anybody keep these???

[urd]

I just picked up a late 2003 variable kingsnake (Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri ), its a leonis phase. i was just wondering if anybody else keeps them and if they know anything about breeding them. i have heard that two snakes of the same phase are able to give birth to snakes of the other variable phases(black phase and milksnake phase). know anything about this???

thanks,
Nick

[thunder]

i know that leonis and milksnake phase can both be produced in a leonis x leonis or milsnake x milksnake clutch, but i am not sure about the melanistics.

[Stockwell]

Yes, they can all occur in a single litter and that is part of why they are appropriately called variables.
The various forms, leonis, buckskin, milksnake and melanistic, can also be selectively bred through numerous generations to yield consistant offspring but there will still be a lot of variation, and thats the beauty of thayeri. Melanism is likely the only true mutation and probably a simple recessive trait.

[vanderkm]

Thayeri are fantastic snakes - we don't breed them but I think they are one of the most wonderful species out there. My understanding was that melanism was a single recessive and there are lines that are being bred with enhanced red/orange and reduced black borders.

Enso just posted a pic of one of his new ones - just spectacular and a few others in the forum have blacks. We just have one pictured here -- but she is a sweetie!!



Hope you can share some pics of your new one! Congrats,

mary v.

[urd]

Thanks for all the replies everyone nice snake vanderkm.

Stockwell:
i have heard of melanistic, leonis and milksnake but not buckskin. what does it look like?

Also, anyone know their max size? mine is about 1.3' long now and is almost a yearling.

Thanks,
Nick