Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm looking at the possibility of adding a Pituophis to my snake collection, which thus far consists of Elaphe. Any advice from the experienced, vis-a-vis which Pit would be the best FIRST Pit?

I like the Bulls, but wonder if they might be a bit daunting for a new Pit keeper who's used to various rat snakes? The Pines look terrific and I'm thinking a big Pine might be nice. But what first captured my fancy amongst the Pits is the gopher snakes, particularly the Sonoran Gophers.

I like to handle my snakes each evening, and socialize them very well, and I'm careful with temperature, noise, light, feeding, leaving them alone when they want that, etcetera. I try to read them, meet their needs, and keep them comfortable. I seem to raise very happy, healthy and sociable snakes. So, any advice on which Pit for a first-timer like me? Thanks!

.. but I'd say a gophersnake would make an excellent first pit. They are one of the easiest snakes I've ever kept, are very sociable, vigorous snakes.

Now all the gopher snakes I've kept were pacifics so Icannot vouch for the others but I believe they are fairly similar temperment. With pacifics they put on a big show of being aggressive until they get used to you. Keep in mind that of the ones I've kept they were all wild caught, some hatchlings some adults, and I've never been bitten once by a gophersnake regardless of age or condition. The only two things I did to avoid bites was first and foremost show no fear when reaching for/handling them. And secondly if concerned they may actually bite then leave a dirty shirt(worn by you so it has your smell) in with the snake for a few hours or overnight. I've done this shirt trick with adult 5ft pacifics and had them tame as a kitten the next morning.

That being said I'm sure most any pit would be good but I can personally vouch for pacific gophers.

Sean.

Sonoran Gophers are great snakes, I have few large wild adult.
Never hiss, never strike. Eat anything live or dead.

Good luck,
Gai.

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1.3 Northern pine
1.1 N.J White pine
2.5 Black pine
1.2 Louisiana Pine
1.0 snow Southern Pine
1.1 Albino Sonoran Gopher
2.1 W.C. Sonoran Gopher
1.1 San Diego Gophers (het albino applegate)
1.1 San Diego Gophers Stripe (het Albino)
0.1 Pacific Gopher Albino Stripe
1.1 Red Bull Snake
0.2 kankakee Bull Snake
1.0 Eastern Bull snake
2.2 Leucistic Texas ratsnake
1.1 "White Oak" ratsnake
2.3 W.C Okeetee Corn
1.2 Abbt line Okeetee Corn
1.0 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Creamsicle Corn
1.2 W.C Miami Phase Corn
1.1 Sinaloan Milk
1.0 Albino Honduran Milk
1.1 Anery Honduran Milk
0.1 tri color Honduran Milk
1.1 W.C Mexican Black King
0.2 C.B Mexican Black King
2.0 W.C Cal King
1.1 C.B Cal King
0.1 Durango Mountain King
1.0 Desert King
1.1 Sonoran Lyre Snake
2.2 Bearded Dragon
1.1 Albino gecko
4 Tanks full with African Cichlids.
Many Mice, Rats and feeder Roaches

You sound like you would be a perfect keeper for pits!!

For me, it was the Applegate San Diego gopher that brought me over to the pits. However, my personal faves are northern pines.

All my northern pines like to be handled and are just amazing. They grow to be somewhat big but gentle black and white ( or cream and black, reddish, etc. ) serpents. I have 8 northerns and each one is outstanding in every way.

However, being a pit freak, I find that owning just one pit will not be enough. If you want to watch your snake numbers, but are open to owning more than just one pit, I would suggest to own at least 1 of a pine, bull, and gopher.

Keep us posted!

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Genesis 1:1

Nice Northern Pine,
I agree with you, Northern Pines are great snakes, I have 6 and planing to get some more this season. (as you said - own one is not an option, LOL)
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1.3 Northern pine
1.1 N.J White pine
2.5 Black pine
1.2 Louisiana Pine
1.0 snow Southern Pine
1.1 Albino Sonoran Gopher
2.1 W.C. Sonoran Gopher
1.1 San Diego Gophers (het albino applegate)
1.1 San Diego Gophers Stripe (het Albino)
0.1 Pacific Gopher Albino Stripe
1.1 Red Bull Snake
0.2 kankakee Bull Snake
1.0 Eastern Bull snake
2.2 Leucistic Texas ratsnake
1.1 "White Oak" ratsnake
2.3 W.C Okeetee Corn
1.2 Abbt line Okeetee Corn
1.0 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Creamsicle Corn
1.2 W.C Miami Phase Corn
1.1 Sinaloan Milk
1.0 Albino Honduran Milk
1.1 Anery Honduran Milk
0.1 tri color Honduran Milk
1.1 W.C Mexican Black King
0.2 C.B Mexican Black King
2.0 W.C Cal King
1.1 C.B Cal King
0.1 Durango Mountain King
1.0 Desert King
1.1 Sonoran Lyre Snake
2.2 Bearded Dragon
1.1 Albino gecko
4 Tanks full with African Cichlids.
Many Mice, Rats and feeder Roaches

Thanks!
Yeah, it really is worse of an addiction with pits vs. other snakes, IMO.
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Genesis 1:1

IMHO you can't go wrong w/ a gopher snake no matter what ssp. Sonorans, I think get the biggest of any North American Gopher ssp. They are great inquisitive snakes full of personality.

reako45

I personally think any type of bull would be good. I've not had one aggressive bull yet. I'm sure others have, but they can be super docile beasts. However I'm partial to pines myself. I just love them. Big, beautiful, gentle (most), and a joy to own. Just take a pick. You'll love whatever you get.
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1.0 Lampropeltis t. gaigae
1.1 Lampropeltis g. floridana
1.1 Pituophis c. sayi (Hypo Stillwater)
0.1 Pituophis c. sayi (South Texas)
1.0 Lichanura t. myriolepis

I own a northern pine and a great basin gopher, and I love them both, I'm looking to add a bull into my collection at some point, either a red bull or a big texas bull, one of the two. I can definately say that, more than any other snake I've ever owned, the gopher and the pine have the most personality, they definately have their own moods. My pine is a big, bold, inquisitive, very active girl, lots of fun, the only time she ever gets moody is when she's in shed. My great basin gopher is a real sweetheart, he's a little shy, I don't see him out in the open too often, but as I've had him for longer, I can tell he's more and more used to being held, when I first got him, he'd wrap himself very tightly around my arm, and I could tell he was nervous. Now, he'll just crawl very deliberately all over me, checking everything out around him. Anyway, I love both snakes, and can vouch for both species. Just don't get a mean gopher, I had another great basin for a while that was a genuine demon. I couldn't tame that snake down for anything.
Kevin

I have to put my vote in for Black Pines. My black pines are the most laid-back snakes I could imagine. They are big and impressive but gentle. Plus they're easy to breed if you want more.