Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I saw a list at the bottom of your post including calligaster rhombomaculata.
I found this little guy the other day.
I posted a picture on the kingsnake and field collecting forums.
They said it was a calligaster rhombomaculata.
I have no reason to doubt them but a comfirmation and additional information is always good.
Is it indeed a calligaster rhombomaculata?
Would you/could you give me some care info?
I have not been able to find a pinkie small enough for it and a friend at a local reptile shop recommended starting it out on small crickets and other small insects.
Any thoughts, suggestion or ideas would be greatly appreciated.
I have never seen a mole snake in my life. Although they show Southeast Tennessee as part of their range on maps, I didn't really think there were any in this area.

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Remember, my posts are MY opinion only.
Jimmy (draybar)

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Remember, my posts are MY opinion only.
Jimmy (draybar)

Although not a ratsnake, per se, they are closely related. Kingsnakes tend to be more fossorial, although some "ratsnakes" spend much of their time underground also. Kings tend to be nocturnal too. I make sure mine have some secure hiding places and also a moist area to go to. Feeding them in a separate container isn't a bad idea either. You could try leaving it with a thawed pink in a deli cup overnight. Good luck,

TC

Jimmy,
That looks like a mole king to me. Around here we have prairie kings which are of course closely related to mole kings. I hatched 8 baby prairies a few months ago and all eight started feeding right off the bat on live pinks. Give it a try, it should work like a charm. I seriously doubt the snake would go for crickets or insects. If you don't have any luck with a tiny live pink (or can't find any) then try a YOY fence lizard or fivelined skink. I caught a baby prairie king last Saturday under a piece of tin and it had a baby fence lizard in its gut. It shouldn't be too hard to find baby sceloporus this time of year, the eggs are hatching and the little buggers are everywhere. Rocky lakeshores are good places to look, as well as around wood piles or other debris near forested areas.

Good luck
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Dwight Good
http://www.kingsnake.com/obsoleta

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Remember, my posts are MY opinion only.
Jimmy (draybar)

Good advice from Dwight. It looks like a mole king to me too.

I don't have a lot of experience with this species. I haven't bred them, yet, and the pair I have I got as adults. But I do know from keeping a w/c adult once that they are like typical king or milk snakes in that they often eat reptilian prey. Even as adults, they will eat other snakes.

My advice would be similar to Dwight's. Try to get it on pinkies anyway you can, but until then I'd give it small lizards. You might try rubbing a lizard or snake on a thawed pinky, which is what I do with a w/c Eastern milk that I have.

The ecology and life habits of mole kings are very interesting. They're a pretty snake and make a good pet I think. Good luck.

Terry

>>Good advice from Dwight. It looks like a mole king to me too.
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>>I don't have a lot of experience with this species. I haven't bred them, yet, and the pair I have I got as adults. But I do know from keeping a w/c adult once that they are like typical king or milk snakes in that they often eat reptilian prey. Even as adults, they will eat other snakes.
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>>My advice would be similar to Dwight's. Try to get it on pinkies anyway you can, but until then I'd give it small lizards. You might try rubbing a lizard or snake on a thawed pinky, which is what I do with a w/c Eastern milk that I have.
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>>The ecology and life habits of mole kings are very interesting. They're a pretty snake and make a good pet I think. Good luck.
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>>Terry
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Remember, my posts are MY opinion only.
Jimmy (draybar)