Care Sheet for Venomous SnakesAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 4.69 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 11/01/2004 |
Main Category: | Snakes |
Sub Category: | Venomous Snakes |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | Bush_viper87 |
Years Experience: | 5 to 10 Years |
Species: | Eastern diamondback rattlesnake(Crotalus adamenteus) |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | N/A |
Sexing and Characteristics: | As with most snakes, male snakes tails tend to be longer and have a bulge at the base of the tail which is caused by the hemipenes or the male sex organs. |
Mostly Active During: | Day |
Substrate and Water Needs: | I always use cypress mulch for my animals because it retains moisture and helps keep humidity up. NEVER USE CEDAR CHIPS OR PINE SHAVINGS.BECAUSE THEY CAN KILL YOU REPTILE. Keep a large water bowl in cage at all times and make sure to provide fresh clean water at all times. Change water weekly. Also clean water if the snake defecates in it. Provide a large enough water bowl where the snake can soak if he pleases, but make it accessible. |
Lighting and UVB: | Try to mimic the natural day and night time lengths. Ask local pet store which lights are best to use or ask people on the internet. |
Temperatures and Humidity: | Keep temperature about 85 degrees F in daytime and about 75 at night. Mist cage daily to provide good humidity. |
Heating and Equipment: | It is best to use a heat light source as well as an under tank heater in the basking spot.Both can be purchased at pet stores |
Caging Provided: | Eastern Diamondback rattlesnakes are the longest and largest rattlesnake species in the world sometimes reaching 8 feet plus. So be prepared to buy a big cage. to start out with I use a 55 gallon for snakes 3 feet and under. When the get bigger I move up to a 75 gallon or somewhere in that range. Just keep the cage big enough for the snake to completely stretch out and turn and move about easily. In the cage I place a hollow log in the cool zone for hiding. |
Diet: | Carnivorous |
Description of Diet: | The diamondback is notorious for not taking the usual rats and mice that other snakes readily take. The only thing my diamondback takes is Hamsters and Gerbils. Ive also heard the take rabbits. |
Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | |
Maintenance: | N/A |
Some Words on this Species: | The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is from the coastal plains region of the South Eastern United States. The temperature there is hot in the summer and early fall and remains fairly warm in late fall through winter. The diamondback likes to live in the longleaf pine ecosystem,around dense palmettos and other vegetation,.It spends a lot of time under ground in stump hole and in gopher tortoise burrows(Gopherus polyphemus) It is an ambush hunter which sits in wait for prey to come within strike range and strikes with its powerful venom. The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is one of the most dangerous snakes in the US because of its cryptic appearance,its large size which enables it to have large venom glands,and the mixture of both hemo and neuro toxins. This snake is under no circumstances recommended to amateurs. Also ask around for other tips on this species,but this covers most of it. |
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