Eastern Yellow Bellied Racer as pet

[rubbertoes]

Ok, so I already know that racers to not make the best pets. I know that they are messy, super energetic, and are prone to carrying parasites. But my friend has a female Eastern Yellow Bellied Racer (Coluber constrictor flaviventris) that laid 8 eggs, and all 8 of them hatched. Now he has 8 neonate racers and is keeping two for himself, giving one to me, and letting the rest go. I am hoping that most of the racers problems in captivity will be removed due to this being a captive-bred specimen. This will be my first snake (although i've owned several lizards, geckos, and turtles in the past) I am getting a 20 gal. "long" tank and am planning on using shredded newspaper as substrate, as well as getting a water bowl for soaking/drinking, a couple of hides, and a heat lamp. is there anything i am missing, or do any of you guys have tips from working with these animals in the past? Thanks.

[Albert Clark]

Sounds like a good start and congrats on the new addition. A 20 gal. long is a big space for a hatchling. The shredded newspaper is a good idea so he can have a lot of hiding spots available to him.

[rubbertoes]

Sounds like a good start and congrats on the new addition. A 20 gal. long is a big space for a hatchling. The shredded newspaper is a good idea so he can have a lot of hiding spots available to him.

Yeah, i realize its a bit large for a hatchling but i was thinking about making some sort of barrier/wall to shorten it until he gets bigger. I dont really want to have to buy another tank down the road if i can avoid it, although i understand stuff like that is necessary sometimes. anyone else have tips or anything like that?

[Rattlehead]

Don't forget a thermostat. I have no idea about racers' requirements, but good luck!

[Obsidian_Dragon]

As long as there's plenty of cover for them to hide in, a 20 gallon long should be fine even for a hatchling. Stick some fake plants and the like in there. :)

[rubbertoes]

Hey guys, just coming in with an update. i now have everything i need for the enclosure, minus a lid (which i have to make due to my tank's unique dimensions) The lid will be made tonight, and i am getting the snake tomorrow. will post pics tomorrow or the day after

[TheLastBaron]

I rescued a yellow bellied racer who had his tail flattened by a car years and years ago. Eventually about 2 inches of tail fell off and he was fit as a fiddle. He didn't take to handling but also wasn't very bitey either. This guy came to me as a fully grown adult though, so he isn't the best measure. I also keep a ribbon snake currently and he doesn't like to be handled but is ok with me reaching into his enclosure and touching him. He will crawl through my fingers calmly and eat fish and frogs off tongs with multiple people in the room watching, so with strong interaction these snakes can be tamed down to some degree.

[rubbertoes]

I rescued a yellow bellied racer who had his tail flattened by a car years and years ago. Eventually about 2 inches of tail fell off and he was fit as a fiddle. He didn't take to handling but also wasn't very bitey either. This guy came to me as a fully grown adult though, so he isn't the best measure. I also keep a ribbon snake currently and he doesn't like to be handled but is ok with me reaching into his enclosure and touching him. He will crawl through my fingers calmly and eat fish and frogs off tongs with multiple people in the room watching, so with strong interaction these snakes can be tamed down to some degree.

I just got it earlier this morning, and my friend included another, so i have two baby racers now! Since they are siblings, I am keeping them in the same enclosure for now until they get larger. They have both nipped me once or twice, but I'm hoping that with frequent handling that will decrease. I will post pics in just a minute.

[rubbertoes]

Here is one of the snakes, the only one I have pictures of, although they are identical.
http://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag387/rgt200rubbertoes/baby%20racer_zps4vkdikp4.jpg
Here is their setup as of now:
http://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag387/rgt200rubbertoes/racer%20tank_zpsbycbsjzo.jpg
What do you guys think?

[Bandit]

Awesome snakes! I really enjoy working with racers. Personally, I'd add some more fake plants or objects for them to hide under. As for handling, they may calm down, they may not, just depends on the individual. I've worked with some that literally never calm down for their entire lives, and some that became easily handled pretty quickly(although still very fast moving, but that's no big deal).

[Bandit]

Also, if you can get them to eat rodents off tongs from an early age it would make things way easier for yourself in the long run. And then on top of that you can give them lizards, frogs, etc.

