I breed both radiated and trinkets. I agree with everything Allen said about radiata...they are very feisty and showy as juvies but my adults handle fine and never bite.

They are large and active snakes though and do require some spacious enclosures as they grow with sufficient hides or you will be challenged with nose rubbing.

I found my hatchling radiata to start well enough on rodents but usually only live and take a while to get on to frozen thawed.

Helena hatchlings are much smaller than radiata but from my experience they are much more willing to take FT pinks right from the start.

Both species are easy enough to breed and once they begin breeding, they are egg laying machines - double and even triple clutching.

Egg husbandry - for me, has been more challenging with radiata than helena. I have yet to have 100% hatch rate with radiata eggs but do so every time with helena. One interesting thing about hatchling trinkets (from my experience) is they are very quick to exit the eggs. I usually don;t even see them pip as they seem to exit very quickly after they do.

In general I would say you can hardly find a more simple species to keep and breed than helena. Radiata, while still relatively easy, do require a little more effort due to their size and highly active nature.

Personally - I like them both but I have a preference for radiata. I should say that I also keep Red tail green rats and Hundred Flower rats (moellendorffi) so I guess I do show some favoritism towards the large Asian rats

[ Show Entire Thread ]