Thanks Terry. Like you, I have been in this hobby for over fifty years. I think this discussion needs to come out every now and then, as a lot of new pople in this hobby are not aware of some of things you brought out. Just wondering though, and not that I want you to disclose the locale information of your "ruthveni", but did you and Bob personally catch your stock? Hopefully as we all grow in this hobby, we learn a little something. I know I wasn't born with all my teeth and hair, and I have done my share of some pretty stupid things in the past. I know I purchase three LA pines at a snake show back in the 90's for #750.00 and after having a discussion with you and KJ and observing the animals themselves, I came to the conclusion I had hybrids. I sold them for all for $150 as hybrids. Wish I would have just kept the animals, because I do not know what the person who bought them did with them...at least I could hav kept them out of the mix! Back in the 80's a friend of mine went to Texas on a snake collecting trip. He was really big into rattlesnakes...didn't know much about anything else. Upon his return, I stopped by his house to see his catch. Of course he caught everything he could so that he could sell the surplus to pay for his trip. In the mist of all of the rattlesnakes, garters, and bulls snakes was a huge LA pine, (he thought it was just an ugly bull snake from east Texas) until I told him otherwise. I think he sold it to one of the locale dealers in Florida. Wish I could go back and get that snake from him!! Thanks again Terry for the info. People need to know.

Dan

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