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I'm looking for feedback on when my new wild caught corn might start to "redden" up for me?

When should it reach it's full potential?

Here's a set up pic of where it was found:

Here's a couple more I found from the exact same area (that I hope it turns into):

A sad DOR found later that same night:

Thanks in advance.

I look for a baby corn to double in size (bulk-wise) by 4 to 6 months for sure. Then to double again in the next 6 months. I think at about 24 to 30 inches it is going to be its prettiest.
That has been my experience anyway. Looking forward to what others say.

--Dennis

Thanks...well it's eaten 3 times (F/T) since I've got it...not bad for 6 days!!!!

Congrats on finding some sweet-looking corns!

Those almost look like the wild "bloodred" type which tends to vary quite a bit. Older snakes darken which may cause a "redder" look. The snake you have right now is showing some pretty good color for its size. Whether it will turn "red" is hard to say. That DOR looks like an adult and it's not "bloodred-ish."

18 months to two years is usually "prime time" for corns having their brightest coloration. After that wild types often develop a dark "wash" which subdues the once-brighter color of the snake.

Tim

Third Eye Herp

Hey Tim,

Yeah, I guess only time will tell, I was hoping for some secrete decoder thing so I wouldn't have to "wait and see".

I agree with you on the blood-reddish look, however from people that know much more than me about corns, I've been told Bloods have a white belly...these have red bellies, you can kinda see it in the crappy cell phone pics of me holding the two from back in 2010.

Also, the DOR specimen was about 25 miles away from the "bloodish ones".

Thanks for the input!

As babies bloodreds have white bellies, but as they age the white often becomes infused with red.

Tim

Well, here's the belly, not completely white...but the tail is red already, but it's difficult to tell by the photos.

some other belly shots:

Either way, it's a great eater!

Yeah, well, the plain white belly's, funny head patterning, and gray-ish coloration in many as hatchlings, and diffused side patterning would only pertain to the "bloodred" strain already known to the hobby. This isn't to say at all that any possible other "bloodred" phenotypes couldn't be very different than those. I know the belly of that one you captured years ago had very strong red pigment bleeding onto the belly from the ventro-lateral area. Do you remember it having any checkering, or no?.......that was one KILLER snake!!, and you should be "tarred & feathered" for not keeping it..

Anyway, nice find, and it will be very interesting to see what it turns out like as it matures more..

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

I have to agree with tom that the red one/s almost look like WC bloodreds. As I recall from Kathy Love I think the original bloodreds were out of NE Florida just south of Okeetee range. I could be wrong and if so please if anyone knows for sure post the correct info.

That leads to where were they caught?

cool WCs for sure.
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Thanks for reading.
Tom

www.HerpZillA.com
HerpChat

Hi Tom...Yeah, the original bloodreds were produced from line-breeding animals originating from Hastings, Florida and the project was given to the Love's. Hastings is about 40 miles south of Jacksonville. Rusty's wild red corn was found on the east coast of central Florida well over 100 miles south of there.

cheers, ~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

I remembered that but can't think what I had for lunch yesterday lol. Ya know getting old and the memory thing. I also found out that one of my back meds makes you forget things. Like a single word. I call it word strokes.

Bloodred were and still is one of my favorite corns. I try to peek in from time to so see what is knew. Maybe someday I will do more? I'm getting a spinal stimulator soon. I did the temp one with a wire sticking out of my spine lol.

I do enjoy seeing all the regulars still breeding. I still owe someone a gift of some sort. Maybe I can turn him on to hognose when I breed some? Only herps I have now. A good friend really loves them so we each got a few last year.
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Thanks for reading.
Tom

www.HerpZillA.com
HerpChat