I have caught quite a few of them here in NE Florida, but have always released them after a few weeks of trying to get them to eat. Most have a taste for one species of ground skink it seems. If you go to our local zoo, which has an excellant reptile collection, you will find the eastern coral snake cage occupied by a painted, rubber coral snake.

If you try and succeed in keeping them long term, please send me some notes! good luck- robbie