Reptile & Amphibian Forums

...Masticophis lateralis. They are local to some spots here in L.A. Co. I have a friend who's got one that is doing well, eating rodents. I was interested in other people's experience keeping them as captives. From observing them in nature they seem to be rather cold weather tolerant snakes, as I seem to find them here, most often on overcast days in the 50' & 60's.

reako45

This is one from a nearby Park. I used to be activities coordinator for a juvenile probation facility and believe that this is the same snake encountered by me & the kids on a back in 2006. This photo was taken last spring.

reako45

I've kept a couple over the years. One was a sub adult that would take crew mice from my hand as long as he was in his hide area which was under a flat rock that sat right under a basking light. The other was an adult that fed real good on live mice. I never kept either that long in captivity but they did great while I had them. The adult was a very tame acting individual when I would hold him. He seemed to calm down once in captivity a short while. I'm not sure it it was just him or if others are like that.
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That's a great question. I caught my first one earlier this month. I let it go, but they are cool snakes and I wonder if anyone had luck keeping and breeding them.

Tim

Third Eye