Crotalus adamanteus (Eastern Diamondbacks)

[ada-man-teus]

Just a few pics of some Eastern Diamondbacks I am working with. All of these in the pics are local to my area. Easterns are a personal favorite. I have worked with them for years. After a brief break from herps all together, I have gotten back into it and focusing on Crotalids and primarily the adamanteus. I have seen hundreds in my lifetime and must say the natural locale varitaions have always peeked my interest. The variances range from super high contrast specimans, low contrast light phased individuals, almost black "melanistic" phase. The pattern can also vary. Some old timers refer to certain specimans as "heartback" due to the diamond pattern resembling the heart shape. I look at every one I see as unique, because no two are exactly the same. Here are a few examples of the specimans in my area. The ones I see in this area have some smoking colors. Very nice contrast with an array of colors splashed throughout. I would love to offer a better description, but I am color blind aka color deficient and don't see things in the same light as most other human beings...so you insight and thoughts are greatly appreciated. thanks

this pic is a great example of high contrast. This female has been paired with another high contrast male. Her pattern is also very aberrant.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8228/8374983172_cda5c4cd93.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/78653532@N06/8374983172/)

the pic below is the of her and the male she is paired with. He is 60" in length and quite the looker himself.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8358/8373719527_6a9c160635.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/78653532@N06/8373719527/)

here is a pic of a large Male I was able to remove from someones property and relocate nearby on protected lands.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8215/8318407819_3c1745283f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/78653532@N06/8318407819/)

the pic below is of a a pair of 2011 offspring. Another great example of the high contrast individuals.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8222/8305603120_61fcdc27f5.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/78653532@N06/8305603120/)

Below is a 2012 neonate female. A solid pattern and great color.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8212/8302558492_f3c53bd0bb.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/78653532@N06/8302558492/)

Below is a south Ga. female I was given to try and rehab. This snake was so emaciated I consider euthanizing her. After some TLC she has come a long way. She is a little different from the others above.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8073/8301435915_59a99449ac.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/78653532@N06/8301435915/)

Another high contrast male

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8078/8299066378_37b7930468.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/78653532@N06/8299066378/)

below is a 2011 male This snake was found one county over floating several hundred yards offshore in the middle of a lake surrounded by jet skis and boats. The paddle was raised to kill when a friend swooped him in and saved the day. I dont know how to describe it other than low contrast color variance..being color blind stinks!!

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8077/8298014847_133afd1660.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/78653532@N06/8298014847/)

[ada-man-teus]

This is another one of my adult females. She is one of 3 I currently keep from South Ga. She will be paired with a male from the exact area as soon as he is mature this next year. She is darker in comparison to others but a looker none the less.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8477/8272786465_6bf706a333.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/78653532@N06/8272786465/)

below is the male that will be paired to the above female as soon as he gets a several more rattles and a few dozen more rodents in his belly. But he is South Ga. and a very dark phased speciman...

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7236/7161338981_a580ea07e2.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/78653532@N06/7161338981/)

below is another shot of the male above with a high contrast gulf coast male.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8009/7161330517_fd56d00446.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/78653532@N06/7161330517/)

a nice shot of a young gulf coast female cruising the sandy road

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8076/8302504882_6d83d3e01b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/78653532@N06/8302504882/)

this is one of 2 adult male breeders he is also in the first pics with the adult female
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8492/8319469956_125276ee2f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/78653532@N06/8319469956/)

below is a pair that was paired together this past spring...time will tell if it was successful.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8081/8375107340_8f24ae119d.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/78653532@N06/8375107340/)

[MDT]

very very nice. the contrast on these are insane.

[RandyRhoads]

Beautiful snakes!

What kind of camera did you use for these pictures? I can never get them in focus close up.

[ada-man-teus]

thanks...The camera used was a Nikon D5100...LOVE IT...

[RandyRhoads]

Guess if I want decent pictures i'm just going to have to break down and get an SLR... I just hate having 6 different cameras all with there own purpose...

[Roadtrash]

Great pictures of some of my favorite snakes. I know how you feel about the color blind problem. I see colors but I don't see them like other people do. Can't match a tie with a shirt I have to get someone to do it for me.

[ada-man-teus]

I think to get to that next level in photographs you need to invest in SLR technology. Dont get me wrong ive seen great pics with less expensive cameras, but man the NIKON D5100 is awesome.

