Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am looking to get one of these. The local reptile store by me has one for sale but what I herd they don't know to much about them. I herd one lady say it was from America in the mountains some were and they call it a Red Mountain Racer. I was wondering if any one knows much about them and how to keep them. It's a really cool looking snake I just can't find much info on them. I've seen them for sale at a few places online for $500 . They have it by me for $159. Thanks.

They do indeed sometimes go by the common name of "Red Mountain Racer", but they are indeed from tropical Asia, and not North America. I would do some google image searches to make SURE the store is talking about the same type of snake here too. One thing I would be EXTREMELY sceptical about, is if it IS truly a Thai Bamboo Ratsnake(formerly Elaphe porphyracea), for $159.00 it is very likely a W/C import specimen. Either that, or whoever had it before didn't have a clue as to what it really was either. Getting a W/C specimen is really taking a huge chance, as they can harbor many parasites, and be stressed beyond belief from the crappy conditions they were kept in prior to their arrival in the states.

These snakes need certain basic conditions met, or they will not thrive and do well at ALL. They need far more humidity and need cooler conditions to replicate their natural environment up in the high altitude of their natural jungle habitat environment than most other colubrids do.

Anyway, do some reaserch on these first. There is PLENTY of info available on these all over the net if you just type in a few simple key-words. I would want to see it eat a meal right off the bat before I even thought about bying it from a pet store. At least that would be one major hurdle overcome. Then some Flagyl(Metronidazole) and Panacur(Fenbendazole) would probably soon follow.

Bottom line here, is to understand their basic husbandry needs FIRST!. Then this thing would have to look very outwardly healthy to entertain the idea og getting it at all. If it is thin-looking,........FORGET ABOUT IT!! would be my advice.

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

Thanks for the info. The shop says it's a CB. baby it's around 14" long or so. I did look it up on line and found a photo of it with some info on it. The reptile shop only knew it as a Red Mountain Racer. I got the name Thai Bamboo Rat snake from online. The picture was what the snake was.

Oh, okay, if it was only that small, I guess it could very easily be a captive-bred and hatched animal then. Just be sure to read VERY carefully about their requirements, and you should be okay then. Cooler temps, a temp gradient in the enclosure, moist sphagnum hides, occasional mistings, but NOT damp, a mulch substrate, etc...

Good luck with it if you get it!. Here is another link to brush up on as well.

Remember, higher humidity is CRUCIAL to their well-being!!!!!

~Doug
Bamboo ratsnakes

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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

Please follow Doug's advice.
These are very hardy snakes but keeping them too warm is their weak spot. They will go downhill very quickly if kept too warm. We have sold some to very experienced reptile folks who thought "they will be ok if I keep them in the bottom rack in my python room". And two weeks later they are dead.
What's too warm? Temps above 82 aren't good. They can and will take higher temps for a short period of time, but they will do best if kept below 78. We try to keep our group in the mid 70's and we see great feeding, and great breeding at these temps.
Providing a mulch type of bedding is also important and will help quite a bit with keeping humidity at the proper levels. What you want is for top of the bedding to be almost dry, but at the bottom level of the bedding, nicely damp. Damp not wet.
If you follow these two things, you will have an awesome snake. They are great feeders, very pretty, and with some careful handling, can calm down quite a bit as they get older.

Chad

Excellent follow-up Chad!

Yes, you guys have got the Bamboo's husbandry basically down to a "recipe" there now..

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

Thanks Chad for the info.

Thanks Doug for the info.

Well I plan to do a lot of research on this guy before I do decide to get one. I also plan to set a tank up for one without the snake to see if I can keep the cage were it needs to be to keep him happy and healthy.

This is a good thread as I've been considering taking on these beautiful snakes.
I've been keeping mandarins for a few years now and these seem very similar in care and needs.

My mandys are kept in the mid seventies and thrive at that temp.
I use vision cages and switch to tubs in the winter sitting them on the floor to brumate them while the room temp goes to about 72.
Keep in mind snakes that like lower temps eat smaller meals. Keep whats offered smaller than you'd give the same sized black rat or corn snake.
You can't power feed these guys.
I've also found them to prefer deep bedding (aspen) and while I've used a variety of hides a folded sheet of news paper laying flat on the aspen is what they prefer to coil under. I also provide a container with damp moss for them to use.
They tolerate some handling but do best if left undisturbed and to thier reclusive nature.
Now this is how I've kept mandarins but (correct me if I'm wrong)I believe Red Mountain Racers are the same.

On the price, $159 for a CB 14" RMR is very good. I'd be all over that. The cheapest I've seen are babies for $200.
My first reaction to a price that low is that it would have to be WC. WC asian snakes are very fragile. The lower price fro a WC compared to double that for CB is tempting but is a bad risk for your wallet and a snake that probably won't survive being taken from the wild.

I would also assume that if it is indeed CB, the snake is probably a male as females tend to cost more.
Great find though, don't let the pet store know they are letting it go so cheap. Good luck with it.
Mike.

I don't know any thing about mandarins but I di know from what I have read online that aspen bedding is bad for the RMR's. Why I'm not to sure. I have read to use a thick layer mix of coco fiber and cyprus mulch. Here is another link I found with some info on them.

http://web.mac.com/blakeskinner/iWeb/Site/Thai Bamboo Rat Snake Care Sheet.html

The link you have did not work (?) but googling it gave me this which I believe is the site.

< http://web.mac.com/blakeskinner/iWeb/Site/Thai%20Bamboo%20Rat%20Snake%20Care%20Sheet.html >

The care sheet is almost spot on for mandarins. Saying aspen is unsutible is interesting. Aspen works very well for most everything but I'll go with it as I had a viriety of milk snake that would not settle down and feed until I used shreaded coconut bark as bedding. For that snake it was what was needed. I tried switching back to aspen down the road but it stopped feeding again. Went back to coconut bark and it was fine again.
Maybe RMRs are the same needing a particular bedding texture and color to be comfortable.
Mike.

I got to thinking hard about these again, started looking and by some luck was able to swing a deal of my own on one
I'll be picking it up by weeks end.
Can't wait.
I remember when these RMRs made mandarins look cheap to buy when mandys ran $400. I just found the cost to be out of my reach and dismissed the thought of getting one of these beauties.
Guess my time has come too! Very Cool!
Mike.

Yep, most things seek a more affordable price level after a while. I remember when captive-bred mandarin sub-adults were around $1500 bucks or so. Gosh, what about the tricolored albino Hondurans for $3,000 per hatchling when they first hit the market in 1994-95...LOL!

That's how the ol' hobby rolls though..

Congrats on your new Bamboo, and post some pics for us to ogle over when you get it..LOL!

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

I'll post pics for sure. The seller sent me shots including the belly which you never seem to get to see. The bellys are bright white with no pattern. Its contrast is amazing against the red sides. Ya I'll post pics. I'm happy about it but I lost a corn today so that takes away from it a little. I posted about that on the corn thread.
Mike.

Very cool Mike!...look forward to it.

Sorry to hear about the passing of your female....gosh, very disappointing.

~Doug

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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"