where the pictigaster was first discribed and collected from.So this sanderson debate is over.Do not let these guys tell you any more that a sanderson animal is an intergrade .The intergration is in valverde county not terrell so all animals from that county are pure.This is recent information I came across as I thought it was the area it is 50 miles east of there
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Archie Bottoms

I revisited the map and actually Sanderson is further west than I thought. I was remembering it wrong, thinking it was closer to San Antonio. Blame it on the beer I guess. That sure is strong Pecos territory.
I tell ya what though, that snake sure is nice looking even at his little size. I'll get a pic (of a Pic heheh) or two and put it up tonite if I remember.

Just for the heck of it, I'll repost my old shots I used to try and sex the first 2 I ever bought.

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Tom

"The more people I meet, the more I like my snakes"

Better late than never, as promised!!
Still just a young guy, maybe 12" long or so, not even...

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Tom

"The more people I meet, the more I like my snakes"