Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I caught a small (12-14" Western Coachwhip snake today near Albuquerque. It was caught (trapped) in a plumbing vault, but it looks like it's in great shape.

I have always wanted one of these snakes, just never lived where they were common before. I kept many adult racers and whipsnakes when I was growing up in So.Cal.

I bought a small 2.5 gal reptile cage at a pet store and some crickets for a temporary solution over the weekend.

Can anybody tell me what the best food source would be? I don't know if this guy is big enough to eat a lizard yet, or if I will be able to catch enough for food for the winter.

If it looks like it's going to be hard to keep this guy healthy, I'll take him back and release him on Monday.

Also, I have to keep him in an unheated outbuilding temporarily (I'm trying to convince my wife to let me bring him indoors) where it's probably 80 in the day, but maybe around 45 at night, will this hurt him?

Thanks for any help

45 degrees at night will do your snake some damage especially if it has undigested food in it's belly. The only time where 45 wouldn't hurt is when they hibernate. Assuming there is no food in the belly.When we "hobbyist" cool our snakes we make sure they have not eaten for at least 10 days or so. I wait two full weeks after the last meal ,and that the snake has defecated it's last meal before introducing it to the hibernaculum.
Barry

Thanks woodsrider,

I put a hot rock in yesterday, so he only spent one night in the cold. I am going to get a heat lamp as well. He had defecated, so he must have eaten before he was caught.

I caught a small lizard and put it in with him yesterday, I have not looked to see if he has eaten it yet. I don't think he has eaten any crickets. I think I will release him if I can't get him to eat by the weekend. There are some places in town where they sell "pinkies" so I'll try one of those if the lizard is still there.

I would also say NO to the hot rock!!! They can become very hot and can actually scar/burn an animal. Especially a snake!