Questions on Leucistic Texas Rat Snakes

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Posted by Donny Lonovy on January 15, 2002 at 02:58:40:

I'm thinking of buying a leucistic texas rat snake and possibly breeding them in the future, but I've got a few questions I hope someone can and will answer first.
1) What's with the 'bug-eyed' effect? Is this a genetic defect that needs to be bred out? I've seen picture of some snakes like this and some snakes not like this, but I don't like how it looks and I've heard that it's undesirable.
2) Do these snakes have any other eye problems?
3) I've seen many pictures of baby leucistics with a purple/pink marking on their head. What is this? Do all babys of this variety have it? Is it a problem? Can it be bred out? I'm guessing it's an effect of the skin being transparent and not much of a problem than not looking so great, but if the head can be transparent, why not the rest of the body? I've seen some that don't have it, but most of the ones I've seen did have it, so I'm not too sure if they all have it or not.
4) I've heard equal reports that these snakes are either always very calm and docile or very aggressive at a young age. Which is true? Both? Do some snakes never grow out of this?
I know it was a very long post, but I hope I'll get the answers I need. If you have answers to these questions, please email me with them along with posting here.

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Re: Questions on Leucistic Texas Rat Snakes Paul Hollander 01/15/02 (0)
Re: Questions on Leucistic Texas Rat Snakes TMichael 01/15/02 (0)

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: I'm thinking of buying a leucistic texas rat snake and possibly breeding them in the future, but I've got a few questions I hope someone can and will answer first. : 1) What's with the 'bug-eyed' effect? Is this a genetic defect that needs to be bred out? I've seen picture of some snakes like this and some snakes not like this, but I don't like how it looks and I've heard that it's undesirable. : 2) Do these snakes have any other eye problems? : 3) I've seen many pictures of baby leucistics with a purple/pink marking on their head. What is this? Do all babys of this variety have it? Is it a problem? Can it be bred out? I'm guessing it's an effect of the skin being transparent and not much of a problem than not looking so great, but if the head can be transparent, why not the rest of the body? I've seen some that don't have it, but most of the ones I've seen did have it, so I'm not too sure if they all have it or not. : 4) I've heard equal reports that these snakes are either always very calm and docile or very aggressive at a young age. Which is true? Both? Do some snakes never grow out of this? : I know it was a very long post, but I hope I'll get the answers I need. If you have answers to these questions, please email me with them along with posting here.

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