What is your favorite rattlesnake?

gummybearpoop · 03-06-2010, 09:39 AM

I am not sure if a thread like this is already floating....

(1) What is your favorite species of rattlesnake that you have encountered in the "wild" and why?

(2) What is your favorite species of rattlesnake to keep in captivity and why?

My answers:
(1) I haven't found my first Willardi yet, but my favorite species I have found is the Speckled Rattlesnake. I like this species because of the variety and how close I have gotten to a few of them. Blacktails are a very close second for the same reasons.

(2) I have only kept sidewinders, so I can say I like them because their "horns" and they fed readily in captivity. Another reason I liked them because they never struck at me (Or perhaps because I never gave them a reason to strike at me).

JJFeldner · 03-06-2010, 11:01 AM

1) Tigers and Specks

2) AZ Blacks. They eat well and are not aggressive.

How about least liked? My take is Mojaves. I had one which, as long as it was fed and left alone, was great. But, the minute you tried to remove it from the cage for cleaning, it went nuts.

Justin Bagby · 03-06-2010, 11:01 AM

they are all awesome and all do great in captivity

gummybearpoop · 03-06-2010, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justin Bagby

they are all awesome and all do great in captivity

But what is your favorite in the wild and in captivity

gummybearpoop · 03-06-2010, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJFeldner

How about least liked?

Mine is probably Atrox because everytime I want to find a new species of snake, I find these.

I still like them(as I like all rattlesnakes) but they are the least liked rattler for
me..

reticguy · 03-06-2010, 11:43 AM

my favorite is the az black (which i have) because i think they are just amazing snakes and actually pretty laid back.
as far as look wise, i love the rock, something about those just intrigues me

garry · 03-06-2010, 12:37 PM

Timber rattler of course but never kept any in captivity
Timbers are the only true rattlesnakes (Don't Tread on Me)

Rich G. · 03-06-2010, 12:47 PM

there are so many. My favorite in the wild is Crotalus culminatus.....just gorgeous snakes that photos never do justice, in person they are a sight to behold..

followed very very closely by C. molossus, especially C.m.nigrescens....

Favoite in captivity is C. molossus for their disposition, social/family behavior and color variations....

a couple of siblings but from different years....

Papa......

one of the grandkids.....

Cheers,

CC

Rich G. · 03-06-2010, 12:52 PM

C. lepidus, in Arizona anyway. For some reason they bore me to DEATH!!!

and as luck would have it my hunting buddies are total leptards so thats all we do half the time.

Now in Mexico they come in a lot of really cool crazy variations and I love them there. Same with the nomonate form in Texas. Go figure, lol.

CC

gummybearpoop · 03-06-2010, 01:33 PM

I like Lepidus but they seem nervous.

viborero · 03-06-2010, 02:29 PM

Cerbs are my favorite, hands down.

Never kept any in captivity, so I can't help you there.

viborero · 03-06-2010, 02:31 PM

Good stuff, Rich! I've been waiting to see that albino molossus for a couple years now!

garry · 03-06-2010, 05:42 PM

Now that I think of it, I had a friend that kept a couple of sidewinders. I would keep one of those if I were able.

azatrox · 03-06-2010, 06:58 PM

Fave in the wild: Probably C. willardi.

Fave in captivity: I don't keep anymore, but I've kept for years so I'll go with C. molossus. Gorgeous animals that (usually) adapt well to captivity and are (usually) quite even tempered.

-Kris

desertpuma · 03-06-2010, 07:40 PM

Favorite in wild: C. l. klauberi - in talus, I love hearing the buzz and digging one up not knowing exactly what it will look like. It's like opening a Christmas present.

Favorite in captivity: C. molossus - variation and beauty!

zachsherps · 03-06-2010, 09:50 PM

Banded Rocks.

billW · 03-06-2010, 10:09 PM

Fave in the wild, C willardi. Finding them never gets old.

In captivity, a toss up between golden molossus and tigris. Tigris just intrigue me.

zachsherps · 03-06-2010, 10:59 PM

Never got the chance to see any C wilardi yet. Would love to though.

billW · 03-07-2010, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zachsherps

Never got the chance to see any C wilardi yet. Would love to though.

