Just thought I'd post a picture of one of my Pseudaspis - South African Mole Snakes. You don't see these around very often. They are strong, robust snakes that like to burrow and overall are very Pituophis-like in habits (including a tendency to hiss quite loudly when threatened). One of their stranger characteristics is that they are ovoviviparous - live-bearers. I hope to have my 3 foot pair up to breeding size (5-6 feet) in 1-2 years from now.
Ophidiophile Farms
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Pseudaspis cana
Ophidiophile
May 31, 2003 09:18 AM
Replies (2)
chrish
May 31, 2003 10:11 AM
I had a jet black mole snake for a couple of years, but could never find a female for it. I don't understand why these magnificent beasts aren't more popular in the hobby, particularly among Pituophis fans.
Good to see someone breeding them. Hopefully they will start to become more common in the hobby.
How is the temperament of yours?
Mine was a hisser, but didn't bite. I have read other posts about them having a really bad bite!
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Chris Harrison
Ophidiophile
May 31, 2003 02:47 PM
That's a beautiful one Chris.
I got mine as neonates and they are quite different then both in color as well as heavily patterned. As the photo shows, my female is probably going to be a red brown but the male is still changing. His background as a neonate was light ashy grey but he's been darkening steadily. He will likely either be a dark grey or maybe black if the darkening continues.
>>I don't understand why these magnificent beasts aren't more popular in the hobby, particularly among Pituophis fans.
I just think they are not available. I know when I got mine that there was a long waiting list for them but the clutch was very male heavy so only a couple of people got pairs. I got my male initially and then got a female many months later.
>>How is the temperament of yours?
The male and female are very different. The male is wiggly but seldom hisses and never bites. I've had the male since birth. The female who I got later arrived as a hissing, spitting, ornery creature. She still puts on a show every time I reach into her cage and still occasionally bites and musks. Her bite is not bad (no worse than a ratsnake) but she's still small and hopefully she'll calm down with time. My male proves that they can be tamed and acclimated particularly if worked with from birth. I've also known some wild-caught adults that were pretty docile.
