Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hoping you pituophis-saavy people can help here..

I was to look at some snakes in another abandoned (forclosed) house. One is an amel Sonoran gopher (Subadult, about 3ft) and a sizeable bullsnake judging by the head on this thing. I took both in and they are hydrated and fed, both ate with enthusiasm.

Found a home for the bull. The affinis is with me and is not a pleasant individual. The only ssp I have had longterm captive experience with is annectens from my local area, and they have been mostly calm, and any bluffs were meager and just that - bluffs.

Question - Do you think a Sonoran that is very defensive as a subadult can calm down as an adult? Beautiful snake, but yikes, I have kids, and this snake means business.

While we are on the subject, how would you rate gophersnake personality trends on the various ssp? Thanks.
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Mark

My opinion is that with handling, she'll eventually calm down.
It's a rare individual that forever holds a grudge.
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Jack Jeansonne

Give the snake some time to settle in and get a few meals in them. They may calm down from this alone. Also "most" of the time they are great bluffers and once removed from there cage they will calm rite down. Over time with more handeling the snake "should" calm down.

Gopher snakes in my experience seem to be calmer then bulls and pines. But this is only genrally.

>>Hoping you pituophis-saavy people can help here..
>>
>>I was to look at some snakes in another abandoned (forclosed) house. One is an amel Sonoran gopher (Subadult, about 3ft) and a sizeable bullsnake judging by the head on this thing. I took both in and they are hydrated and fed, both ate with enthusiasm.
>>
>>Found a home for the bull. The affinis is with me and is not a pleasant individual. The only ssp I have had longterm captive experience with is annectens from my local area, and they have been mostly calm, and any bluffs were meager and just that - bluffs.
>>
>>Question - Do you think a Sonoran that is very defensive as a subadult can calm down as an adult? Beautiful snake, but yikes, I have kids, and this snake means business.
>>
>>While we are on the subject, how would you rate gophersnake personality trends on the various ssp? Thanks.
>>-----
>>Mark
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Mark

My brief experience w/ 4 of the 5 CA Pit ssp has been this. Just about every annectens I've come across seems to have a slightly nervous squirmy nature. My brief encounter w/ a Pcc was pleasant. Every deserticola(not intergrades) I've come across has been puppy dog friendly. Every affinis I've come across and heard about from friends has, As you put it "meant business", in that it BIT. Great snakes all.

reako45

Normally affinis isn't too bad. I have caught many here in New Mexico and normally they are quite flighty and will bluff strike. I've found a few that were quite belligerent but most calm down fairly quickly.

Last fall I found one crossing a high traffic dirt road on a very windy cool day. He must've been on his way to his hibernaculum (this was east of the Monzano Mtns.). He absolutely did not bluff-strike, he was out for blood and extremely annoyed, and at over 5' he was handful to move off the road.

There was also another one crossing the road 100 feet before him, I gently picked him up and moved him to the side of the road he was heading towards, and he barely noticed. Very mellow!

So like most snakes they run the gamut.