>>Great looking Diones.I almost grabbed a pair a few months back at a reptile show.Im kicking myself in the azz now.



Thanks, Paul.

I'm curious though, about someone getting babies last summer, or are you referring to adults? Mine are "locality" and I've only sold babies to a few others. The 2001, CB, F-1 gen. are coming ready to breed this year, 2005. Most Korean dione are the northern form which is much like the Russian dione. I don't know of anyone else that has original South Koreans, or any that were imported. I would appreciate any info along these lines.



>>I have some newbi questions.

>>Temps?



These are very hardy snakes, diurnal, and will do well at most temps, except very high temps. I usually keep mine at room temp, 72-80*F, and sometimes use an overhead lamp on one end of the tank, especially in spring when temps are a little cooler in the Herp Room, and the snakes are digesting more.



>>Feed schedules?



I adjust according to size, age, time of year, etc, but basically they eat the appropriate size mouse or two, about once a week. They might overeat, if you let them, so I watch their body size and weight. If they are getting too plump I cut back. They'll eat thawed, live, mouse, rats, etc. Full grown snakes can eat an adult mouse, although I usually use adolescents.



>>Any problems with regurges?



Never.



>>Any feeding problems at all?



The last clutch I worked with, in 2002, had fifteen of sixteen that hatched. I had one baby that was a fussy eater, but managed to eat enough to get by. I cooled it for about 7-8 weeks in winter and it ate fine after that. I would say they are easier than corns to start and tend to be larger babies. The yearlings and larger are ravenous feeders. They reach adult size in three yrs. easily.



>>I havent found many caresheets on them.

>> Thank you....Paul



Steppes Ratsnakes, in general, aren't commonly kept. South Korean dione are relatively unknown, except on the Ratsnake Forum, haha. These are one of the largest dione forms, along with the Central Chinese dione. They get the longest and heaviest, have the largest clutches of any dione, and are the prettiest, imho. My 2001 female weighs over 250 grams already and is still growing. Her mother ended up being 46 inches, considerably heavier, and has the largest clutch recorded for a dione. The males are somewhat smaller in length, and especially in mass.



One thing I try to stress is that these dione make fabulous pets. I keep all kinds of corns, kings, and other things, and these snakes are easily my favorite pet species. People don't convince easily though.



Here's a pic of the 2001 male, 3-5-05, with the female in the background....



Here's a pic of one of my 2002 males, 3-5-05, munching a fuz...





Thanks for the post and talk more later...Terry






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Ratsnake Haven: Calico and hypo Chinese beauty snakes, Mandarin ratsnakes, Chinese twin-spotted ratsnakes, South Korean Dione's ratsnake, leopard snakes, Great Plains ratsnakes, and corn snakes

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