Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm looking to get a San Diego gopher snake and I want to make sure I have all the information before I get one. I've read care sheets (particularly Melissa Kaplan's) but I want to see what works from people with first hand experience. Those of you who have them, I'd apprecaite your responses on some questions:

What size tank is best for a single individual? I'm thinking maybe a 40 gallon.

How much substrate should I use? For example, if I use reptile bark, how much should I use? I want enough that the snake can burrow but I don't want to use so much that the heat from the undertank heating pad cant reach the surface.

What should the heat be at? The range I've heard is around 85 during the day and around 75 at night. I've also heard that pits do well at a little lower than that, such as 82 or so during the day. How hot do you keep both the warm and cool sides of your tank at?

Is a water dish 6 inches or so in diameter adequate?

Should a 60 watt lightbulb in a reflector be placed over the warm side of the tank as well as just a heating pad?

I guess those are my only questions for now. Thanks for any help.

John

Hey John,

San Diegos are awesome snakes. I only have one currently in my collection, but thought I would chime in a sec...

A 40 gallon would be way too big, IMO, for a baby or sub adult. Adults can do well in a tank half that size, like a 20 gallon long. If the cage is too big...they may get spooked so to say. It is not guaranteed with all snakes that they would react that way..but I have seen it with a pine snake. No matter what size..just make sure that they can have access to a hide box that will make them feel completely secure.

Reptile bark I am not familiar with, but when I used aspen, I used about an inch or so.

You are right in hearing that pits do well at lower temps. While they may do good at 85, I personally keep them lower at 78 to the highest of 82 and do not use any heating pads, but make my whole room the recommended ambient temps. Not to say that using a heating pad would be bad, I just personally don't use them. You just want to make sure that the snake does not get too hot. My first San Diego gopher withered away due to me keeping him too warm, and I would shy away from lamps as well to keep down the chance of the snake getting too hot.

A 6 inch water dish sounds good for a young one but then again that is about the size of the dish I have in my adult's cage.

Hope this helps!

Billy

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Genesis 1:1

I have a couple of Applegate San Diego's and they are housed in those 27qt tubs from Target. A 40 gal aquarium would probably be overkill. Most snakes like somewhat enclosed spaces, to get that "secure" feeling.

The substrate of my choise is also aspen, about an inch or two thick. I put enough in there for them to burrow under. Again, security issue. Don't worry about the heat reaching the surface, because it will, heat always rises. The repti-bark is messy and I have seen it "stain" the undersides of some snakes too. It will also stain the water and bowl.

I also keep my room around 78-82 degrees and heat the whole room. To help them cool down, I use water bowls with notches cut out on the bottom sides for them to curl under the water bowls themselves. My rule of thumb is if they can fit in it curled up, then it's plenty big.

The lightbulb and reflector is really unnecessary. No reason to add heat if it's already provided.

Hope this helps
Scott

OK, thanks (to both Billy and Scott). I don't think heating the whole room to 78-82 will be an option. So 82 on the warm side and say 76-77 on the cool side would be good you think? I'll scratch the lamp then. I guess I'll only get a 20 long tank. I'm always afraid it will be too small and my snake will feel cramped. Maybe I'll just get aspen for the substrate... I just really like my tank to look natural, with bark, fake plants, a branch, etc. Thanks for the help.

John

Also, is potting soil an acceptable substrate for gophers? I've heard it's OK for garters...

Stay away from potting soil! As a matter of fact, stay away from that "bed-a-beast" stuff too, that is cocunut fiber and very fine. Both will stick to your snake and get in between their belly scales, making handling them a mess, especially if you take your snakes out often (I do 1-4x day). It will be a big pain in the butt to brush off your whole snake. I will reccomend Aspen, but I am also now trying out some of the Repti Bark stuff for my king, and it seems to be real nice and very attractive, although I think that Pits would prefer the aspen to burrow in.

I keep all of my snakes at "room temp", which is about 60-65 at night and around 70 during the day now in Minnesota - it's 12 below right now outside!!! I use an undertank heater that covers about 1/3 of each tank, keeps the aspen nice and warm there. While this is far cooler than what most others keep their snakes at, all three of mine are absolutely thriving, have awesome appetites, and my baby bull is growing fast. She's eating 2-3 large fuzzies a week and digesting them quickly.

Pits. are very hardy, just give them a hide and an undertank heater and you will have some happy snakes.
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Matt from Minnesota
Cornsnake, Eastern Kingsnake, IL Bullsnake - all girls.
0.1 Crested Gecko "Camey"; 1.0 Crested Gecko "Spots" RIP

OK, thanks. If the room is 70 during the day and 60-65 at night, what temperature does the tank get with the undertank heater running? I don't know if I'll go with aspen or what - I really hate the way aspen looks. And do you use 20 long tanks? I want to have 2 hide boxes, a water dish, a branch or 2, and some fake plants all in there as I want my snake to feel comfortable and be active. One of the reasons I want a gopher instead of a king or milk is that they are primarily diurnal and very active (right?). Thanks.

John

Hey -

Well, I think the ambient temp in my tanks is usually about 70, and in the bedding above the heaters it is probably 85-95, and that heat radiates directly into their bellies and is great for digestion, similar to a warm road or basking area in the wild. Even with the cooler temps, my snakes spend most of their time on the cool side, except for the couple days after they eat.

I have a 10 gallon for my bullsnake and I'll be having to move her probably by the time she is a year old. Remember, the hides for snakes don't have to be very big, they like it tight.

Also, it is true that my bullsnake is more active than my corn or my kingsnake during the day, it is fun to watch her wake up and come out of her hide when I turn the lights on.
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Matt from Minnesota
Cornsnake, Eastern Kingsnake, IL Bullsnake - all girls.
0.1 Crested Gecko "Camey"; 1.0 Crested Gecko "Spots" RIP