Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am looking at getting either a racer or a coachwhip. When I first saw coachwhips I really wanted one, but then I saw the black racer. So now I am torn. But since they are similar, would it be a ridiculous idea to keep a racer and a coachwhip together. Or should racers not even be kept in pairs at all, since from what I have read they can be somewhat cantankerous.

Hey,

Trust me, do not house a coachwhip and a racer together. The racer is more worse than the coachwhip at being canable. If the coachwhip is too big to be eaten by the racer, the racer still trys to bite lol. And 2 racers might be ok, usually what i do is put in racers that are the same size as the other so its not so easy for the other to try and eat it. Racers and Coachwhip are not beginner snakes, they need lots of room to roam or they can stress and rub there noses off. However as i have told my friends, i keep coachwhips and i dont think there is a cage big enough were they wont try and get out of, its just there nature. I had my coachwhips in a 20 gallon there for a while till i could get there new cage in. Its a huge cage. And the cool thing is, i can house like 6 in there. From my experience keeping both snakes, the racer does not do as well as the coachwhip in captivity. They seem to take longer to tame. Some dont eaven tame or eat. However there are some coachwhips that will not tame and wont eat, most actually do very well. If you need more help just email me, wchuntsman@msn.com. THANKS, WILLIAM H. AND THE GREEN PINE MUSEUM.
Green Pine Museum Website

Personally, I wouldn't even bother with racers. Cantankerous may be an understatement. They generally are very nervous as captives, and among the most likely to rub off or otherwise damage their rostral (nose) scales trying to find a way out of their enclosure.

Racers can and will eat other snakes, so housing them with any other snakes - even other racers - is risky.

michaelb