Reptile & Amphibian Forums

can a large coachwhip kill a large bullsnake?

Anything is possable but here is the Science. A bullsnake has more mass and will constrict. A coachwhip will eat other snakes where a bullsnake will not. A coachwhip has a stronger jaw. If they were identicle in size my money would be on coachwhip but a large bullsnake is larger than a large coachwhip in girth. So in answer to your question apples and oranges both fruit both different.
-----
"Life without risk is to merely exist."

dude i hope you arnet gonna do what i think you are cause i happened to notice that you caught a bullsnake about 3 weeks ago and a coachwhip a week ago and you are asking everyone on care if this is just a "can i house them together" question then i'm sure thats a resounding no!

nate

Why ask? Thats like asking if a Godzilla can kill King King ..

Pointless question

Not meant to offend but come on .. are you 16 or younger?
-----
Safari Tom
See'em Touch'em Save'em
www.SafariTom.com

my age is 40 and i see nothing wrong with that question.

Unless it's a very young bullsnake, I don't think a coachwhip would ever actively seek out and try to eat a bullsnake. And coachwhips definately aren't on a bullsnake's menu. For that matter, I don't think a bullsnake could catch a coachwhip even if they were.

I've got to ask, what spurned that question?

Kevin

i was just wondering if a coachwhip could kill a bullsnake cause there is alot of both in my area. thanks for your reply.

I seem to recall reading somewhere about Bullsnakes eating other snakes in the wild, but they are mostly keyed to warm-blooded prey esp. rodents, and particularly gophers. Coachwhips are generalists who will eat anything they can catch and subdue, including other snakes.

A large individual of either specis would be capable of killing and eating a smaller individual of the other species. My guess is that it would be more likely that a large Coachie would gobble up a small Bull, just based on dietary preferences.

As for the proverbial "Fair-One", with two equal-sized individuals squaring-off and determined to duel to the death, I would call it a toss-up. The Coachie would be quicker but the Bull would be stronger. Think Ali-Frazier if you like.

In reality, two equal-sized predators of different species rarely fight to the death in nature - its too risky. Its much more likely that it would be a draw with both combatants retiring from the field.

John D

-----
I am so not lesdysxic!

0.1 Creamsicle Cornsake "Yolanda"
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake "Steely Dan"
0.1 Desert Kingsnake "FATTY"
0.1 Black Rat "Roberta" RELEASED!!!

I have had young Bullsnakes eat lizards so they might occasionaly eat other snakes but it is a strech. Here is an indoor-outdoor cage. Doggie door is foam with an x cut into the middle.

-----
"Life without risk is to merely exist."

Very Nice.

I've been following the indoor/outdoor discussion on the Indigo forum. Reminds me of how the Philadelphia Zoo used to house their big cats. Do you worry at all about mites? What about security - I hope those outdoor enclosures aren't visible to the general public.

I can't remember where I saw that about Bulls occasionally taking other snakes - maybe on the Pit forum? In any case, Black Rats will occasionally eat other snakes, so maybe Bulls do too?

Really, two large predators like a Bull and a Coach are not likely to have a go at each other unless one is really hungry (or both). The only scenario I can picture is if one is much larger, then all bets are off.

Cheers,

John D
-----
I am so not lesdysxic!

0.1 Creamsicle Cornsake "Yolanda"
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake "Steely Dan"
0.1 Desert Kingsnake "FATTY"
0.1 Black Rat "Roberta" RELEASED!!!

Here is a picture of my frontyard. My driveway is 7 miles long and I am on 8 square miles of property. The public has no access to these enclosures and they are to high off the ground for small predators. The outdoor cages are suspended off of the ground so mites should not be a problem.

-----
"Life without risk is to merely exist."

LOL!!!

A 7-mile front yard!?!?

Awesome!

I grew up in the city and live in suburbia - the concept of not having prying eyes all around is just a little foreign to me.

Stop tempting me with the pink Coachwhips!!!!

ARRGGHH!!

Do you have a waiting list?

John
-----
I am so not lesdysxic!

0.1 Creamsicle Cornsake "Yolanda"
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake "Steely Dan"
0.1 Desert Kingsnake "FATTY"
0.1 Black Rat "Roberta" RELEASED!!!