Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello, trying to decide on a pet. I have been out of the "trade" for some time. I like the red bulls but also black pine, northern pine, etc. Which get the biggest and have the best attitude? Thanks, Steve

I would go with a Great Basin Gopher Snake. They don't get huge but do reach a good size, and generally have a calm demeanor. From the standpoint of husbandry, it's the most underrated snake in this genus in my opinion, and one worth looking into.

Bart

just get some of each............

once you start you will end doing that anyway!

( I can not believe that "Bullsnake Bart" is suggesting a western ssp.! Next thing you know he will be owning a pair of lineaticollis!)

What do you mean by that remark? First of all, GINTER, I have kept, bred, and examined more of the Western subs over the years than you can ever hope to see! Unlike you I don't need to keep everything under the sun, nor do I need this forum to validate myself. I keep what I find interesting, and Gophers to me are little more than a replacement for Rat Snakes in the west; they do make a great pet, however. I didn't see you step up to help this person; you only responded to take a cheap shot at me. I think that speaks volumes of you. The "Bullsnake Bart" remark is pretty classless also. Rather than go any further, I'll simply consider the source.

Bart

Sorry bart. i was actually just attempting some fun hearted teasing. I actually did not mean to anger you. My bad. I actually thought that the "Bullsnake Bart was a title you would consider a complement.

Wow, I did not know you had so much pent up aggression towards me and my desire to collect all the represenatives of the Genus.

I guess I should have followed my post with LOL to make it clear that It was a joke!

And yeas I know that you have kept and worked with many of the western forms. Again, I was actually just attempting some humor. i apologize for any persieved insult I may have leveled your way..............
Have a safe and happy holiday
JG

Apology accepted. And no, I don't have any pent up aggression of your wanting to keep or work with all the members of this genus. That is your choice, and I wish you all the best in that endeavor. For me, I don't keep a lot of herps anymore, and as far as this genus is concerned, I just feel that the eastern forms are more intriguing and interesting than those from the west. Much of my feelings are a result of time in the field; to pursue Pines in the wild (or Bulls in certain parts of their range) can be frustrating, but always exhilerating, and I always leave the range of these animals with a greater respect for them than I had before, whether I found specimens or not. With both my diabetes and chronic back problem under control I hope to return to both Pine Snake and Bullsnake country in the near future, and I have papers in the works on certain species/subspecies (of course with sayi, one could probably write a book on them alone!). Merry Christmas!

Bart

Is that a great basin? It's beautiful.
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Matt Kauffman

Its a sonoran (affinis)

Each snake is an individual and Pituophis seem to exemplify that. I have had two Black Pinesnakes, one was a hissing screaming lunatic that I think actually hated me. I would almost never see her and when I would it would be for a few seconds where she would rattle and hiss at me before going to hide. (I don’t have that one anymore). The one I have now is the most docile calm snake I have. I can had feed her she is so tame. She is also out all the time and seems very interested it what’s going on around her. I also have a SD Gopher that is more like my calm Black Pine, but he will let out a little puff if I do something he doesn’t like.

My point is they are individuals and you can’t assume with a whole species.

Jeremy

I've kept most of the available pits at one time or another & I've found that generally speaking (from personal experience)

- San Diegos & great basins have been the most mellow.
- Black pines, bulls & sonorans exhibit the greatest range in behavior, from mellow to nasty.
- Northerns (pines) hiss, but rarely bite.
- Most of the pacifics have been mellow.
- Most of the vertebralis I've had were hiss/strike/biters.
- Most pits come out of the eggs hissing & striking, but this generally subsides as they grow.
- Wild pits tend to be very active when handled.