Care Sheet for Bull, Pine, and Gopher SnakesAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 4.67 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 03/04/2006 |
Main Category: | Snakes |
Sub Category: | Bull, Pine, and Gopher Snakes |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | Eatinmachine |
Years Experience: | 5 to 10 Years |
Species: | San diego gopher snake |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | Other gopher snakes or bull snakes may have similar care but not the same. |
Sexing and Characteristics: | Have them sexed by a professional or vet. |
Mostly Active During: | N/A |
Substrate and Water Needs: | I have used aspen, carefresh and newspaper, and paper towel. Aspen and carefresh are the most eye pleasing, but are not as easy to clean. Newspaper has been the easiest, as paper towel would somehow be put into the water bowl and the whole cage would become wet. DO NOT USE CEDAR, and many pines are not good either. Provide them with a water dish on the cooler side big enough to soak in. |
Lighting and UVB: | I light my reptile rack with one light, but a work light would work. I don’t believe snakes need U.V but some say they do. It is up to you. |
Temperatures and Humidity: | Warm areas are good at around 88 or around there and cool areas are good at 73 to 82. Humidity is not a issue with this animals although if shedding a humid hide may help but is not necessary. |
Heating and Equipment: | Heat pads work well. I use rope light as I have many animals. Flexwatt may work if you have more animals. |
Caging Provided: | I have a small adult and have him in a 31 quart Rubbermaid container. Babies can be kept in shoeboxes, or 10 gallons and moved up in size. Move the size of the cage up as the snake grows. A good rule of thumb is to have the snake’s cage width and length added together be close to equal with the snakes length. |
Diet: | Carnivorous |
Description of Diet: | San Diego gopher snakes can be kept on a diet of appropriately sized mice. Some larger adults may be able to take rats. It is good to feed babies about every 5 days, juveniles every 6 days and small adults every 7 days and adults every 7-10 days. |
Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | I don’t believe supplements are needed if fed mice and rats. |
Maintenance: | Clean the cage as needed spot clean the aspen and carefresh or other chips when soiled. Change paper towel, newspaper and the like when soiled. Change water weekly or when soiled. |
Some Words on this Species: | Babies may be defensive, but will grow out of it with gentle handling. A main way to stop the nippiness is to not put them back when they bite, continue to hold them. They will then realize that biting doesn’t help them out. Sand Diego Gopher snakes are easy to keep and are one of the smallest gopher and bull snakes. Continue research don’t use this sheet as your only information. |
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