I agree with you but (more)

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Posted by Allen Sheehan on May 11, 2000 at 11:28:02:

In Reply to: Re: Thinking of getting Leucistic Ratsnake...please read/advise posted by KJ on May 11, 2000 at 07:52:21:

I agree with you 100%. I think many animals in captivity have the potential to get big. I can take 2 animals that I have in my collection. Both were on the same feeding schedule, are from the same clutch, same temps, etc. But one bred at 2- years of age and the other would not. The one that did not breed is almost a foot and a half bigger than the one that did breed, and by this time next year she is on track to almost double the others size. As a result I will no longer breed 2-year animals but that is another issue. However at the same time I have been many places in texas and have caught many texas rats and the ones I catch around dallas just seem huge. I caught several around here last year alone that push the 7' mark if not bigger, and they are about as thick as a tennis ball, and could easily take squirals or small wild rabbits as food with no problem. I cant help but think there is some genetic factor involved there. The animals I catch in other parts seem to top out at 5'. In my just be coincidence but it might not be. I'm just kinda playing around trying to produce big leucistic texas rats. I have always liked them. I would love to see pics of large ones if you know of any

Thanks
Allen Sheehan

: I don't think the size between WCs and Leucistics is genetic in nature for the most part. Of course, some locals will be larger than others and some lines of Leucistics will be smaller than others, but that isn't any different than any other snake out there.

: Anyway, I got off point. What I meant to say was that I've seen near 7' Leucistics. John Cherry has a female Leucistic that is as large as most BIG WC's I've seen. I think the biggest difference is AGE. The ones that we catch in the wild and are really large are very old. With the increased breeding in captivity (reduced range, controlled feeding, etc.), I'm not sure they reach the necessary age, etc.

: We control the growth of our snakes through breeding, feeding, etc. Although they may be HEALTHIER in captivity, I'm not sure that this equates to "maximal size increase."

: No way to prove it right now, though.
: KJ

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: I agree with you 100%. I think many animals in captivity have the potential to get big. I can take 2 animals that I have in my collection. Both were on the same feeding schedule, are from the same clutch, same temps, etc. But one bred at 2- years of age and the other would not. The one that did not breed is almost a foot and a half bigger than the one that did breed, and by this time next year she is on track to almost double the others size. As a result I will no longer breed 2-year animals but that is another issue. However at the same time I have been many places in texas and have caught many texas rats and the ones I catch around dallas just seem huge. I caught several around here last year alone that push the 7' mark if not bigger, and they are about as thick as a tennis ball, and could easily take squirals or small wild rabbits as food with no problem. I cant help but think there is some genetic factor involved there. The animals I catch in other parts seem to top out at 5'. In my just be coincidence but it might not be. I'm just kinda playing around trying to produce big leucistic texas rats. I have always liked them. I would love to see pics of large ones if you know of any : Thanks : Allen Sheehan : : : I don't think the size between WCs and Leucistics is genetic in nature for the most part. Of course, some locals will be larger than others and some lines of Leucistics will be smaller than others, but that isn't any different than any other snake out there. : : Anyway, I got off point. What I meant to say was that I've seen near 7' Leucistics. John Cherry has a female Leucistic that is as large as most BIG WC's I've seen. I think the biggest difference is AGE. The ones that we catch in the wild and are really large are very old. With the increased breeding in captivity (reduced range, controlled feeding, etc.), I'm not sure they reach the necessary age, etc. : : We control the growth of our snakes through breeding, feeding, etc. Although they may be HEALTHIER in captivity, I'm not sure that this equates to "maximal size increase." : : No way to prove it right now, though. : : KJ

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