Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I must admit that at first I wouldn't even THINK about getting a gopher snake. As with my Glossy I figured that people would yawn in my face when I told them that I had one. So I go out and buy a big black Mexican Kingsnake, an amel stripped and a blizzard corn, three Kenyan Boa's (a pair being het for albino), and two Sonoron Desert Dwarf Boa's. I'm content.... till I find a huge Sonoran Gopher trying to raid one of my mouse colonies. After the initial shock of finding it, I checked to see what I had. No rattles... so I went for it. If only I had a camera to record the rediculas things I tried to catch my first mouse room wild thing. In short... I succeeded... but now what?

I thought about keeping it but his size, and all that hissing and rattling gave me second thoughts. I'd release it but the neighborhood would eventually kill it (and I also found out you shouldn't release them). So I ended up giving it to a friend, and then regretted it. He was gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. Just BIG and ANGRY. Once my friend took it out of the bag I'd put it in...it chilled out. Back to being regretful.

I was hoping to find another one, but what were the odds? Well, you can emagine my surprise when a mere three days later a yearling sized beauty tries to steal a meal. I catch it (with more skill this time) but he doesn't put up a fight. I carry it around while I set up a new enclosure for it, and it's chillin. I put it in and give it a small weaner mouse and he takes it right away. A few days later I take him out and check him out. He's still chillin. Man, what an awesomely different feeling it is to handle a wild caught snake compared to the captive breds. Yeah, they are all snakes... but it's just a different feeling to me. More respect for their knowledge? I don't know. Anyway... looking at pictures of gophers with their natural color never turned me on till I saw one up close like this. He is gorgeous. I have a picture of him but I don't know how to put it on here. Then too, it's not digital so the quality is not as sharp. But if someone would put it on here for me I could send it in an email. Sorry I've gone on so long with this.... but I'm excited... and now hooked for sure.
MissHissssss

Welcome, but you now are bitten by the pit bug which will leave you broke, satisfied, longing for the next one, joyous, cold , hot etc etc etc. There is no cure but what the heck, it is such a wonderful illness. Stay in touch it is the initial feelings of awe and the follow up feelings that keep us all in this dark recess of this hobby.

LOL

John Cherry
Cherryville Farms

Cherryville Farms - Reptiles

John's (and other's) pictures keep you wishing for more. You might call it a Pit fall. I can't quit 'till I'm knee deep in Pits. John do you have more pictures???

Mike B

Thanks for the welcomes. It's nice to be in the pits with ya all. LOL. I thought I'd add that I saw more snake tracks leading up to the mouse room but it looked like it just came and then left again.... I hope. I always worry about rattler's. Anyway... I'm beginning to feel like a pit stop (no pun intended) for hungry snakes here lately. I've had these mice for over two years now and never has this happened before. Now three in a little over a week?

Just thought I'd add that I took Bandit out today, and he's still chillin. I call him Bandit because of the black mask across his face, and the fact that he was trying to steal my mice before I caught him. I've already started studying the how too's of Gopher ownership to prepare for the potato chip syndrome. I read someplace that they eat A LOT. What does this mean? One food item a week is not enough, or what?

I will be getting some pix on soon thanks to someone who sent me their email to help with this task. They are sorta blurred so please forgive the quality. I know it's just a plain ole WC color compared to the beautiful morphs I've seen on this thread.... but it is just so awesome to me right now that I have to share. Thanks for letting me rattle on so much.

MissHisssss

This is the snake that Miss Hisss caught raiding her mouse colony, lol

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The Crawl Space

another pic

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The Crawl Space

and the last pic, very nice looking snake.

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The Crawl Space

Bottomless Pit.

Mike B

Welcome Miss Hisssss,
It doesn't appear that there are a lot of us girls around here. But the Pit addiction appears to affect the male and the female of the species almost equally.
One gopher today, racks to house 15 of them next week.
Enjoy your new snake and keep us posted on any further mouse colony invasions.
Blessings,
Shari

That snake is very, VERY nice!!!!!! Good catch!!!!!!! Keep us imformed about this snake! And yes....it is all downhill from here.......you will have more pits very soon!

Billy
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Genesis 1:1

Thanks ya all for the warm welcomes and comments. And a special thanks to Ron for putting my pictures on here so that you could see my new treasure. Now if I could just find someone to take some decent pictures of it till I can get a better camera. LOL.

I see what you mean... the potato chip syndrome is really starting to kick in because I'm finding that I'm not really satisfied with having 'just one'. I've been hunting for books about them but so far it's been the pits finding any. Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I can get some, and their titles?

MissHisssss