Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just an observation.
I'm currently keeping various Kingsnakes, a Racer, and SEVERAL Drys. I recently got a smokin W.C. male Spilotes.
Since I've had this snake I've seen him out and about more often in the couple of weeks he's been here than all of my Drys put together in ALL the time I've had them!LOL
He's always hanging out or crusing around his cage, same with the Racer. If I want to see the Drys I have to lift up their hides or the newspaper flooring to see them.
The Spilotes is not nervous or bitey what so ever, doesn't rub his nose trying to escape, tolerates handling, and is a voracious feeder of F/T rodents!
In other words, he's everything I thought they weren't supposed to be, going by what I used to hear from other keepers. I guess it's like the same horror stories I used to hear about W.C. Y/T Cribos before I owned any!
If I had been turned onto the Spilotes sooner I would have had a huge collection of high yellow Tigers right now instead of the YT's!
I love my YT's, but if I had to start over again I'd do it with the Spilotes. It sucks to pay hundreds of dollars for a snake and hardly ever see it!

Bobby

bob, they are definitely one of the premier display animals there are, bar none. i don't know how you have him set up but they are highly arboreal and when given the chance to climb and hang out....it's showtime! mine have never had hides, instead they are in a 6' tall tank w/ branches and perches, etc. it's like having the discovery channel on 24/7. they are always doing something! so.......when are you gonna start bringing in the mexicans? ;-]......

I agree! They are awesome to watch! Also awesome to watch eat!
By far one of the fastest feeding snakes I've ever owned. This one eats in a hurry just like a Cobra.
Right now I have him in a 4 foot vision cage. It's not the taller 4 foot model, but the 18 inch high version with a tall rubbermaid hide and he climbs all over the hide and along the inner lip of the door frame. I just put a big piece of driftwood in there and he's on it now.
Eventually I'll build a nice, tall enclosure with lots of perches for him and his friends to hang on.
These snakes are so cool!

I'm working on the Mexicans! We'll see what happens with that.
For now, all we can do is beg "afflicted" for one or two of his babies!

I am glad that people are starting to see how cool these things are. I breed boas and pythons mostly and when people find out that I am working with spilotes, they kind of "don't get it". They really are a very amusing captive. I always tell people that they are very smart and unlike any other snake I have kept. Spilotes don't have a huge following and I still feel uncomfortable posting here because they really don't belong in this forum or the rat snake forum. Atleast you "dry" guys allow us to be here and don't rip on us like some other users might from other forums. I do try to keep my posts somewhat educational so even the most hardcore of dry keepers might appreciate my endevour. BTW, my latest hatchling is due to shed real soon and I will post a new pic of it when it does. Hmmm, mexicanus huh?

Hey man,
When are you going to be spreading those bad boys and girls around!!! LOL
For the longest time I only worked with the large Constrictors and wouldn't even think of keeping a Colubrid or any other squirmy, wirey, Dry/Racer type snake!
I didn't even give them a chance.
During my tunnel vision days I passed on several extremely high yellow and orange Spilotes of the quality that afflicted keeps and produces just because they weren't big Constrictors.
Their supposed high maintenance needs and their nervous reputations turned me right off even though I marveled at their stunning coloration.
Now I have one and I find myself hypnotized watching this snake watch me or creep around doing his thing.
He eats ALL the time and right off the tongs with no hesitation.
Very curious and alert this snake is and stunningly beautiful!
I will be getting more...oh yes, I will be getting more!
I can now see why the Dry guys appreciate the Spilotes.
Afflicted, you do have the nicest Spilotes I've ever seen!
Did those smokin babies come from your nice male and the regular looking striped female???
Gotta watch him some more, even though he's sleeping! LOL

BobbyLee, chill out boy!!! They are cool, but still don't compare with Dry's!!! I've noticed that about half of my Dry's are very secretive and the other half cruise all the time...Out looking around, watching the action, etc...I guess it's just "personality"...Also, handling a big Indigo is just not comparable to Spies!! A little whippy, not much strength, and fragile looking and feeling compared to a big boar or sow Indy!! Still the Spies are pretty...

Here's what I did with my first trio...I had a Precision Cage 4' x 30" x 15"...I turned it on END and took shower curtain holders and stuck several at the top of the enclosure...Put round wood "limbs" in the holders, and bingo, instant "jungle" for them...Put a limb from floor to the new "ceiling" and they stay there probably 80% of the time...They don't seem to need floor space if you give them verticality...Lots cheaper than buying a 4' tall cage!!!

Go Spurs!!!
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Carl W Gossett
Garage Door Herps
Monument,Colorado...northern territory of the Great Republic of Texas

Carl,

Of course the Spilotes can't compare to the Drys when it comes to power, mass, etc., but then again the biggest Dry is still a worm when compared to a big Boa, Python, or Anaconda in the same regard!
That's not what got me turned onto them.
It's their coloration, their stealthy, agile movements and their outgoing characteristics and activety levels that I like. Yeah, some of my Drys hang out sometimes, but 75% of the time they are hiding or going to their hide!
As I said before, it sucks to have hundreds or thousands of dollars worth of snakes that you hardly ever see!

Bobby

Carl,

Just curious, when your Spilotes crap do they descend to use the cage floor or do they just let it go while they remain perched above???
I never kept any arboreal snake before. I know that the tree lizards I've kept would just crap down the side of what ever they were resting on!!!

Bobby

from their perches, it seems...
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Carl W Gossett
Garage Door Herps
Monument,Colorado...northern territory of the Great Republic of Texas