| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
JStroud
Site Moderator
Joined: 10 Dec 2004
Posts: 4095
Location: Bucks
|
 Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 2:26 pm Post subject: Two Head Albino Ratsnake For Sale |
 |
|
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4577258.stm
| Quote: | A rare two-headed albino rat snake is being auctioned on eBay for $150,000 (£87,000) by an American aquarium.
The World Aquarium in St Louis has been home to the unique reptile, named "We", for the past six years.
Aquarium president Leonard Sonnenschein said he expects the snake to generate the same level of demand as a priceless work of art.
We is being sold to pay for education, conservation and research programmes.
The aquarium purchased the snake for $15,000 (£8,700) when it was six-and-a-half years old, despite knowing that most two-headed snakes do not live for more than a few months.
"It's an amazing snake," Mr Sonnenschein told the Associated Press news agency. "When people see it they are awe-struck."
Stolen
The snake is a healthy size for a rat snake, at 2.5cm (one inch) thick and 1.2m (four feet) long.
It is currently at the prime age for breeding and is expected to live for another 10 to 15 years.
It has survived for so long because both heads are connected to the same stomach, Mr Sonnenschein added.
We was almost sold in 2004, after it was stolen by a city museum worker. Fortunately, authorities found the snake in the man's garage at his home in Illinois.
Mr Sonnenschein said the man was intending to sell it.
"The thing is, it's the only one in the world."
|
[/url]
_________________
Regards James Stroud
Last edited by JStroud on Tue Jan 03, 2006 2:34 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Jamesg
Contributing Member
Joined: 17 Oct 2005
Posts: 116
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 2:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I hope to god they dont try to breed it. Beautiful and interesting though it is, I just feel it would be morally wrong.
_________________
3.7.3 Stuff! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Scott W
Site Admin
Joined: 15 Apr 2004
Posts: 13355
Location: London, England.
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 3:40 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I had a friend who produced a two headed hognose, raised it to adult size and had it a few years, then it died after choking on substrate.
He never tried selling it, I don't think he realised how much money someone would of paid (my guess would of been over £15K, this was 10 years ago). I believe he still has the frozen body.
_________________
Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
goldenburm
Captivebred Colonel
Joined: 12 Sep 2005
Posts: 2109
Location: Chatteris, Cambs
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 3:45 pm Post subject: |
|
|
i think baz has had some 2 headed deformities in the past!
_________________
1.0 striped supersalmon DEAD
0.1 salmon poss TH moonglow DEAD
0.1 Orangasm DH ghost DEAD
1.0 pastel motley DEAD
2.0 sunglows 1.0 LIVING
1.1 pastel het snow 0.1 LIVING
2.2 albino boas DEAD
0.2 albino ara's DEAD
0.4 boa constrictors 0.2 LIVING |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Kris13
I've settled in...
Joined: 16 Oct 2005
Posts: 40
Location: Mirfield, West Yorkshire
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 4:09 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Jan Grathwohl had a 2 headed Milk snake I believe, He posted about it on GW
_________________
Kris: T'idiot of the year |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Scott W
Site Admin
Joined: 15 Apr 2004
Posts: 13355
Location: London, England.
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 4:19 pm Post subject: |
|
|
many are found in eggs each year, but hardly any survive hatching and then those that do normally die shortly after.
I only know of a 2 in the UK that made it to adult size, the two headed Hog Nose and Luke Yeomans 2 headed Honduran milksnake.
_________________
Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Kris13
I've settled in...
Joined: 16 Oct 2005
Posts: 40
Location: Mirfield, West Yorkshire
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
RoyalCrazy
CaptiveBred Addict!
Joined: 03 Sep 2005
Posts: 944
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Jamesg wrote: | | I hope to god they dont try to breed it. Beautiful and interesting though it is, I just feel it would be morally wrong. |
Their not genetic are they??? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Kris13
I've settled in...
Joined: 16 Oct 2005
Posts: 40
Location: Mirfield, West Yorkshire
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 8:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
No.
| Quote: |
Seems you got some intersting information. As far as i've read about this, specimens eating by themselves often live very long lives (i know of specimens reaching 20 years+). The course is NOT inbreeding, but an embryo trying to develop into twins, and then something happens which changes this development and bind the two sets together.. just like in siamese twins in humans and other species. |
There's another quote somewhere, Ill try finding you it.
_________________
Kris: T'idiot of the year |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Kris13
I've settled in...
Joined: 16 Oct 2005
Posts: 40
Location: Mirfield, West Yorkshire
|
| Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 9:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
http://www.geckoworld.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4112
Some good photos on here too.
| Quote: | Its not genetic (fortunately), i know that breeding attemps with dicephalic specimens has given only normal juveniles, just like breeding with other siamese twins among animals.
Its kind of a genetic lapsus during the development, maybe even before the egg was laid by the female.
|
Unfortunatley, the snake died.
_________________
Kris: T'idiot of the year |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
