Western
New York Herpetological Society
www.wnyherp.org
© 2001
- 2003 by Western New York Herpetological Society
This
document is for guidance only and should not be used as the sole source of
information. New information is being developed daily. It is recommended that a
concerted effort be made to maintain up-to-date knowledge of the animals of
interest.
Common
Name:
Gopher Snake, Pine
Snake, Bull Snake
Latin
Name:
Pituophis catenifer, Pituophis melanoleucus ,Pituophis sayi
Native
to:
Gopher Snakes (P.
catenifer) are from the western United States and can be found as far north
as Canada and extend as far south as Baja, Mexico. Pine snakes (P. melanoleucus) are generally found
throughout the southeastern portion of the United States and as far north as
New Jersey. Bull Snakes
(P. sayi)
are found throughout the central United States and can be found as far north as
Canada and as far south as Mexico.
Size:
All members of the genus Pituophis are the some of the
largest colubrids found in the United States
and will often range is size from six to eight feet
in length.
General
appearance:
All three species listed above are large bodied
snakes with similar markings and slightly keeled dorsal scales. These snakes
have a background color that ranges from reddish orange to tan to yellow with
dark blotches on the back.
Housing
requirements:
Enclosure:
A 20-gallon or larger aquarium with a secure top is
needed at the very least for these snakes. Larger specimens may require a
larger enclosure.
Temperature:
A temperature gradient of 75° – 85° F should be
setup for these snakes. Temperatures may be allowed to fall closer to 75° F at
night.
Heat/Light:
Under the tank heaters, red heat bulbs, ceramic
emitters, or basking bulbs can all be used to provide enough heat for these
snakes. We do not recommend hot rocks since these often malfunction and can
cause serious burn injuries to your pet. By using a timer and a basking bulb
you can easily achieve warmer day time temperatures as well as a photoperiod
for your pet. It has still not been proven that snakes require any source of UV
light and will generally do well without it.
Substrate:
Many of these species like to burrow so providing
substrate such as potting soil, aspen shavings, sypress mulch or ground coconut
fibers can provide excellent substrates which also allow for burrowing. You can
also use newspaper or indoor/outdoor carpeting as well.
Environment:
As mentioned above these snakes will often take
advantage of substrates which allow them to burrow. They will also occasionally
climb trees, so if cage space allows for branches you will often find your
snakes taking advantage of the higher space. It is important to provide a hide
box or enough rocks to allow the snake to feel secure and out of view.
Diet:
Like most other snakes, members of Pituophis thrive
on rodents. We recommend pre-killed frozen
prey since it will help eliminate possible injury to
the snake from the prey animal as well as kill most parasites. Meal sizes
should be proportionate to the size of the snake. Hatchlings can be started on
pinkies. All snakes can generally be fed once every seven to 10 days.
Maintenance:
Fresh water should be offered daily. Spot clean as
needed if using newsprint or wood shavings. The enclosure should also be
disinfected periodically. A 5% bleach solution makes an excellent disinfectant.
Be sure to rinse the enclosure thoroughly after disinfecting. As always, be sure
to wash your hands thoroughly after handling your snake or any cage
accessories.
Other
references or recommended reading:
Kaplan,
Melissa. “Gopher Snakes” Updated 8/17/2003. Retrieved 05/27/2003.
<http://www.anapsid.org/gopher.html>
“Pine/Bull/Gopher
Snake” Long Island Herpetological Society. Retrieved 05/27/2003.
<http://www.lihs.org/files/caresheets/sheet9.html>
Talltree,
Claire. “Sonoran Gopher Snakes” Talltree Aviary & Exotics. Retrieved
05/27/2003.
<http://www.talltree.net/herps/sonoranfacts.html>
“Pine,
Bull and Gopher Snakes” New England Herpetological Society. Retrieved
05/27/2003.
<http://www.neherp.com/bullsnake.html>