Western diamondback rattlesnake Care

[dennis.epp]

I am just looking for some captive care info on the Western diamondback rattlesnake if anybody could help that would be great thanks

[C.ADAMANTEUS]

Keep climate hot on one end, mid / upper 90's- cooler on the other, as low as 75 +/- and not high in humidity 30-50%.
This what I have done for Atrox when found injured, and forced to winter indoors.
They Tend to stand there ground, so ALWAYS be careful if its not venomoid.
Rick

[dennis.epp]

Thanks for the info, surprisenly it hard to find very much on these guys. All I have been able to find on the care is to keep them hot and dry, which seem to go along with what you say. I understand the temperment of them and will be taken the proper care.
Thanks

[Gregg M]

There really is not much to keeping them in captivity........ There is not much you can do wrong with them...... They are as simple as they come......

[dennis.epp]

thanks for the info

[fedupdon]

ive had good luck with wild caught as long as they were not gassed at the roundups inever pin them just let blance on my hook as far cages the simler the better all mine feed on f/k f/t mice or rats ive had them tame down to where you think you could freehand them but thats not a smart move in the summer i keep temps 2 90 on the hot end and 75-80 on the cool end
they seem to better with a hide box hope it helps

[atrox13]

I have been breeding atrox for 10 years and keeping them is very basic. I do provide two hide boxes for the female to thermoregulate. One box with under cage heat and the other with no heat. They will move back and forth between the two a lot especially when gravid. Temps the same as stated above.

[Gregg M]

Hey Tim,
Good to see you posting here...... Any site can use a good atrox guy......

[dennis.epp]

I would like to thanks everybody for their help. I should also say for those who know me and where I live is that I do not have one at this time, but will be taken over the care of one when I move to Ontario in May where it is legal to keep them. And I just wanted to make sure I understood the care need in having one.
Thanks

[dennis.epp]

My reason for my last post is simply because it seems that my post has raised some concerns due to the fact that I am currently living in Alberta where it is illegal to keep such animals. I just wanted to make it clear that I do not have one at this time but most likely will be taken over the care of one once I move to Ontario in May and just wanted to do some research on the animals before I totally decided whether or not I would take the animals.
Thanks Dennis

[atrox13]

Always nice to see a responcible hot keeper.

[Gregg M]

Dennis,
Do you have any experiance with venomous at all???? A western is not the worst hot to start out with but it isnt the best either..... Anyway, good luck and be careful...... The hot stuff is addictive....

[dennis.epp]

I have worked with prairie rattlesnakes and massasaugas rattlesnakes. I do not keep them but I have work with them. The status of the prairie rattlesnake is not fully known here in Alberta Canada and is believed to be endangered. One of the main problems is snake/people conflict as usual. But luckly there is a local biologist working on helping them (the snakes) and through the wildlife society at the College I went to, I was able to help. We first built a hybernacular in a nature preserve away from most people. We than did rattlesnake roundups (noting like what is done in Texas from what I saw on TV) which was removing snakes from problem areas and move them to the hybernacular in hopes that they will remain in the area or at least return. This did involve handling them providing some experience with them. Then growing up in Ontario we had a number of masssasaugas around which provided me with alot of experience including catching and releasing them, milking them, and so on.
I understand that the diamondback is alot more dangerous (and I am still think about the hole thing) than what I am used to but I feel that with the right precautions things should be fine. I also keep some nonvenomous pretty snappy snakes such as one of my blood pythons which I feel has shown me how quick something could go wrong.
I know they can be addictive like any reptiles I started with one gecko and now I have a house full LOL. But I plan on one step at a time and the first step is moving.

[C.ADAMANTEUS]

Hey Dennis
I wouldn't concider Atrox the most dangerous, In my own oppinion that would be the Scutulatis (Mojave). Thats is due to the Venom. Scut's Pack both Hemo, and Neuro toxins. Thats a mean combo. And I know 6 people who have been bitten. The scutulatis killed a friend of mine in needles california, and the only two who have perm damage caused by necrosis due to invenomation, were bitten by Horridus. But thats my oppinion.
Either way, sounds like your not rushing into it. THATS GOOD.
Hots are not for everyone. Glad to see your asking about them, before jumping right into it. Be careful. and good luck.
Rick

[psilocybe]

Originally posted by C.ADAMANTEUS
Scut's Pack both Hemo, and Neuro toxins. Thats a mean combo.

It depends what populations you are talking about...bites from scutulatus with venom A primarily exhibit neurotoxic symptoms with very little cytotoxic or hemotoxic effects observed (a little swelling, redness, but no necrosis). Bites from snakes with venom B do exhibit more of the "typical" rattlesnake bite symptoms. Populations from the two venom types do intergrade as well.

Definitely not a good snake to get bitten by, that's for sure.

[C.ADAMANTEUS]

I was refering to the ones located in and around victorville, Ca. in the Mojave desert. More specically, the one who killed my friend in 84.
However, was not aware of the fact you stated about the different populations having A or B venom. Was told by the Doctor in San Bernardino, at the trauma center, that they packed a "combo" of A and B. We are also talking mid 80's. Alot has been learned since than.