[AlexCrazy]

Great gift! He is so pretty! Best of luck :)

[rubbertoes]

Also, if you can get them to eat rodents off tongs from an early age it would make things way easier for yourself in the long run. And then on top of that you can give them lizards, frogs, etc.

Yes, they are a bit too small to eat rodents right now but I plan on trying to start them on pinkies when they get big enough. They are on crickets right now.

[rubbertoes]

Awesome snakes! I really enjoy working with racers. Personally, I'd add some more fake plants or objects for them to hide under. As for handling, they may calm down, they may not, just depends on the individual. I've worked with some that literally never calm down for their entire lives, and some that became easily handled pretty quickly(although still very fast moving, but that's no big deal).

I added one more hide, but they haven't used either of them so far, except for the first time I put them in the enclosure. They just burrow in the newspaper. Do you have any other tips from working with these animals?

[Bandit]

Yeah I know, they're a bit small now for mice. But just try to get them on F/T pinkies sooner than later. I've always fed racers lizards and frogs as well. I'm sure they'd enjoy some of those every now and then.

Overall they are pretty easy to keep. They may not use the hides very often, but it's good to have it in there for them. But for now it seems like you have everything covered, so I'd say just enjoy your new pets!

[rubbertoes]

Well from observing them so far, i can tell that one is very active and is usually out and about, exploring the enclosure, or more likely trying to get out haha. The other one has begun using the black hide and I usually dont see him. The active one is slightly shorter and has a lighter brown, and the "lazy" one is longer and has a darker brown coloration on his spots. Im going to let them settle in for about a week, then try feeding them some crickets. When i do feed them, should i just put them in seperate containers and put the crickets in 1 at a time? or should i use tongs or something?

[Albert Clark]

Imo, I would clear a corner of the tank and place a small bowl inside and try some frozen thawed cut up pink mice and several live whole guppies to get them started. I don't know about the crickets.

[rubbertoes]

Imo, I would clear a corner of the tank and place a small bowl inside and try some frozen thawed cut up pink mice and several live whole guppies to get them started. I don't know about the crickets.

Are you saying just leave the guppies in sitting in the bowl? Wouldnt they just die before they got eaten? And would i just cut the pinkies to the size of the snake's head? Crickets are what they were already on when I got them, havent fed them here yet. Why don't you recommend them?

[Albert Clark]

I am not saying not to go with the crickets I was merely relaying what I felt was a more nutritious feeding. Certainly if they are taking the crickets then sure. I didn't think they were already feeding on them. Yeah the guppies would be flopping around in the bowl and attracting the snakes by scent and movement. Both of those should trigger a quick feeding response.

[Bandit]

They'll definitely eat crickets, but I agree that you should feed other things so that they get all of the nutrients they need. If you can find some small toads, frogs, lizards, geckos, etc...try throwing them in there right in front of the snakes. They'll catch them on their own.

[rubbertoes]

I am not saying not to go with the crickets I was merely relaying what I felt was a more nutritious feeding. Certainly if they are taking the crickets then sure. I didn't think they were already feeding on them. Yeah the guppies would be flopping around in the bowl and attracting the snakes by scent and movement. Both of those should trigger a quick feeding response.

I will try some guppies for sure, maybe the chopped pinkies. thanks for the advice!
EDIT: Will small wild freshwater minnows work as well as guppies bought from a pet store? There is a creek by my house that is full of them.

[rubbertoes]

They'll definitely eat crickets, but I agree that you should feed other things so that they get all of the nutrients they need. If you can find some small toads, frogs, lizards, geckos, etc...try throwing them in there right in front of the snakes. They'll catch them on their own.

I definitely can find all those things in my yard. i wil try those as well as the guppies that albert mentioned.

[Bandit]

You'll enjoy seeing them eat. Racers go crazy when you throw live food in. They have a really good feeding response when they see the movement. Although I wouldn't suggest live rodents.

[rubbertoes]

also what about live mealworms? i have a lot of those that i give to my leopard gecko

[Bandit]

I've never tried mealworms. In the wild, they eat lizards, frogs, small rodents, etc. While they do eat insects as they are very opportunistic feeders, I wouldn't make insects their main diet.

[rubbertoes]

dont worry, they will have a variety:)

[Albert Clark]

I will try some guppies for sure, maybe the chopped pinkies. thanks for the advice!
EDIT: Will small wild freshwater minnows work as well as guppies bought from a pet store? There is a creek by my house that is full of them.

