Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Today on a trade I got a beautiful male great basin gopher snake. Overall, he's just a great snake, beautiful temperment, very curious, alert, and healthy. I'm curious about the growth rate on gopher snakes, because I've seen some that are absolutely massive. I wouldn't put this guy over four feet, and he's probably more like three and a half, fits very comfortably into a thirty gallon breeder. Anyone want to take a rough stab at how old he is, because that was the one thing that the people I got him from couldn't tell me. Thanks.

Kevin

Try to find out when exactly he was found, and his size when the people you got him from found him. I'm far from being anything close to an expert, but judging by the size that you tell me, and comparing him to a WC San Diego I used to have that was that size --- see how much of a wild guess this is --- I'd guess your snake to probably be approaching 3 or 4 years old. I've heard tales of our CA Gophers regularly reaching 6' and some "mythological monsters" hitting 7'. I've never even seen pics of either, let alone one up close & personal in the wild. BTW, where is your snake from?

reako45

No clue where he's from, if he's captive bred, wild caught, I'm not sure. I'm not even positive he's a great basin, though I had a great basin for a while, and that one could've been this one's twin. His temperment is so great though, he's a real sweetheart. I measured him today, he's exactly 3 1/2 feet.

Kevin

my great basins i used to keep all grew fairly quickly, WC from wa. st. they could reach 3.5 feet in less than 3 years, easily some times in 2 years, compairing them to san diegos doesn't work well considering san diegos tend to stay under/around 5 feet so a 3 and a half foot snake could take a few years where as i have caught a few gt basins around 6 feet and have heard of certain locales getting a little longer but much thicker...

A long time ago in my younger days, I found a hatchling pacific gophersnake while out in the field. I took it home and proceeded to lovingly raise it for 4 years. Then I joined the Air Force and decided to let it loose. At the time I turned it loose it was measured at 6 feet two inches and the thickness of an average wrist at mid body. I still think of that snake from time to time. He was fed almost exclusively wild caught mice,rice rats,voles,gophers and once in awhile he would get a bird that I shot with a bb gun before I knew better. We Had lots of open areas back then and free feed was much cheaper than store bought. So from personal experience I know that they get to at least the 6 foot range. Just my own observations Jack .