black tipping

[ortega]

I have found a wide price range for Honduran Milksnakes, especially the tangerine ones. A feature i notice tends to develop in adults is "black tipping". Could this be what is affecting the prices? I would prefer to buy one that had minimal or no black tipping, how could I tell from a baby if it will be going to develop this trait?

[snakehunter]

I think its a hit or miss thing, but im not sure, maybe jeff favelle could help

[Tim_Cranwill]

It would be tough to tell from the babies. They get the tipping as they get older. If you want one that will end up with liitle or no tipping, get a hypo.

The price ranges are based on looks and sex for the most part.

[Stockwell]

It's a function of genetics and selective breeding.
Males are also cleaner than females, and I find I can sex them right out of the egg by the brightest ones, always been the males.
Black tipping is beleived to be an adaptation to allow thermal regulation as black absorbs heat, and this may be of more importance to females carrying eggs.
I've been breeding hondurensis a long time, through numerous generations. It's very hard to completely breed out black tipping in females.
When selecting young, they must be completely free of black tipping to have any hope of having nice looking adults. Black tipping always increases as they mature, therefore hondurensis look their best the day they hatch.
To avoid black tipping you might consider the purchase of Hypomelanistic specimens. There is not yet much domestic supply of these in Canada, but it wont be long. While some hypos, will get a tiny bit of tipping, they are generally extremely clean.
Here's one of my hypos
They stay this way pretty much to adulthood

below and adult pair of normals that represent 14 years of slective breeding. They have some black tipping but they don't get much nicer than this wihtout being hypos

[Ace]

Black tipping is beleived to be an adaptation to allow thermal regulation as black absorbs heat, and this may be of more importance to females carrying eggs.

I wonder if anybody has done a study as to whether temps can affect the amount of tipping or if it is purely genetic? Be interesting if a bit higher temps could lead to less tipping? I know my guy usually stays on the cool end of his tank, which ranges from about 76-84. He's just starting to tip out. But, I wouldn't have anyone to compare him to...YET .

By the way.....Awesome looking Hondos Stockwell!!!!

[ortega]

wow those pictures are exactly what I want to get. Hypomelanistic specemin would be extreemly expensive, no? I guess my best bet would be to wait untill the next reptile show and buy the best looking one I can find. Mabey after 14 years of breeding I will have one like in the pictures. Thanks stockwell

[Stockwell]

Hypo Hondurans are expensive, around 300 US and up . I paid 250US for the one in the picture,from an old friend, and that was in 02. I'm not exactly sure where the market price is on them this year but hypos vary quite a bit depending on how clean they are whether they have ther reduced "pin stripes" or "vanishing" trai, and also whether they are het for other mutations like albino or anery, etc.
I produce some screamer normals every year, and they will be available at the Toronto shows later in the season