Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi Guys
I think this is the best place to ask as many of you are familar with black racers.I would just like some basic information on keeping these snakes as they may become avaliable
from dealers over here in the U.K. from time to time.
Would anyone say there are any fundamental differences from keeping Coachwhips????...which are the best in Captivity Northern or Southern black racers??

Many thanks in advance Paul

Some basics for racers is a good hide spot that you do not violate, leave um alone when in it. A good hot basking spot fresh water and clean bedding. I quit feeding on Thanksgiving cool down two weeks later and hybernate for three months starting in December. I hybernate at 55F.
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"Life without risk is to merely exist."

I haven't kept black racers, but I've kept a couple of yellow-bellies, great snakes, very underrated as captives. Just a tip, this was something I found out kind of by accident...they aren't tough to feed, you just have to leave them alone when you do. Seriously, I had a blue racer that I kept for just over a year, and for the first five months I had him, I knew he was eating, because the mice would disappear, and he got fat, but I never saw him eat. I kept another pair of racers that wouldn't eat, until I just threw some fuzzies in there, and left the house completely for three days. I kept a couple of baby blues that did the same thing, didn't eat at all until I dumped some pinks in there, then totally left the room for a couple of days. Case in point, some snakes don't like to be watched when they eat, and racers seem to be one of them, at least in my experience, at first. Oh yeah, don't touch them, don't handle them, don't even look at them for the first two weeks you have them. They are just a mite on the high strung side Hope this helps,
Kevin

Many thanks you guys...I have made a note of these points.
I will keep you informed if I manage to acquire some...not easy here in England!!
Regards...Paul

I noticed none of the guys answered which racer, Northern or Southern black, is better. I have never kept a racer(though I still have a strong urge to actually try and see some in the wild here in the US), but I say to go with a Northern black racer.

Thing is, because in many places throughout their native range, northern blacks encounter more rodents and birds rather than lizards in the wild. Southerns, on the other hand, live in the Southeastern US, where their favorite prey is lizards and much more restricted to them.

What I am trying to say is that northerns would probably make better pets because they'd probably accept rodents better than southerns, which usually require scenting the rodents to switch them to a rodent diet.
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Scott

Reptiles
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1 Colombian Rainbow Boa (Rocky)
1.0 Ball Python (Sultan)
0.1 California Kingsnake (Leota)
1.0 Eastern Painted Turtle (Yugi)
0.1 Red/Gold Bearded Dragon* (Irwin, R.I.P.)

Other
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1.0 Betta Fish (Tyrone)
1.0 Hooded Rat (Clubber)

I see where you are coming from with that!...thanks!!

Paul