Being a big fan of Kauffeld and his work, just being in the Huachucas is a real treat. Finding willardi is just icing on the cake.
The first one was almost magical, and with each and every one after that, the feeling really hasn't worn off.

azatrox · 03-07-2010, 10:59 AM

I'll never forget my first willardi...I was walking along a rocky hillside with a couple friends, and we were talking about willardi, lepidus and a ton of other stuff. I saw this little guy make a dash for a rock...I only saw his tail end, but I knew exactly what he was..."WILLARDI!" I yelled, and both my friends came running over...

What billW said is exactly right...You'll NEVER forget the first time you find a willardi...Just be sure you've got yourself a good camera so you can immortalize the event!

-Kris

mark guidotti · 03-07-2010, 11:44 AM

quwstions...the great basin!!

MikeB · 03-07-2010, 11:53 AM

Without a doubt it is adamanteus. I love AZ buzztails, but this is truly the king.

leosweeny · 03-07-2010, 11:58 AM

Favorite to find in the wild Klauberi. Favorite I ever kept it is a tossup between my Durrisus and a completely black Helleri I used to be able to free handle the Heller, and the Durrisus where so wild they would fly out of there cages like coiled springs totally bad ass snakes and they were over 6'! That would always get my heart going!

sjfriend · 03-07-2010, 11:59 AM

Fav in field: which ever one I'm looking at / photographing. Haven't found them all yet so can't be objective. Fav sofar, a beautiful C. lutosus (great basin).

Only one ever kept was a C. oreganus (northern pacific) and I wouldn't recommend it(I was young and dumb)! Plus, never a good idea to try and hide it from your mom.

desertpuma · 03-07-2010, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azatrox

What billW said is exactly right...You'll NEVER forget the first time you find a willardi...

I am getting old but I still don't think there are many of the more prominent herps that I will ever forget finding the first of including but definitely not only willardi. Great pic BTW!

Uncloudy · 03-08-2010, 04:16 PM

1) speckled rattlesnakes due to the variation of natural color morphs and camoflauge

2) I've kept roadkill buzztails in my freezer to kill pathogens then recycled them as frozen/thawed food for my calkings (maybe not a popular answer in this thread)

Mike M. · 03-08-2010, 05:02 PM

Leptards? That was hilarious, Rich.

feflicker · 03-09-2010, 05:43 PM

Wild: Mojave. Gotta love a snake that jumps off the ground at you from 10' away. Never a dull moment. Although, I might change my mind if I find my Tiger this season.

Captive: Cerastes. Amazing snakes. Mild mannered, perfect size, gorgeous.

azatrox · 03-10-2010, 07:08 AM

If you enjoy snakes that will launch themselves at you at 100 mph, then you need to make your way down to Mexico and play with some Bothrops atrox...I promise those will make our scutes look like kittens! LOL

-Kris

C. willardi · 03-10-2010, 07:30 AM

Kris means Bothrops asper, and yes they are very aggressive!

03-06-2010, 09:39 AM	#1
gummybearpoop AHA Current Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sonoran Desert Posts: 277 Thanks: 272 Thanked 196 Times in 90 Posts	What is your favorite rattlesnake? I am not sure if a thread like this is already floating.... (1) What is your favorite species of rattlesnake that you have encountered in the "wild" and why? (2) What is your favorite species of rattlesnake to keep in captivity and why? My answers: (1) I haven't found my first Willardi yet, but my favorite species I have found is the Speckled Rattlesnake. I like this species because of the variety and how close I have gotten to a few of them. Blacktails are a very close second for the same reasons. (2) I have only kept sidewinders, so I can say I like them because their "horns" and they fed readily in captivity. Another reason I liked them because they never struck at me (Or perhaps because I never gave them a reason to strike at me).

03-06-2010, 11:01 AM	#2
JJFeldner Sergeant at Arms Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Tempe, AZ Age: 71 Posts: 4,212 Thanks: 725 Thanked 1,386 Times in 631 Posts	Answering>>> 1) Tigers and Specks 2) AZ Blacks. They eat well and are not aggressive. How about least liked? My take is Mojaves. I had one which, as long as it was fed and left alone, was great. But, the minute you tried to remove it from the cage for cleaning, it went nuts. __________________ Sergeant-at-Arms

03-06-2010, 11:01 AM	#3
Justin Bagby AHA Current Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Phoenix Az Posts: 226 Thanks: 184 Thanked 106 Times in 54 Posts	they are all awesome and all do great in captivity __________________ JB Herp Supply http://jbherp.com/ AHA Member since 2001