RT I am color deficient almos across te board. I failed the colorblindness test miserabley..lol...regardless eastern dbacks are next to some bitis the best looking vipers IMO

[limey]

Really beautiful. You take great pictures too, might I add.

Ever read a book called "Rattlesnakes: Portrait of a Predator" by Manny Rubio? That is one of the greatest books I own and has some absolutely staggering photos and info in it. Would highly recommend it.

[RobsCornField]

Gorgeous gorgeous animals!

[limey]

The female neonate with the yellowish colouration was my fave pic of the lot. It almost reminds me of an AZ blacktail with that yellow... obviosuly missing some key indicators of an AZ like the black mask though...

[jarich]

Guess if I want decent pictures i'm just going to have to break down and get an SLR... I just hate having 6 different cameras all with there own purpose...

Get a Canon or a Nikon DSLR and youll never need the other cameras (different lenses maybe, but not different cameras). The video on the Canon 5D is amazing as well as the picture quality. Ive never used Nikon much but Im sure its comparable.

[MoreliAddict]

Beautiful snakes.

I'd be too scared lol. I know they don't take off, but their strike is fast..

[Will0W783]

They are breathtaking! I adore EDBs...the size and colors are just so impressive. How are their temperaments compared to WDB and ruber?

[ada-man-teus]

The easterns are more docile than the westerns. As far as rubers, I dont have a lot of experience with rubers, but the one yearling I currently have is one of the calmest crotalids in my room. I have a few WC adult easterns and of the adults, 1 male has been feisty from the get go and never calmed down. The other male and females have all taken to captivity well. The male eats well but is very easily disturbed. This can create problems long term, but if they stress easily, I try to avoid the things that stresses them. His temperment can be problem when feeding, but I can get him to eat, it just takes a little more effort and a few tricks. The yearlings when raised to adults are very docile. Easterns do well in captivity IMO and every neonate and yearling I've ever had skarfs down rodents readily and frozen thawed is no problem. You may just need to provoke a strike the first few feedings. The atrox I keep is a little feisty, but I wouldnt consider her temperment bad . I must say though I have a eastern x western cross and i'm considering naming him Lucifer. He is super aggressive and I had to black out his enclosure due to the fact a mosquito in the room gets him all worked up. Although feeding is never a problem.

[Crotalid]

Really nice!

I want an adamanteus so much, hopefully will get my hands on one or two later this year. The pictures you have posted are of exceptionally pretty specimens it has to be said.

[ada-man-teus]

too bad you arent close..Im expecting a baby to the family in september and looking to downsize the collection....Got 4.4 I need to move...The adamanteus are awesome and a must for any crotalid collection...The proposal to list the species as threatened is sitting on the desk of the USFWS. It will be years Im sure before anything is final, but Id guess the proposal will be accepted, because the research submitted by leading biologists speaks for itself and is hard to negate. That being said a listing would make exportation and dealings with the species next to impossible...

[Crotalid]

too bad you arent close..Im expecting a baby to the family in september and looking to downsize the collection....Got 4.4 I need to move...The adamanteus are awesome and a must for any crotalid collection...The proposal to list the species as threatened is sitting on the desk of the USFWS. It will be years Im sure before anything is final, but Id guess the proposal will be accepted, because the research submitted by leading biologists speaks for itself and is hard to negate. That being said a listing would make exportation and dealings with the species next to impossible...

Ah you're on venomland too right?

Yeah it's looking that way. Thankfully there are quite a few about in Europe. My friend has a pair that have locked up so hopefully they drop.

They aren't as popular to keep as other rattlers, I'm guessing due to their size. But i think they're one of the best looking rattlesnakes, is not the best!

[ada-man-teus]

Yeah I am on venom land....My names chance...Yeah not sure why they arent as popular...but Id guess the size would have to be the reason...They are voracious feeders...LTC specimans are super docile and a breeze to work with. Their colors vary greatly as well from area to area and even within the same area..

[ada-man-teus]

is that pic you posted earlier Trimersusurus albolabris?

[Crotalid]

Yeah I am on venom land....My names chance...Yeah not sure why they arent as popular...but Id guess the size would have to be the reason...They are voracious feeders...LTC specimans are super docile and a breeze to work with. Their colors vary greatly as well from area to area and even within the same area..

is that pic you posted earlier Trimersusurus albolabris?

Ah i thought i'd seen those pics before. Everyone always seems to want atrox as their first rattlesnake, even when easterns look so much better than your average atrox (There are some very nice ones, pinky/sand coloured ones).

Indeed.