>>Toby, you have described some things we have learned over time and by comparing notes which I pretty much agree with. My oldest, biggest green rat (triaspis) is being kept in a room with temps that vary from the high 50's to high 60's each day. She is in a generally dry terrarium with a humid hide (box). The ambient humidity in the room is generally 45 to 55%. She uses the humid hide about half of the time with the rest of the time hiding in or under objects in the cage. I think she's doing quite well this winter without feeding. The males are all doing well too with similar conditions.
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>>I just think the Asians come from climates that are very humid, at least in summer. Triaspis is in a dry climate, but can move into humid microhabitats when it needs humidity the most. The Asians have a hard time getting away from the humidity, so may have more tolerance for it, imho. But this is just an educated guesstimate.
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>>How are the Rhyncophis doing for you? How big are they getting? Do they handle like corns?
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>>TC
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>>>>Thanks Terry - As you know, I live in a very humid climate (Gulf Coast) and these snakes have done quite well for me - considering. Of course, my central a/c dries the air somewhat, but it is over 50% in the house even when the a/c runs all day, in the summer. I think very good ventilation is key, plus a himid / moist hide. Even in humid, coastal south Texas, this species will dessicate and begin having shedding problems if they are not provided with a moist hide - I know from experience, after allowing one's moist hide to dry out when it was in a shed cycle. So - I would kind of liken them to being very similar in (general) needs to those Asian green rats - except with a drier substrate, and more ventilation - but still with a very moist hide. That said though, I am sure they do well in dry climates too - with the provisions I mentioned...
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>>>>I know this is not exactly what you were talking about - but just thought I'd throw it out there. I am sure you are right about Senticolis most likely doing better (in a dry climate) than those green Asians...
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>>>>Now, as far as handling - I would somewhat retract my promotion of Senticolis (generally not very fond of being handled), and would suggest Rhynchophis. Rhinos are very peaceful and handleable snakes - which is also in contrast to the other green Asians...
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>>>>-Toby Brock
>>>>Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research
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>>

Terry,

My adult w/c Santa Ritas greens are brumating at basically the same temps you mentioned - with a warm spot in the back of the tub from heat tape. They have mostly stayed in the middle of their tubs, between warm and cool ends - about mid 60's average I'd say, throughout brumation. However (and interestingly IMO) today when I checked in on them in room temps of 59 - 61 F, the male was out wandering around his tub!

I would tend to agree with you regarding the high humidity that the green Asians live in - as opposed to the general dryness of the sky islands of southeastern Arizona.

My pair of Rhyncophis boulengeri handle even smoother than most corns I've had. It seems as if they consider my hands to be branches - mostly just hang out when picked up. Both have bitten / struck at me a time or two - but only half-heartedly, and settle down to very calm almost immediately. They just seem to regard people / hands as no threat. They are summer 2010 snakes, and I'd say they are about the size / girth-wise of 1.5 year old corns. I cooled my male for 1.5 months but kept the female warm and feeding throughout the winter. I did this because the female was a bit small-ish going into winter (due to my having to force-feed her for a long time / getting her feeding well on her own, etc.) whereas the male was large and beefy - and males are larger in this species according the Rob Stone. So - I am trying to give my female a head start on the male, if he is going to end up bigger then her...
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-Toby Brock
Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research

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