Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What is everyones experience with the maximum length for captive raised Northern Pines? I just measured my '99 male at 7'9". I believe that I saw a pic of a monster in a Reptiles magazine a while back. Has anyone seen these guys going over 9 feet in captivity? There is no doubt that mine will exceed 8 feet before he sees pine snake heaven.

Is that length or height??? Sorry, a little humor. That's surely close to a record????

Mike

I have a male that is just over 8'. It took him 6 years to reach the length yours is now. I heard once from a reliable source about a CB pair where each snake was 8'8", but don't know how old the snakes were at that time.

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Steve,
According to the Peterson Field Guide, the record length for these guys is 83" (and it says average is 48-66".
I have no idea if this was a captive or wild caught animal but obviously your snake is well past that record.
I was fortunate enough to see your northern in person and he's definitely the largest I've ever seen. Do you remember his approximate size as a yearling? I have a CB02 male that is already 48" and I don't power feed him at all. He's on the exact same feeding schedule as my female (every 7 days) but is growing at a much faster rate.
My theory is that it's something in your water...all of your adult pines were just massive.
Chris

I think I put a parenthesis next to a )

Chris...........that male was just under 5 feet his first year. Also keep in mind that I did not brumate him his first 2 winters. His first chillin' was winter of 01-02 for his first breeding the following spring. You have to throw the "field guide" records out the window when dealing with captive raised snakes. I have heard of more than one eastern Indigo that has attained a length of over 10 feet. Perhaps all the minerals in my Palm Bay city water has something to do with it...........lol. I sure hate washing my vehicles with it. You've got to be quick to get those water spots off the glass.

I personally took two North Carolina sibling Northern Pinesnakes to 8'1" and 8'2". I heard about the two 8'8" snakes a guy in New York had years ago. Captives do outgrow wild specimens in many cases. There's still big wild snakes out there. Shannon Brown's 9'+ Bullsnake. And an Eastern Coachwhip I got a week ago DOR in southern Mississippi. Measured nine feet long not counting the head which the vultures took. Cheers, TV

WOW ! What a beauty. What does your female(s) look like ? Whats the origin of your stock ? Ive been wanting a pair of pines but ive been looking for nice white ones like your male pictured.

Regards

Keith

Wow, nice looking snake Steve. I am hopefully picking up two pairs of nice Northern Pines this year. I hope mine get close to the size of yours pictured. Great pic, i'd love to see some more if you have any full body shots.
Have a good day,
Gregg F.
Gregg's RB