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Found this guy under a neighbors trash can. Got there just before the neighbor took the edge of a shovel to his neck.....PHEW!!!

Found in So. Cal, San Bernardino County - about 45" and seems to be very healthy. Just shed today. Also, how do you tell the gender?
Thanks!

almost looks like an anery[?] sonoran gopher. definitely looks like a male. female pits have notoriously short tails. hope this helps.......

I agree with Double "D". I'm glad you were able to save the snake from a neighbor.

Terry Parks

That is a great looking gopher! Im not sure exactly where you found it, could be a sonoran or great basin I suppose.

Found him in Rancho Cucamonga, CA.

From the map I saw, Id say probably San Diego gopher, maybe great basin and third possibilty sonoran. That area is near the section where all three meet, it could have multiple influence. I cant really tell gophers apart all that well (except local ones since I see so many of them) they all look the same in pictures to me, and that one you found is unlike anything Ive ever seen.

So what you're saying is that George (his name) is a "One of a kind"? Lol

Well, close. Anery gophers have been found, I dont know how many though. I would consider it about as rare as finding an albino. Here is a pic of some anery and snow (snow is anery with albino) san diego gophers I found in the classifieds:

http://market.kingsnake.com/image/245311.jpg

Even if its not the first, its really beautiful. Id say your gopher is much prettier than those offered in the ad, even one of the more beautiful gophers Ive ever seen.

Thanks! Any suggestions on substrate, and how often is best for him to be fed? I am still fairly new to this, but Herps have always had a special place with me. I cant wait until I can find him a girlfriend!!

Most people here use aspen bedding. Dont forget that he will get bigger, so make sure he has plenty of room to stretch. Hide box and some water should be included in the setup. I feed mine smaller prey than you would a king or corn but feed them more often. Im not sure if this rule applies to gophers or not, but give it a mouse, maybe two in a row, once or twice a week. Gophers have been know to get into mouse burrows and consume all of its inhabitants, so they should have no problem taking two adult mice if it is near 4' in length. When mine come out of their hidebox and show activity, I assume its feeding time again. After a feed, they will usually stay in the box for a few days. Take a look at the pituophis page on this website, click on the care sheets, its on the list there.

Hi there, actually that area is a little far north and east for San Diegos. And the pic looks like it's all Sonoran, although some Great Basins can "look" like some Sonorans also. You are right about being close to the intergrade zone, but that particular snake doesn't really show any San Diego influence at all. When it is present, it's usually quite obvious. This one is definitely a nice looking Gopher though.

Eimon