Loren's snakes... (and such)

[infernalis]

My favorite 2......





They are brilliant.

[Loren]

I did enjoy, Loren! Fantastic photos, fantastic animals!
My favourite... Western Coachwhip.

Yes, I have searched for one for a few years- supposed to be common in the areas I go. Wanted one so bad, I was always rehearsing in my head how to run them down so I'd be ready...
Finally had one given to me by a friend. I will catch one one day- though I will just keep its photo since I have one now.

They are very interesting to handle. A little bit intimidating when it rises up from your hands and looks you in the eye, as if to say- "I might go crazy on you any minute now". Haha.

[drache]

you have a fine cali collection, Loren
my favourites garters are the Sierra and the red northwestern
of the others, it's the coachwhip, the yellow belly racer, and the patchnose
is that patchnose difficult to keep?

[reptile3]

Loren, awesome snakes... you take some fantastic pictures!!

[Loren]

Rhea, I have not had much previous information on captive care of patchnose snakes, but mine in particular took to rodents(mice or rats, thawed or live) right from the beginning. It has been a great captive. I try to feed it more often than most snakes, similar to how I care for my racers and coachwhip. It is however, one of those snakes that does best left alone, and when offered food while it is in its hidebox.
It has actually kept eating right through winter. Very interesting to handle, as it is super laid back- almost limp- but just waiting for the opportunity to blast off into disappearance. It did take a shot at me the other day, but did not actually bite.

[ssssnakeluvr]

how easy to keep are the ground snakes.....love them, so many colors and patterns!!!

[count dewclaw]

Beautiful snakes. The infernalis is still my favorite.

[Loren]

how easy to keep are the ground snakes.....love them, so many colors and patterns!!!

This is my first Ground Snake. I caught him in July of 2007. He has been a good captive as well. Fom my experience, they do well as long as they have a good warm spot in the cage, and I have been told they should have a humid hide, so I do provide him one, and he does use it from time to time. I feed him crickets, and to make his life easy, I pinch the jumper legs off them first. I feed about 4 half-grown crickets at a time, every 5 days or so I suppose.
He sheds often. I added a strip of melamine with 1/4" holes through the side to help him shed- he uses it every time.
I keep him on desert sand, with a large flat cardboard hide.


Actually, out of all the pics I posted in that group- only 2 do not take rodents as their staple diet; the ground snake and the shovel nose. They both eat crickets.

[ssssnakeluvr]

cool!!! hopefuly I can get down to southern Utah this summer and find few!!!!

[Loren]

Yeah, I can have 2 grounds snakes, I really want to find a striped one too. I know aproximately what area I want to find one too- but its the only thing high on my list in that area, so thats a lot of driving to probably not even find one.
My next trip will hopefully be to coastal So Cal. Havent been herping there yet.