Re: Question about Bairds Rats.....

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Rat Snake Forum ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Terry Cox on June 01, 2001 at 23:06:37:

In Reply to: Question about Bairds Rats..... posted by MarciaB on June 01, 2001 at 10:14:33:

: I read this forum all the time, but rarely post. I haven't been on for a few days, and just read the post below about the bairds rat snakes. I have a pair that I purchased last summer. They were hatched in July. Here is a picture of the male shortly after I received them.

: and another from last fall.

: Now, my question. I believe I was reading that the pattern doesn't start breaking up until sometime in the second year. My babies were hatched in July. So they were only 9 months old the last time I measured them and when I took the next photo. They are, to the best of my ability to measure, both 3' long and the patterns are breaking up considerably. The female is much darker than the male, but both have the lateral stripes showing with no saddles on the back half of their bodies and the saddles on the fronts are fading fast. Is this about normal for these?

: Here's the latest pic:

: By the way, I think these are some of the greatest snakes I have ever seen!

: Marcia B

Marcia -

Size has a lot to do with it too, as well as the age of the snake. You probably didn't hibernate them at all, which could explain why they're so large at only nine months. I would say for your snakes, it makes sense that they would be changing. In the wild, they might only be half that large. They probably change when they reach a certain size, rather than an age, which may be just coincidental.

TMC

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: : I read this forum all the time, but rarely post. I haven't been on for a few days, and just read the post below about the bairds rat snakes. I have a pair that I purchased last summer. They were hatched in July. Here is a picture of the male shortly after I received them. : : <img src="http://home.radiks.net/~froggieb/Reptiles/SBairdsBoy.jpg"> : : : and another from last fall. : : <img src="http://home.radiks.net/~froggieb/Reptiles/SBMister.jpg"> : : : Now, my question. I believe I was reading that the pattern doesn't start breaking up until sometime in the second year. My babies were hatched in July. So they were only 9 months old the last time I measured them and when I took the next photo. They are, to the best of my ability to measure, both 3' long and the patterns are breaking up considerably. The female is much darker than the male, but both have the lateral stripes showing with no saddles on the back half of their bodies and the saddles on the fronts are fading fast. Is this about normal for these? : : Here's the latest pic: : : <img src="http://home.radiks.net/~froggieb/Reptiles/SBairdsMister.jpg"> : : : By the way, I think these are some of the greatest snakes I have ever seen! : : Marcia B : Marcia - : Size has a lot to do with it too, as well as the age of the snake. You probably didn't hibernate them at all, which could explain why they're so large at only nine months. I would say for your snakes, it makes sense that they would be changing. In the wild, they might only be half that large. They probably change when they reach a certain size, rather than an age, which may be just coincidental. : TMC

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Rat Snake Forum ] [ FAQ ]