Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What's the typical prey of hatchling Northern Black Racers? This guy is from an area with no local lizard species. So far it shows no interest in pinky mice. Thanks!
AD

No indigenous lizards? where are you located in racer country?

They can/may eat all sorts of things frogs, lizards, field mice, other snakes, invertebrates, birds.. it may be a long and tedious process to get them eating. I don't keep racers but have been interested for a long time now.

Nate

This little Racer is from Long Island, NY.
No native lizards now, though some say 5-Lined Skinks and Fence Swifts "were" indigenous, but are now 100% extirpated. There are many pockets of introduced Italian Lacertas, but not in the area were this hatchling is from, so they are not a potential prey item for Racers here. We are going to release him today and let him get back to life in the wild. He seems way to stressed in captivity. Thanks for the suggestions!
AD

Hi AD,

I used to occassionally try to keep Black Racers from Massachusetts as a kid. They were always really uptight, more so than most other racers from other parts of the country! There was one yearling I had luck with who would take guppies out of his water dish, and chase crickets around his cage. I remember that he did like to have a real hot spot. Most often I've done what you've done and let them go. I hate to watch them wither away, if you keep them warm and they refuse to eat they're burning through what very small fat reserves they have and won't make it. Sad to watch, or to be the cause of.

I've always had better luck with Southern Black racer and the more western forms.

I'm glad he's back free in the wild. There's nothing quite as stunning as seeing a Black Racer in the northeastern US. They're giants!

Take care,
Chris

Yep, we let him go exactly where they found him. Chased and caught what might have been his parents, two BIG ones, under a board a few feet from where the hatchling was. Awesome snakes!! I'll stick to my sandboas who could not give me chase if they tried, though they bite just as hard. Thanks for all the help!
AD

Well, I'm a west coast guy, so I'm not familiar with Black racers specifically, but I know the racers out here will take crickets as youngsters, then can usually be switched to pinks with some lizard or frog scenting. Make sure its got good hides and leave it alone as much as possible until it starts eating good.

I've gotten them to eat small frogs like Wood Frogs and also small snakes. If nothing works and you are determined to keep the racer you may have to force mouse tails for a while. In time the snake will accept mouse tails without being forced and may take pink mice soon after. Also try scenting defrosted pink mice with chicken blood from store-bought chicken or rubbing the defrosted pink on uncooked chicken. Mmmmmm...who could resist?

Set the cage up hot like a Desert Lizard cage, 75 Watt reflective bulb 10-12 Inches from bedding (3 inch deep) this deep bedding will help reduce "Babysnake stress syndrome", babies want to be hot ..90*-115* degrees F, put a small heat strip under the end the cage that the light shines onto, but leave the other end cool. Do these things and I'll bet your racer eats anything that moves in its cage, but first consider this, I raise Eastern Coachwhips and have had many clutches and of every clutch I always have to gently force a small lizard's head into their mouths for several months after hatching before they eat willingly, with the exception of a few pr clutch that are just plain aggressive by nature, but remember this... the whole family of "Longtailed Snakes" (Indigos, Racers and Coachwhips) are extreamly timid as juviniles, more so than any other snake that I have ever worked with in over 25 years, this is the reason babies are rarly found alive in the wild,and the reason for the deep bedding. I've seen over Fifty Indigos in the wild in 25 years but have never seen one under 30"...but anyway Baby Racers will eat Crickets and smaller Snakes, even Worms, but get him hot. hope all this helps JB

Thanks JB,

Your info is always much appreciated.

Nate

That is a beautiful Eastern Coachwhip! I always love to hear that people can keep them successfully... maybe someday I'll get the chance.

Thanks,
Chris