Re: Leucistic rat breeding question?

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Posted by patricia sherman on November 25, 2002 at 12:25:58:

In Reply to: Re: Leucistic rat breeding question? posted by 2Garters on November 24, 2002 at 16:18:09:

:First I want to say "Thanks" to both of you for the useful information. ... My leucistic texas rat snake is soo mean ...

I have four Texas rats, including three leucies.

Your snakie is just a baby, and will probably grow out of being so nasty. My two-yr-old, Bianca, is one of the nicest tempered snakes in the world. When I got her she was a yearling, and she did have a little attitude, but within weeks she settled right down into the sweetie that she is today. My normal yearling, Dillon, was a real mean-machine when he arrived here as a baby. He's now becoming far more tractable, and hasn't tagged me for the past three months. I still don't completely trust him, but I'm certainly more comfortable with him, and he with me. The only time he gets edgy now, is when he's hungry.

I also have two leucy hatchlings that I just rec'd a few weeks ago from Dwight Good. The male is very calm and the female is a little tigress! She'll strike at anything that moves, any and every time. But, I'm pretty sure that given a year or two, she'll become much calmer, as Dillon has. Don't despair about your little snakie's temperament, and don't condemn all leucies on account of your experience with just one.

:there is no way I will buy another one of them. They are cool looking but is very mean. Thats why I named him "Striker".

My son's two-yr-old black is also named Striker, and he also was named for being such a meanie as a baby. Today, he's extremely gentle, and my granddaughter holds him almost every day. I fully expect that you'll see your Striker settling down, too.

:I think I will check out the hybrid forum. I am not really trying to produce something that will sell and make big bucks...but just want to see what I can produce. Thanks again.

Hybrids can sometimes be very interesting, but I cast my vote with the advice that you already rec'd: your best bet is another leucy, or a normal het for leucy, of the same subspecies. That way, you'll get babies that you'll be able to sell more readily. If you produce hybrids or intergrades for which there's no market, you could easily have a whole clutch on your hands that you'd end up having to feed and care for for many months.

Tricia

Picture of Bianca

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