03-06-2010, 11:43 AM	#6
reticguy AHA Current Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Age: 33 Posts: 413 Thanks: 84 Thanked 171 Times in 84 Posts	my favorite is the az black (which i have) because i think they are just amazing snakes and actually pretty laid back. as far as look wise, i love the rock, something about those just intrigues me __________________ live life 1.0 tiger retic 1.0 albino tiger retic 0.1 striped tiger retic het albino 1.0 cal-king 0.1 false water cobra 0.0.1 c. cerberus

03-06-2010, 12:47 PM	#8
Rich G. Lifetime Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Flagstaff, Az. Posts: 844 Thanks: 13 Thanked 346 Times in 106 Posts	Holy cow! that's tough... there are so many. My favorite in the wild is Crotalus culminatus.....just gorgeous snakes that photos never do justice, in person they are a sight to behold.. followed very very closely by C. molossus, especially C.m.nigrescens.... Favoite in captivity is C. molossus for their disposition, social/family behavior and color variations.... a couple of siblings but from different years.... Papa...... one of the grandkids..... Cheers, CC

03-06-2010, 12:37 PM	#7
garry Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: somewheres in Indiana Age: 58 Posts: 341 Thanks: 158 Thanked 163 Times in 68 Posts	Timber rattler of course but never kept any in captivity Timbers are the only true rattlesnakes (Don't Tread on Me)

03-06-2010, 12:52 PM	#9
Rich G. Lifetime Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Flagstaff, Az. Posts: 844 Thanks: 13 Thanked 346 Times in 106 Posts	Least liked is ... C. lepidus, in Arizona anyway. For some reason they bore me to DEATH!!! and as luck would have it my hunting buddies are total leptards so thats all we do half the time. Now in Mexico they come in a lot of really cool crazy variations and I love them there. Same with the nomonate form in Texas. Go figure, lol. CC

03-06-2010, 01:33 PM	#10
gummybearpoop AHA Current Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Sonoran Desert Posts: 277 Thanks: 272 Thanked 196 Times in 90 Posts	I like Lepidus but they seem nervous.

03-06-2010, 02:29 PM	#11
viborero AHA Current Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Temple, Texas Age: 35 Posts: 2,054 Thanks: 1,026 Thanked 848 Times in 302 Posts	Cerbs are my favorite, hands down. Never kept any in captivity, so I can't help you there. __________________ Diego Ortiz

03-06-2010, 02:31 PM	#12
viborero AHA Current Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Temple, Texas Age: 35 Posts: 2,054 Thanks: 1,026 Thanked 848 Times in 302 Posts	Good stuff, Rich! I've been waiting to see that albino molossus for a couple years now! __________________ Diego Ortiz

03-06-2010, 05:42 PM	#13
garry Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: somewheres in Indiana Age: 58 Posts: 341 Thanks: 158 Thanked 163 Times in 68 Posts	Now that I think of it, I had a friend that kept a couple of sidewinders. I would keep one of those if I were able.

03-06-2010, 06:58 PM	#14
azatrox Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Phoenix Age: 34 Posts: 814 Thanks: 535 Thanked 902 Times in 316 Posts	Fave in the wild: Probably C. willardi. Fave in captivity: I don't keep anymore, but I've kept for years so I'll go with C. molossus. Gorgeous animals that (usually) adapt well to captivity and are (usually) quite even tempered. -Kris

03-06-2010, 07:40 PM	#15
desertpuma Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: New Mexico Posts: 126 Thanks: 91 Thanked 102 Times in 33 Posts	Favorite in wild: C. l. klauberi - in talus, I love hearing the buzz and digging one up not knowing exactly what it will look like. It's like opening a Christmas present. Favorite in captivity: C. molossus - variation and beauty!

03-06-2010, 09:50 PM	#16
zachsherps AHA Current Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Surprise,AZ Age: 14 Posts: 231 Thanks: 80 Thanked 113 Times in 49 Posts	Banded Rocks.

03-06-2010, 10:09 PM	#17
billW AHA Current Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Age: 43 Posts: 170 Thanks: 32 Thanked 130 Times in 55 Posts	Fave in the wild, C willardi. Finding them never gets old. In captivity, a toss up between golden molossus and tigris. Tigris just intrigue me.

