Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My preferred traits in captive snakes are: 1) active, 2) curious, 3) good feeder, 4) basks often. Russian Rat snakes are my hands-down favorites, ahead of Corns & Gophers. I also love the colors silver & gray.

A Las Vegas dealer just sold me a large, 16-inch baby that hatched in early July. The manager hand picked my male from the clutch after I mentioned that I prefer a more white, rather than yellow, adult. He said, “He has cool gray with white speckling; he looks like an Anery Mexican Night Snake.”

He is a naturally occurring anerythristic specimen. I called back to the dealer later to confirm that they had no anery breeders.

Flickr link below shows his 100-gallon vivarium. (He will eventually grow into it. My smaller terrarium is used as a secure Playpen when I clean the two larger vivariums.) He’s active & visible frequently, and eagerly enjoys exploring his new home. Custom features include fake plants resembling home range species:

Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum)
Siberian Blues (Dianthus amurensis)
Fragrant Snowbell (Styrax obassia)
Siberian White Lilly (Lilium siberia)

Features: Brush piles at each end, *five hide spots*, climbing arches, covered pool.
Rocks: Twelve
Plants: Seventeen fake species, three live species (moss & lichens, Sword Fern).
Branches: Eleven
Thermal Gradient Levels: Three for main (basking spot, warm area near it, cooler corners. Four subtle basking levels on branches (high, medium, low, ground below)

1.0 Elaphe schrencki
1.0 Pantherophis guttatus (Miami phase)

Anery vs. Normal comparison photos:
http://iansvivarium.com/morphs/species/elaphe_schrenckii/anerythristic/

Link

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50964744@N06/
Link

Very nice snake. I love your vivs, but can't imagine having something that large in my little place.
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Kent

From 2010 thru 2012, I lived in a district of Portland called St. Johns. Called "the Manhattan of the West" in the 1890s, it has many old, funky buildings. The 1930s bridge is still a global landmark, and many sidewalks are dated 1910 or earlier. (Some roads are eroded and show the underlying shale rock foundation layer used prior to 1910.)

My studio apartment was so small that even chair placement was an issue. At the time, I kept my 100-gallon vivarium in another town until I moved back 2 years later. (It’s a common tale in an America which expects Austerity for citizens, but expects instead continual Bailouts and Legal & Tax exemptions for dynastic autocrats.)

Normally, most hatchlings would be somewhat intimidated by a large setup like mine. *For awhile only, I suspect. Remember that The Outdoors is very large, and somehow all natural snakes “get over” the intimidation quickly.* In contrast to many captive snakes, my Russian explores actively, both day & night. At only 16 inches now, he definitely would have needed a large enclosure by adulthood.

One other observation about terrarium setups. It's interesting, but the cultural differences are there and are consistent:

1. Americans tend to favor minimalistic terrariums.
(Often with a single hide spot, with water dish.)

2. Europeans tend to favor naturalistic terrariums.
(Often with many hide spots & fake plants.)

I wonder why the cultural difference. Anyone care to ponder that question with the Philosophers?

1.0 Elaphe schrencki
1.0 Pantherophis guttatus (Miami phase)

Ameron, I don't know the St Johns area well. I live north of you in Vancouver. Someday maybe I will try a more natural set up. For now I try to give them as much room as possible. One of my corns is in a tall cage with climbing branches. She likes to get as high as possible, mostly when she is hungry.

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Kent

I've tried to post 4-5 times today, this DAMN server keeps choking & sputtering; won't even load pages! Pathetic! I tried other websites, many. They load just fine. Maintenance needed on the site? Too many files? Webmaster - this is your cue...

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Thanks for your reply. I hope that my writing tone does not come across as condescending. My candor & directness are sometimes misinterpreted.

There is no right or wrong for terrarium setup design. Basic needs must be met, but beyond that, decorating is entirely up to the individual, and everyone has a different viewpoint and preference of colors & design.

I focus on one or two snakes to which I can devote time and exercise. The allure of a Collection is understood, but I have never had the money to consider more than two. (I contract the “I Want That Snake!” virus, too. The last time involved a Spotted Python.)

When keeping any animal (a huge commitment almost as large as raising a child) when preparing its living quarters, I ask myself these questions:

1. Would I be happy with this much proportional space?
2. Would I be happy with this diet, or would I want more variety.
3. Would I be happy with this much solitude and lack of interaction or novelty?

I prepare my vivariums accordingly, maximizing space & function. The bonus is that I end up with a very decorative showcase (like an aquarium) that I can use to decorate the home in rooms, hallways or the main entryway.

Since I’ve been creating Naturalistic terrarium setups for decades, mine are Zoo quality, or better. I’m very proud of them and their Snap-together design for ease of cleaning.

Best wishes for success & fun with your Corn snake. I will try to post photos of my Russian Rat & Corn snakes as I get more photos ready.

Don (Ameron)
Portland/Vancouver

1.0 Elaphe schrencki
1.0 Pantherophis guttatus (Miami phase)

I've wondered about that myself. In America we have tons of species of herps compared to most places in Europe and America has much more wild places. Maybe having a more limited access to wild places inspires some Europeans to recreate a wilderness in their homes? I know that my attitudes were shaped mainly by books I read which told me that smaller, utilitarian cages were better because they're easier to keep clean and easier to observe/control any health problems.
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www.hcu-tx.org/