Hi. I would go with a 10 or 20 gallon tank for a young one(a 20 long would be great for a long time). Use either undertank heat or a heat lamp on one end to give a basking end of at least high 80's, low to mid 90's is better, but make sure the other end stays at or near room temp. put a small water dish on the cool end. put at least 2 small hides, one on the cool end, one on the warm. Better yet, arrange several hiding spots in such a way that the snake can be hidden in small, secure hides at a variety of temperatures inside the cage. You can make them out of cut up soda boxes if you want to save cash.

Racers are active by day, so if not using a heat lamp, make sure it gets enough light to make it want to be active- but dont let sunlight hit the cage directly or you might cook him.

Aspen bedding or fir bark (like repti bark) or paper towels.

Snakes such as racers are very nervous, so good hides are very important, especially at first. Snakes feel more secure in hides tha are just big enough for them to fit under, both in height and width.

In my opinion, a young racer would be best started on crickets, and then after it gets good at taking them, try the occasional live pinky. Once it takes pinkies, crickets arent needed.

If it wont take pinkies, then either treefrogs or small lizards should work, although there is a higher chance of picking up internalparasites, so I would rather scent a pinky with a frog or lizard. Rinse the pinky off under warm water. Dry with a paper towel. Make sure your hands are clean too. Then thoroughly rub the pinky on either a tree frog or a lizard(under the back legs of a male lizard is best- on the scent glands/pores). Offer it to the snake.

Again, since it is a nervous snake, put it in a low traffic part of your house and leave it alone almost completely until it eats regularly. Until then, no handling.

Dont leave a bunch of crickets in with it for too long, they can hurt the snake. Put a chuck of carrot or potato in the corner of the cage for the crickets to eat, so they wont bother the snake.

My racer now eats any type of rodent, dead or alive, right from tongs. Just takes time to get them there.

Racers need more frequent meals than most snakes. A good meal(a rodent or a bunch of crickets) every 5 days would be a good schedule on average, but at least once a week.

Hope this helps.

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