Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am looking for any advice or "tricks of the trade" in keeping Aesculapian Ratsnakes (E. longissima). I have a apir of them that are just under a year old and would love to hear some advice on keeping them. I keep a variety of snakes and I know some have certain needs. These, as far as I know, are pretty rare and there is not alot of info on them so I figured I would ask. Any advice will help a bunch!! Thanks. Derek

Hi Derek

I have 2,2 of these to... Mine are all captive born from autumn 2001. I keep mine in plastic-boxes at the moment, but they will soon (today actually) be switched from living singly to being housed together in a higher terrarium.

My animals are feed on irregular basis, as i think this is a better way than feeding them all the time (i feed my animals on a look and feel basis, don't want obese animals).

It seems that some populations of longissimus only feed a little each year, this don't seem to be the case with mine (originate from eastern Europe), they feed almost every time they are offered food.

At the moment my animals are around 70-80 cm and feed on large fuzzies.

I keep them with shavings in the bottom of the box, a small hide and a waterdish. They are keept at roomtemperature with extra heating in one end during parts of the year. (room temperature here is 24-25 degress celcius)

P.S. The right name for the species is know Zamenis longissimus.

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Regards

Jan Grathwohl

Where did you get them? I've been looking for three years . I'm in the US.

My pair came from a friend of mine here in Tucson. He is not the breeder, but I will ask him who he bought them from when he gets back from Florida and I will put up another post then. Thanks for the info and advice, Jan. I appreiate any info that will help. Good luck with your 2 pair. Thanks. Derek

I'll be eternally in your debt!