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Limburg Albino Rosies - Are They "Wacky"

sstephenson Jun 29, 2011 02:37 AM

My sons and I raise Kenyans and Rosies, and if there's anything that I can say about the predictability of snake behavior, its that our four Limburg albino Rosies are consistently ill mannered. I don't know if its a feeding response gone haywire, or if they're just not the sharpest tool in the shed. Granted, I'm sure that in-breeding has something to do with it, but I've yet to handle a Limburg that didn't come after me with every intent to eat me. We never feed them in their normal living quarters, but without fail, as soon as you open the tub they're ready to getcha. As beautiful as they are, I don't really mind. In fact I think its pretty funny. But once they get about three feet long with some real muscle behind those little needle teeth, I might not be laughing so hard. Are they all like that?

Replies (9)

rosybozo Jun 29, 2011 12:42 PM

I've had lots of rosys, some as calm as can be, and some that think anything is food.
I must agree. It seems that all albino rosys I've had have been biters. Not sure why that is. One thing's for sure, a biter is typically a great eater.

sstephenson Jun 29, 2011 01:15 PM

Nice photo! I forgot to mention that I also have two Whitewater albinos. And yes, they are biters too :^)

kangaskritters Jun 29, 2011 01:46 PM

In my experiences California rosy boas tend to be the meanest of the rosies. Coastals/Limburgs are top of my list for biters. Mexicans on the other hand are very gentle. I haven't worked with Arizona rosies so no coment there, but I would guess they're in between.

sstephenson Jun 30, 2011 12:58 AM

You have a good point. Now that I think about it, all my biters are coastal rosies (most are albino Limburgs and Whitewaters). All my Mexican rosies are non-biters. I have no California/Arizona desert rosies.

rosybozo Jun 30, 2011 05:57 PM

I have or have had biters that represent all regions. Plomosa AZ, Mulege MX, Long Canyon CA, and many more... as well as just about every albino I've had.

The interesting thing about biting rosys is that Wild Caught rosys basically never bite, yet even a first generation captive bred boa can be big time biters. I've even had some that were produced by a female that had been collected while gravid, and the babies still bite everything that moves.

With captive bred rosys it really seems makes a difference how they are fed, but I also think that some (like albinos) have more of a tendency to bite. Could be inbreeding I guess... not sure.

Awhile back I got big male whitewater rosy in the mail and my wife was being helpful by opening the package for me. I got a text with this image. She was not pleased. I didn't have that snake for very long.

sstephenson Jul 01, 2011 01:34 AM

Another great photo! Great story too :^)

I have had a wild caught Rosy start to bite after some time in captivity, but you're right. It seems to be a characteristic that is typical of the captive breds. Even when exclusively fed away from their living quarters. Interesting...

SandBoaMorphs Jul 01, 2011 10:19 AM

Great story! It is great when the wife gets bit....but those snakes quickly go in the wife's dog house...lol. Me and the kids get bit and all we think is, good feeder! Crazy how that is.
-----
Mark Huntley
Sand Boa Morphs

Sand Boa's
3.2 Rufescens
6.7 Albinos
0.1 Hypo Albino
2.1 Dodoma
1.1 Nuclear
1.0 Nuclear Meltdown
2.6 Flame
10.22 Normals including hets
7.16 Anery
5.7 Snow
2.2 Yellow Snow
0.1 Splash Albino
1.0 Splash Anery
1.0 Orange Stripe Het Anery
1.0 High Orange Stripe
1.3 High Orange Tiger
4.5 High Orange
1.3 Snow Paradoxes
3.4 Albino Paradoxes
1.1 Javelin Sand Boas
1.2 Indian Sunsets F2-F3

Western Hognose
0.4 Regulars
1.2 Green Phase
2.2 Extreme Red het Albino

2.1 Boston Terriers
0.2 Sooners
1.3 Rhode Island Reds
0.3 Barred Rocks
0.2 Range Hens
0.1 Favorite Wives
1.1 On the fence in-laws
2.1 Rug Rats

CHECK OUT MY NEW KENYAN SAND BOA BLOG
http://sandboamorphs.blogspot.com/

WWW.SANDBOAMORPHS.COM

VanPerry Jul 20, 2011 02:48 PM

I have one pair of albino rosies that I got from my son. When I got them you couldn't open the cage without getting nailed. I started feeding them by putting the food in a 6" piece of 2" black plastic pipe. Now I can handle them & they never bite. Not as fun as feeding with tongs but no more bloody body parts.

kangaskritters Jul 20, 2011 03:07 PM

Rosies are very cage aggressive when they're hungry. Try feeding them a little more than you're feeding now. My rosies are all very calm when they have full bellies.

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