This is a fairly straightforward species to work with as Kris mentioned. We keep our's in a 28" x 24" x 24" Vision and use the following set up:
- 60 watt incadescent lamp to create a thermal gradient. TEmps directly below the basking spot (rock pile with layers in between to hide in) is approx. 90 degrees F with ambient temps in the low 70's cool side to low 80's warm side. Night temps drop to around 70 deg F.
- We use a sandy soil substrate, secure rock piles near heat source, driftwood further away to provide additional hiding/resting areas, shallow pan of water.
- Our oreganus gets 1-2 rodents every 3 weeks (this is an older adult so it doesn't need to be fed as often as neonates or juvies).
Hope this helps.
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
>>I know Dan S. from Crotalus & Co. had a pretty good care sheet for them...you might want to check with him...
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>>They're not difficult to care for...Temps in the mid 80's on the warm end, low 70's on the cool...I used to keep mine on aspen shavings, hidespot and a water dish...adult mouse once a week or so...
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>>I grew up in northern Ca and alays enjoyed keeping these guys...Be careful though...they have a nasty bite! (Never been bitten myself...just heard stories and seen pics...YIKES!)
>>
>>-AzAtrox
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL
