Get a blizzard/snow or Leucistic rat?

Hey all,

For my first corn snake (first ever snake), I had my hopes on a blizzard. However, I see very little blizzards available online, if any. I see snows but I feel like I might be disappointed with the snow color in the long run. How white does an adult snow get?
Then I learned about leucistic rat snakes and was interested until I heard about their temperaments. Also I saw a picture of someone selling a leucistic that has bug eyes and a REALLY weird back that doesn't look healthy. Is that how they are? I can't post a pic but here's the link to kingsnake.com that has the pic: http://market.kingsnake.com/detail.p...=60&de=1114174
It's like a kinked back, I don't know if they grow out of it. I think that if they have such a bad temperament, then maybe I should wait for corn. Thanks all!

Z

I'm not an expert, but it doesn't look kinked to me.
Some of the rats are just bug eyed (ex: IIRC, the Trans Pecos.)
Baby snakes are frequently ugly, esp. those that lack colouring. But, don't tell that to the breeder!

If you want a corn, just check the Corn section of Kingsnake.com
I am very enamoured with the Okeetees (spell??) bred by Sunshine Serpents. They have an ad there - not pushing them, but I like the website. Have you checked Don Soderberg's site? (He wrote "the book".) He has many morphs. I would be surprised if there were no Blizzard - he'd likely know of where you could get one.

Good luck.

I would avoid that snake. It looks underweight. If you are wanting a Blizzard, I would try posting to fauna and placing a 'wanted' ad in the corn snake section. Blizzards are not still entirely common and if you are wanting a white snake (warning, these guys can get yellow outlines to their markings!) you'll probably want to avoid a snow as they tend to stay heavily patterned and often get a peach-ish color to the saddles. I would also keep an eye out for any local reptile expos as you might get lucky.

If money is no object, just get a Palmetto. ;)

Thanks all for the replies! There's going to be a super reptile show in Pomona, CA in January that's I'm excited about going to. It will be the first reptile show and I know I'll be like a kid in a candy shop! :D

On the pic that I originally linked to, what is with the zigzagging or kinking (for lack of a better word) of the spine? I've just never seen that in snake pics before.

Yeah I probably will stay away from the snows then. When I get the setup, I'll post a wanted ad and see what happens. In the meantime, I will also check out Don Soderberg's site.

Thanks again all.


Z

PS Oh and South Mountain Reptiles did have blizzard hatchlings a month or so ago but now they're not on the website anymore. I guess they've gone :(

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Originally Posted by ZSThomp

Thanks all for the replies! There's going to be a super reptile show in Pomona, CA in January that's I'm excited about going to. It will be the first reptile show and I know I'll be like a kid in a candy shop! :D

On the pic that I originally linked to, what is with the zigzagging or kinking (for lack of a better word) of the spine? I've just never seen that in snake pics before.

Yeah I probably will stay away from the snows then. When I get the setup, I'll post a wanted ad and see what happens. In the meantime, I will also check out Don Soderberg's site.

Thanks again all.


Z

PS Oh and South Mountain Reptiles did have blizzard hatchlings a month or so ago but now they're not on the website anymore. I guess they've gone :(

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Contact him, and let him know what you want.
Breeders frequently keep extra hold-backs to see how they will develop. Also, buyers sometimes put animals on hold, but then don't follow through. He may have another clutch coming up for sale as well. I see adds by the same breeders for the same morphs/localities come and go and come up again in the classifides.

I held a baby Leucistic Texas Rat at the Pomona show in August. Tamest little snake ever.

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Originally Posted by DLreptile

I held a baby Leucistic Texas Rat at the Pomona show in August. Tamest little snake ever.

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I've got a pair of hatchling LTRs , the male has 'bug-eyes' which I'm actually starting to like now I've gotten used to them .

They're both super-tame when out being handled but BOTH are like pit-bulls when they're in their vivs .. Very defensive .

Interesting, maybe I should give leucistic rats a chance. But just to be sure, I'll probably start with a blizzard corn first if I can find one. I will follow the suggestions here.

I will look out for leucistics at the Pomona show in January to see if I can hold one!

Oh and the Palmetto is gorgeous, but I'd rather not lose my savings all at once ;)

Z