hello, thats kinda difficult, as they occur in a range of habitats and a greater range of mirco habitats. In this case, mirco habitats are where they actually choose to live and reproduce in a larger habitat.

In the states, Pyros are mid to high elevation. That is, aprox 3500' to aprox 10,000ft. They are predominately a grassland(most likely the original habitat, like milksnakes) to oak woodlawn association. of course, habitats and life zones are not cut and dry.

They are considered mesic by people(we like to walk along creeks) but are actually xeric by choice. Their colonies and nesting areas are away from water. Yes individuals can be along creeks.

Pyros are predominately saxicolis, that is, they shelter in rock crevices, and in trees, above the ground, but they also shelter and nest in rock crevices and tree hollows below the ground. They can also be subterranean and live the vast majority of their lifes in the ground.

In most cases they live in dense colonies with many females and many males. Remember, all animals that live in colonies have parts of the population that are solitary. In this case, we shall say, those in colonies represent resident animals, those that are solitary represent transient animals. In most cases, residents are strong healthy fat and very consistant, and are home bodies. Transients are normally subadult males, skinny, full of parasites and often beat up. These are very picky feeders in captivity and make poor captives.

Because of the way we hunt these snakes, transient animals are the majority of what is collected.

Now about your question, I think you want to know how to decorate the cage. Is that true? Well heres the problem. Each population or mountain range has its own unique "pyros". They can be as different as different species. If you have some that are rock outcrop specialists, they would work great in a cage set up that way. Or you could have tree specialists or subterranean specialists. Or any combination of those(they are not limited to those three)

The actual point is, in nature they specialize in microhabitat to achieve their base needs, as in, its works there so they do it. The interesting concept is, their base needs are consistant with all pyros, and most colubrids.

That is, when they hatch, they do not have a genetic memory of how to find their base needs. I think they follow scent trails of their parents or other adult pyros, which leads them to the places that support their needs. Like summer shelters, feeding grounds, water, wintering shelters, nesting areas, etc etc.

So if its your case on how to decorate their cages, offer materials they understand, rocks, hollow limbs, leaf litter, holes and crevices underground and above. And let them teach you whats in your cage. Good luck and have fun. Cheers

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