Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I had some one phone me, asking if I wanted to purchase 2 large carinata. I have no space so declined. A few weeks later I found, 2 boxes on my door step. In each box was a big carinata.
They very interesting snakes,and decided to keep them. but I can't find out much about them.
I don't even know if they are a pair.I do know one is a male, as he exposed himself when I was inspecting him.
I'm not sure about the other one.
They are very shy and defencive. So I would like to leave them alone till they calm down
Is there a easy way to sex them color differcence or tail length? As I said I dont want to handle them or even disturb them till they'r settled.
Please any other info you can give me would be great. I'v Kept Asian rat snakes in the past but nothing quite like this.
They are a hand full, but the most exciting snakes I have kept for years.
Thanks for your time.

Dinodon:
I was hoping an experienced carinata keeper would reply. But since none have, here goes.

Schulz has a small section on keeping them. He recommends a soft substrate because they like to dig. He gives a daytime temperature range of 22C to 28C. Nightime he recommends 17C. Sounds like pretty standard conditions. He says they're mostly shy and skittish and watch your fingers around feeding time.

With respect to differences between the sexes in the number of ventral and subcaudal scales Schulz writes "In some species however, e.g.,
E carinata or E. porphyracea, the differences are so minor that a large number of specimens are required for comparison in order to obtain reliable results". He doesn't mention any obvious dimorphism in this species.

Still tail shape is usually some help in differentiating sex.

And of course you could put them together and look for mating behavior. A caveat, unfortunately, is required. Specifically, they are ophiophagous. I'd be careful and only put them together when they aren't hungry. Also I'd keep an eye on them to make sure they are intersted in mating before leaving them together. Otherwise you could end up with one snake.

If all else fails probing should work.

Sorry I didn't have much help

Regards and good luck
John

Hi
Yes they can be a handfull or more. Very interesting and also intelligent snakes, that can give you plenty of fun observing. They are easy to keep as captive bred. WC I newer tried and would not recommend due to parasites, infections and poor condition. They also have an attitude.......and a serious bite too. Captive bred animals are easy and calm down fast. Only problem is the tendensy to like eating other snakes including their own species.
Keep them in a large terrarium under conditions like cornsnakes. One funny think we have learned here in Denmark is that they actually like freshwater fish ( schrencki too) some animals éven prefer them to rodents.
A friend of mine is keeping them, and I have the eggs in my incubator. I will post, when they hatch.
All together BEAUTIFULL animals with plenty of activity. Unfortunately not so common within the hobby.

Best wishes
Søe
Reptilia-Denmark

Thanks for the feed back.
One is setteling down well. It lets me handle it, it's a little tricky to get into my hands, but once I'm holding her she's fine.
But what I'm happy about she eats, after I handle her and she now leaves her hide to venture arond the cage, with out panicing.
The male is another story. Just changing his water could put him off eating for a month,and he only leaves his hide to drink or try to find a way out and tears up the cage.

I'v read they eat eggs. I'v offerd mine chicken eggs and they not interested. Do the snakes you'r working with eat them?
How big is the female, and how many eggs did she lay?
Thanks for all the info and advice.