Not a Corn but Still Nice

I am not the best photograper, but thought I would share anyway. This is one of my female intermont. I just snapped a few pics and thought I would share this one. In my opinion they are a very underrated snake. You wouldn't think it because of how the background makes her look small, but she is an adult at approximately 30"-32" and around 230-240 gramsuess that is why they used to be called the "dwarf emoryi"

dc

I like the way she looks! I would like to learn more about her. I don't belive I've heard about them before.

reptile_jones said:

I like the way she looks! I would like to learn more about her. I don't belive I've heard about them before.

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They are currently classified as Elaphe emoryi but many people believe they should be listed as a subspecies or possibly elevated to full species distinction. They are isolated from the "standard" emoryi range. In their own range, they occur in isolated pockets so they vary greatly from one pocket to another. Female lay HUGE eggs and not many of them. Consequently, the babies hatch out very large. I have no scientific data to back this up but I imagine their large hatchling size is to get them through that first short eating period after hatching and through their first winter.

For the most part, as young snakes they are a "grayish" with almost always green blotches. As they age, the blotches fade and in some cases, the snake appears to loose nearly all pattern. I will find a photo of what I believe to be the best intermont I have ever seen. She is owned by Jim Godfrey of Palmetto Reptiles and has produced clutches for three years straight. You almost have to see her in person to truly appreciate her looks. She is nearly "silver" with no pattern.

Despite their huge hatchling size, they are small as adults. My female is 3 or 4 years old and is only 30-32 inches and the male is similar aged and is only 28 inches long. The babies readily take to ft pinks and did I mention they are HUGE.

My pair originated from the old South Mountain line and were produced by KJUN. He acquired Don's adults a number of years ago and I think still produces them along with one other locality. Jim Godfrey has the same line as I and another line, plus we have an outcrossed line between the two. All are amazing in their own right.

OK, hope that is what you were looking for, sorry if it was too much.

dc

Wow, what a cool snake! It's got the narrow and closely intervalled saddles of the emoryi, but the colors of a lavender corn. Nice! I learned something new today. thanks.

That is one beautiful little snake! I'd have one like that in a heartbeat .

Haha Very nice, Looks likea cinder wanna be, n cinders r my fav, what a great loooking snake. That would be something diffrent to add to the want list.

She's beautiful! Now I'm imagining how big the plant behind her is.

Just FYI for next time, non corn related pictures belong in the General Chit Chat section.

Thanks camby for taking the time to post all that info! That was the type of info I was hopping you could post. Next question, how soon till you have babies to sell?

Reptilekyle64 said:

Haha Very nice, Looks likea cinder wanna be,

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That's exactly what I was thinking! Cool, pretty snake.

What a lovely snake! Such soft, pretty colours.

She is real nice looking. My female just laid 4 huge eggs and she is on the small side too. They are nice snakes to have. Hoping to get a few more in time.

Here is my girl, not as light as your girl though. She was going into blue just before laying her eggs. She seemed to have darkened up while gravid.

reptile_jones said:

Thanks camby for taking the time to post all that info! That was the type of info I was hopping you could post. Next question, how soon till you have babies to sell?

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We have gravid females that will be laying anytime now up to about 3 weeks from now.

Thanks to everyone for the comments, they are definitely one of my favorite snakes to keep. Of course I am a sucker for gray snakes too.

dc

She is terrific. I love her color and pattern.

Very pretty...!! I wouldnt mind having a few of those..

Here is an '05 female from the line that Camby posted pics of and an '09 from my Garfield County, Colorado line as well as the clutch from the former from this year. These snakes lay BIG eggs for their body size. This clutch of seven is her largest to date.

Hmmm...very very interesting thread.

Beautiful pic in OP, Camby.

I am incredibly envious of that snake, and it only gets worse the more I look.

LOL- all the "cool kids" have them... I love mine...babies are so big and eat so well. I'm suprised they aren't more popular (although there aren't many of them in the hobby). Pics just don't capture the "green" this particular bloodline has....

Graham

Thanks for sharing!

My girl is not that big but her eggs are killer! They are about as long as my index finger, 3".

Nice clutch. The hatchlings always start on large pinkys here. Presst cool snakes. I guess they have to get a good start on life due to where they live. They have to survive a long brumation period not too long after hatching.