Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Are bulls good beginner snakes?

How long/big do they grow?

How are the temperaments from captive bred specimens?

How active are they compared to kingsnakes?

Hello. I'll answer your questions in the order asked:

Are bulls good beginner snakes?
Yes! They are rarely problem feeders (actually usually at the other end of the spectrum) They take handling well and get to be a nice size

How long/big do they grow?
There are some "dwarf" races that stay around four feet and then there are some texas monsters that can hit the 8-9 foot mark. Average is probably more like 5-6 feet.

How are the temperaments from captive bred specimens?
You are generally going to see the hatchlings be hissy and huffy but no worries, this is just instinct. Most quickly calm down and handle quite well.

How active are they compared to kingsnakes?
I would say that if anything they may be slightly more active than kingsnakes but not much if at all.

I hope that helps some. I'm running short on time so if I missed something or you have another question just let me know! Take care.

Jeremy
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Jeremy Pierce
Shade Tree Exotics
shade-tree-exotics@att.net

The other nice thing about bulls/gopers/pines is that they wont try to eat your fingers like a king will when hungry...

//Todd

Funny but true, Great picture Todd.
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Too many animals to count......
HerpsGai

Although I think a bull snake makes a good captive, I think a Northern or Black Pine makes a better pet. In my experience, these pines are really docile and less "flighty" than the bulls I have. When feeding a hungry pine or bull, it is wise to make sure they get the prey item first. My pines have bitten me several times when I was careless at feeding time. Other than that, they are really great animals.

Arent pines gophers and bulls the same snake? I've read some places that I believe say they are. Can someone break it down for me?

To add to my question,

How active are they compared to for example, kingsnakes?

Which specie is good to startoff with? For me, I'd prefer a specie that does grow past 6 ft?

Judging by what your looking for, a northern pine would be hard to beat.

>>To add to my question,
How active are they compared to for example, kingsnakes?
Which specie is good to startoff with? For me, I'd prefer a specie that does grow past 6 ft?

The genus pituophis is currently recognized to have 5 species; Pituophis ruthveni, the Louisiana Pinesnake, P. melanoluecus the other pinsnakes (3 recognized subspecies, nothern pines, southern or Florida pines and black pines). These are all large, easy to care for and mostly docile snakes. some blackpines and southerns are known to be loud and somewhat initially intimidating if you have not handled them befor but it is mostly all bluff. Pituophis catenifer is a species that currently includes the bullsnakes p.c.sayi, and several gopher subspecies from western North America. Again, mostly all quite docile and all bluff but there are exceptions to the rule. I have a rather large Kankakee ILL. locality bullsnake that will bite every chance she gets!

There is also two Mexican species, Pituophis deppei and Pituophis lineaticollis. These are not as readily available. They are large and generally quite docile but probably not ideal beginner Pituophis.

Compared to some other groups of snakes I find Pituophis to be less likely to bite, less likely to musk and defecate on the handler and somewhat more interactive than some of the more fosorial species such as milks, kings, and some of the ratsnakes.

I am bias, my wife disagrees with me and feels that Pituophis are too loud and threatening to be first snakes for a kid. If you have any experience with snakes and can get past the bluffing you will not be happier than with a big Pit. I agree that a nice hatchling Northern Pine is a great place to start.

imo, bulls are great beginner snakes. i am a big pituophis fan. personally i like them a little fiesty. when i got my hatchling bulls they would coil up, hiss, and put on quite a show. now, they are embarrisingly tame. i am just a hobbyist. maybe it's from giving them so much attention. they are just pets for me.
i have bulls, deppei, and kings. imo they pits are my favorites. don't get me wrong, the kings are nice, just not the same personality and they don't get as large. i've heard the northern pines are nice, but no personal experience.
the only down side is smelly poo... when one of my babies drops a bomb, there is no mistaking it.
keep up the research. that is the wise thing to do before making a purchase. take care...

Oh yeah- forgot to mention that one!

There is NO doubt when one of my pines pinches a peanut- we can smell it two rooms away!

When any of my pythons or kings pinch, it stinks, but NOTHING compared to my southerns!

//Todd

So how big max would a N. pine snake grow?

Is there any size, pattern, or color differences between males and females?

How big of a tank would a 15-20 inch baby need?

How big of a tank would a potential full grown adult need?

What type of heating do I use? undertank heater or heat lamp?

What should the coldest and hottest spots in the tank be? Around 70-85?

Thanks guys! If all goes smoothly I just might attain my first pine =D.

Great choice- Northers are awesome!

Here's a great page to read/bookmark:

Pituophis Care Sheet

//Todd

This is what a good size Northern Pine Snake looks like.

Females look the same as males maybe a little bigger.

You can get away with a 20 or 30 gallon tank for the first year.

An adult should get at least a 4'x2'x1' cage.

Use a heat pad, gradient from 70 - 85 F is good.

Man that is a killer red!
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Jeremy Pierce
Shade Tree Exotics
shade-tree-exotics@att.net

don't forget about hypo stillwater bulls, mine are as gentle as any of my cornsnakes, and are much more impressive than my corns because of their larger size, oh and great looks, their temperment is unbelievable, if you can wait a month or so people will have their hatchlings up for sale on this site that is where i got mine.
greg