Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

Pituophis is a genus I've always admired and think I might start researching to possibly pick one up next year. I'm curious to know if anyone can tell me which species commonly kept obtains the largest size how just how many feet does it attain? If anyone has any good sites or book recommandation it would be helpful.

Thanks
Xavier

I would guess either a Northern Pine or a Bull... I've seen some monsters of both, upward toward 9' or so.

The only problem with pits is that once you get one, you'll probably end up getting several more!

This is a good place to start:

The Pituophis Page

//Todd

Thanks

So is only one species/subspecies of bull snake?

Texas bulls are generally regarded as the largest.
It could be noted that growing season, abundance of prey etc play the largest role in this.
The Hwy 277 "monster" bulls being marketed has not yet proven true despite 8 ft parentage.
It is also interesting to note that KY Phil has a very large (relatively young) female Kankakee, IL bull that is 7 feet or nearly so.
Most of the bullsnake populations probably have individuals with the genetic potential to reach gigantic proportions imho, however there is no real way to know from a hatchling.
Ron

Thanks you both very much, looks like I'll be looking into HWY 277 line. They seem very promising.

xavier

I've shown this picture before but this is Andy Beleny's monster bull snake. One of the biggest I've ever seen.

Mexican Lined Pines reach 9feet. Have held the rather testy monster myself. Definitely the largest pit I have ever seen!
-----
AMAZON REPTILE CENTER

NAMED BEST REPTILE STORE IN LOS ANGELES

P.lineaticollis,lined pines, or more appropriatly named middle american GOPHER snakes, or cincuate bullsnakes do get very large.
If you like pits that look like trans-pecos ratsnakes on a regular diet of steroids.

These have been in the classifieds here quite a bit recently.
Ron

Well, since I was the first to sell them openly (five years ago) and back then they had no common name, I made one up. I like the rhyming quality of "lined pine"

I understand there are those that did not follow. They all have their own reasons. If you want your common names to be scientifically accurate then indeed you are more correct than I.

For me? A common name is simply a nickname given by hobbyists and if I want to be scientifically correct, then I utilize the correct name Pituophis l. lineaticolis for the animal I like to call Mexican Lined Pine.

They are bigger than any Pit I have ever seen and this includes the images of the Hwy 277 monsters other have shown. While similar in length a large adult lineaticolis is heavier bodied.

>>P.lineaticollis,lined pines, or more appropriatly named middle american GOPHER snakes, or cincuate bullsnakes do get very large.
>>If you like pits that look like trans-pecos ratsnakes on a regular diet of steroids.
>>
>>These have been in the classifieds here quite a bit recently.
>>Ron
-----
AMAZON REPTILE CENTER

NAMED BEST REPTILE STORE IN LOS ANGELES

NP

Holy!
Thats a huge bugger!!
Defiantly love it, what year is it at?

>>Defiantly love it,

Why defiantly? I just love it. I'll even be compliant and love it!
-----
AMAZON REPTILE CENTER

NAMED BEST REPTILE STORE IN LOS ANGELES