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Crotalus Oreganus Helleri
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by Jahon on May 9, 2008
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I have a question about southern pacific rattlesnakes. Just how big do they really get? Now I've looked up many information sheets on these snakes and they all have different size limits ranging up to even 5 1/2 feet, which I have a hard time believing. I recently caught the biggest one I have personally seen, which is about 3 1/2 feet and he is feeding like a pig on large rats. Another reason why I have a hard time believing people that say they have seen or caught 5 foot and above specimens is because naturally red diamondbacks are bigger, and the biggest ruber on record was just above 5.3 feet. So my question for you guys is what is the biggest helleri you have ever seen or caught?
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RE: Crotalus Oreganus Helleri
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by 23bms on May 9, 2008
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I caught a neonate about 7 years ago that is now around 3.5 feet. I don't "power feed" and it tends to go off feed for a few months in winter so it may be fairly representative of wild specimens that have managed to eat fairly regularly. It hasn't grown noticeably in the last couple years. The largest I've seen in the wild was a bit under 3 feet.
jrb
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RE: Crotalus Oreganus Helleri
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by jared on May 9, 2008
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Many of the old records of varing ssp say they reach around 5ft, but even the biggest C.v.virdus I have seen was less than 4 ft. I believe the "prairie" is the biggest of the ssp, and most lutosus, helleri, oreganus, abyssus, concolor etc were significantly smaller (nice adults are in the 2 to 3 ft range). Hope it helps,
Jared
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RE: Crotalus Oreganus Helleri
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by 23bms on May 9, 2008
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I think the old accounts refer to a place and time that is long gone. Not that they are wrong, just that, given the human population pressures that exist now, the mega-sized specimens are a thing of the past. I saw a 4'6" C. v. viridis in NE NM back in the 60's. Chance of finding one now? Nil to none.
In the regions I haunt in NE PA, a timber over 48" is a MAJOR EVENT. A Copper over 24"? Forget it.
There are 6.6 BILLION people on earth now. That's about 6 BILLION too many. Something has to give.
Sorry for the pessimism.
jrb
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RE: Crotalus Oreganus Helleri
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by imyourfriend on May 11, 2008
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Adults 30 - 44 inches long. Newborns about 10 inches long
my friend ed told me he saw one about 5 feet once.
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