03-06-2010, 10:59 PM	#18
zachsherps AHA Current Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Surprise,AZ Age: 14 Posts: 231 Thanks: 80 Thanked 113 Times in 49 Posts	Never got the chance to see any C wilardi yet. Would love to though.

03-07-2010, 10:59 AM	#20
azatrox Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Phoenix Age: 34 Posts: 814 Thanks: 535 Thanked 902 Times in 316 Posts	I'll second what bill said... I'll never forget my first willardi...I was walking along a rocky hillside with a couple friends, and we were talking about willardi, lepidus and a ton of other stuff. I saw this little guy make a dash for a rock...I only saw his tail end, but I knew exactly what he was..."WILLARDI!" I yelled, and both my friends came running over... What billW said is exactly right...You'll NEVER forget the first time you find a willardi...Just be sure you've got yourself a good camera so you can immortalize the event! -Kris

03-07-2010, 11:44 AM	#21
mark guidotti AHA past president Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Scottsdale Arizona Age: 47 Posts: 395 Thanks: 43 Thanked 31 Times in 14 Posts	same for both quwstions...the great basin!! __________________ Mark 3 X Past AHA President hopper187@aol.com

03-07-2010, 11:53 AM	#22
MikeB AHA Current Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Coolidge, AZ Posts: 922 Thanks: 123 Thanked 373 Times in 132 Posts	Without a doubt it is adamanteus. I love AZ buzztails, but this is truly the king. __________________ Mike barker "There is no sanctuary" --Logan 5

03-07-2010, 11:58 AM	#23
leosweeny Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 131 Thanks: 432 Thanked 16 Times in 14 Posts	Favorite to find in the wild Klauberi. Favorite I ever kept it is a tossup between my Durrisus and a completely black Helleri I used to be able to free handle the Heller, and the Durrisus where so wild they would fly out of there cages like coiled springs totally bad ass snakes and they were over 6'! That would always get my heart going!

03-07-2010, 11:59 AM	#24
sjfriend AHA Current Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Anchor Point Alaska Age: 44 Posts: 107 Thanks: 26 Thanked 92 Times in 26 Posts	Fav in field: which ever one I'm looking at / photographing. Haven't found them all yet so can't be objective. Fav sofar, a beautiful C. lutosus (great basin). Only one ever kept was a C. oreganus (northern pacific) and I wouldn't recommend it(I was young and dumb)! Plus, never a good idea to try and hide it from your mom.

03-08-2010, 04:16 PM	#26
Uncloudy AHA Current Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Yuma, Arizona in Foothills Age: 37 Posts: 745 Thanks: 185 Thanked 174 Times in 83 Posts	1) speckled rattlesnakes due to the variation of natural color morphs and camoflauge 2) I've kept roadkill buzztails in my freezer to kill pathogens then recycled them as frozen/thawed food for my calkings (maybe not a popular answer in this thread) __________________ "No problem can be solved from the same consciousness that created it. We must learn to see the world anew." -Albert Einstein

03-08-2010, 05:02 PM	#27
Mike M. Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Tempe, AZ Posts: 116 Thanks: 4 Thanked 30 Times in 17 Posts	Leptards? That was hilarious, Rich.

03-09-2010, 05:43 PM	#28
feflicker AHA Current Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Tempe, AZ Posts: 403 Thanks: 169 Thanked 148 Times in 93 Posts	Wild: Mojave. Gotta love a snake that jumps off the ground at you from 10' away. Never a dull moment. Although, I might change my mind if I find my Tiger this season. Captive: Cerastes. Amazing snakes. Mild mannered, perfect size, gorgeous. __________________ Looking to adopt: 1.1 C. Tigris, 0.1 C. Molossus, 0.1 C.Mitchelli

03-10-2010, 07:08 AM	#29
azatrox Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Phoenix Age: 34 Posts: 814 Thanks: 535 Thanked 902 Times in 316 Posts	feflicker... If you enjoy snakes that will launch themselves at you at 100 mph, then you need to make your way down to Mexico and play with some Bothrops atrox...I promise those will make our scutes look like kittens! LOL -Kris

03-10-2010, 07:30 AM	#30
C. willardi AHA Current Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Glendale, AZ Age: 22 Posts: 407 Thanks: 9 Thanked 183 Times in 59 Posts	Kris means Bothrops asper, and yes they are very aggressive! __________________ -Aaron Mills

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