Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently acquired this snake as a blacktailed cribo, CB male. It is approximately 6' or so in length. I have never kept snakes of this genus before and any insights or tips on keeping it healthy would be appreciated.

I was able to find very little info on the web. Sounds like these snakes max out at 10' or so? How are their dispositions?

Thanks, Phil

Sorry Phil, but that's not a black tail. It's a cross, or intergrade between a unicolor cribo, and a black tailed cribo. Send an e-mail to; thesnakeman@centurytel.net He can square you away.

Thanks for the reply. I am none too familiar with the various ssp's so I appreciate the clarification.

I'll send that e-mail out.

Thanks, Phil

It's not necessarily a captive bred blacktail-unicolor cross. It could also just be an animal whose parents or ancestors are from the areas of Central America where those two subspecies of D. melanurus overlap. Unicolors sometimes have darkish tails and blacktails sometimes have brownish tails naturally.

Either way it's a nice snake.

Thanks! I thought the tail was dark, but not especially black. Sounds like there is quite a bit to this species complex. I wish I had more info on the actual origin of the snake, but I was told it was CB.

Thanks again, Phil

Along with this one here are a couple other site to gather info about Cribos and Indigos. Good luck

www.indigosforever.org
www.indigosnakes.com

Thanks for the links. Unfortunately most of what I was finding with a standard web search was very general in nature, so these should help out.

Thanks again, Phil

That's a nice looking snake you acquired, great mass and apparent body weight! You didn't indicate whether it was wild caught or captive produced, but I am going to go out on a limb and guess it was WC. It seems most of the D. m melanurus and D. m unicolor being imported these days are collected from areas where the two subs overlap and there is much evidence to suggest the two integrate within such areas.
Anyhow, they prefer temps on the cooler side and I have found 73-75*F with a warm spot of 80* - 85*F to work well. They are large, active snakes, so I use enclosures measuring 8' x 4' x 4' for adults and provide a large water tub, humid hide and climbing opportunities. However, many have done well using 6' x 2' x 2' enclosures as well, but the more room you can provide the better.
All Drymarchon are hydrophilic and require copious amounts of clean water for drinking and soaking. It is imperative to the health and well being of these snakes they not be allowed to become dehydrated, as such will bring about the demise of a Dry faster then most anything else. Also, it is normally best to provide smaller meals a couple of times per week, rather then offering a single large prey item once per week, as they have difficulty swallowing larger prey items and their high metabolism translates into a preference of more frequent feedings, which further translates into more frequent enclosure maintenance.
Anyhow, there is a great deal of variation between D. m melanurus and D. m unicolor, but they are all great animals to work with..

Best of luck to you and congratulations on the acquisition!

Jeff

PS: How is the Kentucky pine project coming along? I heard you guys located another one in the field somewhat recently! Great news!

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Jeff Snodgres
University of Arkansas
snodgresjeffreys@uams.edu
501.603.1947

Hello Jeff,

I'm really glad I consulted with you guys on here. I am getting all kinds of valuable information on some husbandry issues I would have guessed wrong on. The snake is said to be CB 02, but I have no way of really verifying that. It good to hear the prefered temperature range, that is something I would have guessed wrong and assumed higher temps were required. The snake is in the 6'- 7' range and I currently have it housed in a 75 gallon aquarioum. Sounds as if I might want to plan on something larger. The previous owner told me he fed the snake on adult rats. I'm going to take everyone's advice and scale down on the prey size. I have a large water basin in the enclosure so I did have that right lol!

I'll keep everyone posted on how the snake acclimates.

Our Kentucky pine snake project had some major successes this year. We had a successful breeding of two field collected Pits from the western KY population, and we finally found a pine snake in the Mammoth Cave region. This was the first live specimen found from this population in 37 years. We are excited to learn that they still exist! The photo above is of this snake.

Thanks for all the good info!

Phil

I know how long and hard you guys have been working the Mammoth area and it's good to see the hard work and persistence pay off!
I spoke to Gary some time ago and he told me about the pairing of the two field collected specimens and I am happy to hear that met with success. Keep up the great work!

Have a great Holiday,

Jeff
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Jeff Snodgres
University of Arkansas
snodgresjeffreys@uams.edu
501.603.1947

Thanks Jeff. I'll keep you posted on our project as things develop. Were you ever able to find any more info on the Pits we got from you a couple of years back? Those snakes are doing great btw.

Phil

Good luck with a fine snake! Back in the dark ages many indigos and cribos ended up with rubbed or destroyed rostral scales from being kept too warm. We know better now. During the dry winter months I pour about a cup of water on each of my adult Drymarchon to increase humidity. Very hi-tech, I know. I believe 7 ft. would be close to maximum length for your unicolor or blacktail.
Steve Fuller

Thanks for the tips! Looks like I need to address my temps and humidity levels. I appreciate all the husbandry info from you folks!

Thanks, Phil

Warning...they can be addictive!

black tails unis are sweet animals.
They get huge, and in my experience their temperment is usually similar to eastern indys...

Keep them in the same manner as easterns...
large cages are recommended with a thermal gradient.
Dry's will rub their noses raw if trapped in a hot cage.

They produce a lot of stinky waste...but you are used to that with your big PITS.

Good luck and shoot me an email if I can give you any more advice.

See you in Feb...

Hi Dean! Honestly after seeing some of your magnificent Dry's I have been intrigued by them since. Then opportunity came up

Its great all the good solid info I have gotten from everyone in such a short time.

Look forward to catching up with you in Feb!

Thanks, Phil

nice snake...try the indigoforever site, just starting up, but alot of knowledgable people over there. May I ask where you got the snake from? If the person knew it wasn't a pure blacktail, which he probly did, that was deceptive to sell it as one. Nice snake either way. You can e-mail me direct or pm me if you like.

Jerry,

Fine looking snake you have there! The snake I have came from a friend of mine in our herp soc. I believe he simply called it by the name that he purchased it under.

Phil

those are looking great! Let's see some full body shots.....

shedding today, but yes they are growing : )

Steve,

Both D. m melanurus and D. m unicolor regularly surpass the 8' mark, I currently have four D. m melanurus that are over 8'and three D. m unicolor that are over 8', one of which currently measures 9'6"...

Best regards,

Jeff
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Jeff Snodgres
University of Arkansas
snodgresjeffreys@uams.edu
501.603.1947

well fed dry babies will usually eventually outgrow all others that are less fortunate & can potentially attain enormous size. some dry-keepers i notice underfeed their youngsters & then overfeed them as adults?!? this can result in fat, listless snakes that never reached their 'potential'. you cannot overfeed a baby dry once he's ON & that's where the growth explosion occurs.....

With a bit work, even those that fell behind the feeding curve early on will normally catch up, if one is willing to feed a variety on a regular basis.
I have a couple that were the "runts" of the clutch and VERY difficult to strat feeding, both of which now exceed the 8' mark and should have no problems reaching the 9' in the near future.
It's not necessarily what ya got, but what ya do with it!

Jeff
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Jeff Snodgres
University of Arkansas
snodgresjeffreys@uams.edu
501.603.1947

jeff, excuse me but i believe you're sending out mixed signals. in the other forum, in the thread entitled 'feeding neonates' you state pretty much the exact opposite of what you just wrote here!? i know what my point is but i'm not sure i know what's actually yours. you seem to be contradicting yourself?......

I did not contraindicate myself, but rather left out further details regarding the ability of those, who fall behind the feeding curve early on, to catch up...

Jeff
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Jeff Snodgres
University of Arkansas
snodgresjeffreys@uams.edu
501.603.1947