Yeah, those would be great! The frogs and toads have high parasite loads so I would use those very little. Always include cut up pinks until they can eat whole ones.:shocked:

[TheLastBaron]

They are little beauties. I advise getting them feeding off tongs asap, in my experience the racers/ribbons become much more interactive and less flighty once they realize that you bring the food.

[rubbertoes]

They are little beauties. I advise getting them feeding off tongs asap, in my experience the racers/ribbons become much more interactive and less flighty once they realize that you bring the food.

Yeah i will definitely try!

[Obsidian_Dragon]

We feed cut up pinks to garters that are too small for whole ones. That works well enough and you're not dealing with crickets, or worrying about parasite loads or some of the other issues that come with feeding fish.

[rubbertoes]

We feed cut up pinks to garters that are too small for whole ones. That works well enough and you're not dealing with crickets, or worrying about parasite loads or some of the other issues that come with feeding fish.

oops, i just fed one of them 3 minnows haha. i havent gotten the other one to eat yet. at least he ate off of tongs!

[rubbertoes]

Well, the racer that didnt eat earlier has still not eaten crickets of minnows. Do you guys have any tips for getting it to eat? Im not going to worry yet, it hasn't even been a week since I got him. I figure he's just adjusting still. Should i just wait a few more days or a week?

[Bandit]

It's usually not a huge deal when snakes don't eat right away, especially after moving to a new home. Sometimes they will get stressed and won't eat until they feel comfortable. Do you know when the last time he ate was?

[rubbertoes]

It's usually not a huge deal when snakes don't eat right away, especially after moving to a new home. Sometimes they will get stressed and won't eat until they feel comfortable. Do you know when the last time he ate was?

Well, i know it was at most a week before last thursday, when I got him. The person I got him from was feeding him weekly, and he told me he was eating every meal.

[Bandit]

Then the move may have very well stressed him out. Were they living together at the other home?

[rubbertoes]

yes they were, along with 6 other hatchlings

[Bandit]

Hmm I mean it could be nothing. He may just need time to adjust. However I would try every couple of days and if nothing changes after a while, separate them, make sure he has appropriate temps and whatnot, and see if that helps. Also young racers should eat every 3-4 days.

[rubbertoes]

Alright, i will do that and switch him to 4 days instead of a week. Thanks for your help!

[rubbertoes]

Ok, so I have an update on the racers. I came home today to find the smaller of the two (the one that isn't eating) vigourously biting on its sibling. The snake has been removed, and placed in a Tupperware bin temporarily until more permanant habitat arrangements can be made. I will probably be purchasing a 10 gallon tank for him until I can figure out what to do with it. Is releasing it into the wild an option? In a spot where I have seen other racers recently? Or is it already too established in life in captivity? I would only be doing this if i still cannot get it to eat for a week or two after the separation today. I don't know what to do at this point. Any help would be appreciated!
PS: The other one is doing great! Eating regularly, even directly from my hand! I have noticed definite growth, although the uncooperative one has not visibly grown.

[kala83]

what a cute lil face on him aww.

[Bandit]

Yeah it should be fine to release him, so long as they are native to your area( I think you said they are, right?). Snakes may become used to you and realize that you won't harm them, but in general they usually keep their instincts and would do fine in the wild. He'll still know how to hunt, hide, recognize predators, etc. However I'm going to stress that if you're going to let him go, make sure it's sooner than later. You don't want to try to feed him for two more weeks until he's at a point where he's unhealthy and will have trouble surviving.

[rubbertoes]

Alright, thanks Bandit. They are native to my area. I will take him to a spot where I have seen them before. I will wait 2-3 more days to see if I can get him to eat and if he doesn't, I will let him go.

[Bandit]

No problem! Best of luck with him.

[rubbertoes]

Thanks! I will update if anything comes up.

[rubbertoes]

Good news! The racer ate 5 crickets! I left it in a seperate sealed but ventilated temporary container all day today with 5 crickets, and all 5 were gone when I got back! I'm excited its finally eating, although the two snakes are still going to be kept seperately. I put them next to eachother, and this time the larger one struck at the small one but never made contact.

[Bandit]

Good! Glad to hear that!