Pseustes poecilonotus

[Jason_Hood]

Offering up a little variety to the forum, not sure if these have ever been posted here before. I did a quick search and didn't see any so I it might be a first. People always want a common name and these guys have too many to be useful but I will toss them out there anyway. Neo Tropical Birdsnake, Puffing Snake, Liar Snake (not to be confused with Lyre), Puffing Birdsnake.

Anyway, they are one of the more variable snakes out there with most colors naturally represented in some form. The specimens from northern South America are typically pretty dull while the Central American specimens are outstandingly variable. My animals come from Costa Rica and are CB.

Younger Female

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Pseustes/P3311230.jpg

Same snake puffing

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Pseustes/P7122347.jpg

Older male

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Pseustes/P7302486.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Pseustes/P8112553.jpg

Older female

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Pseustes/P7122391.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Pseustes/PC070351.jpg

Juvi colors (they all look the same)

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Pseustes/P2225963.jpg

Looks like my other pics are not hosted online yet so I will post a few more later.

Jason

[Jason_Hood]

Ok here are a couple that were missing

younger male

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Pseustes/P8192658.jpg

getting brave

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Pseustes/P8192666.jpg

And a new addition an unrelated male

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Pseustes/P8152576.jpg

Jason

[BarelyBreathing]

These are interesting. I'm not familiar with them. Can you post a little more information on them?

[Jason_Hood]

So I have some weird snakes and one of my favorites is the Pseustes sulphureus. They are one of the largest colubrids on the planet with sizes up to 14ft in length reported. I have two WC adult males however that are a mere 7ft or so and have showed no sign of growing longer.

WC Male #1 This is the "type" that people think of and want when they hear sulphureus, yellow!!

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Sulphureus/P8112547.jpg

This picture better represents this species than any I have taken. They are a shy curious snake that is always watching you and trying to hide at the same time. Despite their bad reputation for being biters I have only ever taken one bite and that was while trying to get one in a large deli to weigh him.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Sulphureus/P8112543-1.jpg

Another shot where body language tells you their true demeanor. Head down, turned away, almost shy looking.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Sulphureus/P5046271.jpg

WC male #2 This male is unusual enough that I actually like him more than the yellow above. I have had a very hard time capturing his colors with the camera but he is tan at the start and then pinkish, then reddish, and then brown before finally going black at the tail

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Sulphureus/P8192673.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Sulphureus/P3166036.jpg

and again a natural pic which better shows their attitude

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Sulphureus/P8112541-1.jpg

I also have a 2.2 group of CBB animals that are going to be the breeding group I use in a few years along with the second male above.

Male 1 creeping out his cage as I was cleaning

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Sulphureus/P7122296-1.jpg

Wide shot

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Sulphureus/P7122300-1.jpg

Jason

[Jason_Hood]

Female #2 was a slow started but is finally catching on

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Sulphureus/P7122306-1.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Sulphureus/P8122560.jpg

Female #1 is the star of the group, she is doing awesome and is nearly 4ft after one year, more than triple the weight of the smaller girl

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Sulphureus/P8192656.jpg

One of them puffing as a baby, so cute

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Sulphureus/PC060325.jpg

And an adult making it look a little more intimidating

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Sulphureus/P3166008.jpg

And here is a new born baby, they all look pretty much just like this as babies so it is an adventure watching them mature and color up.

I will try to get some more updated pics soon!

Jason

[Jason_Hood]

Baby pic didn't post

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Sulphureus/PA048424.jpg

Jason

[Terranaut]

Nice unusual snakes. Thanks for sharing.

[Jason_Hood]

These are interesting. I'm not familiar with them. Can you post a little more information on them?


Spilotes or Tiger Rats are their closest relative in the hobby. They attain 7-9ft in length though I have yet to see one over 7ft personally. They are nest raiders in the wild hence the "birdsnake" name. In captivity the most difficult thing is getting them to take F/T prey. I offer them mice, rats, chicks, and quail and they do very well for me. They are also very easy to handle in captivity as long as you don't alarm them but even then they are all bluff. I have seen everything from jet black to black with yellow spots to purple to the colors I have posted here.

They all hatch out looking pretty much the same and under go about 4-5 different color changes as they mature until they reach their adult colors. They are mostly arboreal so they are thin bodied and lean and they have a very high metabolism. I have mine on a 7-10 feed schedule but they could go as fast as every 3-4 days with as fast as they poop. haha

Jason

[jarich]

Very cool. I am among the lot that has never seen these posted before or even heard of a 14 foot colubrid! Thanks for posting these.

[Jlassiter]

Very Nice Jason!
I didn't know anyone had these in captivity.....
Great looking snakes, especially the Costa Ricans!

[BarelyBreathing]

Spilotes or Tiger Rats are their closest relative in the hobby. They attain 7-9ft in length though I have yet to see one over 7ft personally. They are nest raiders in the wild hence the "birdsnake" name. In captivity the most difficult thing is getting them to take F/T prey. I offer them mice, rats, chicks, and quail and they do very well for me. They are also very easy to handle in captivity as long as you don't alarm them but even then they are all bluff. I have seen everything from jet black to black with yellow spots to purple to the colors I have posted here.

They all hatch out looking pretty much the same and under go about 4-5 different color changes as they mature until they reach their adult colors. They are mostly arboreal so they are thin bodied and lean and they have a very high metabolism. I have mine on a 7-10 feed schedule but they could go as fast as every 3-4 days with as fast as they poop. haha

Jason

Thanks for the information. Would they do well on organically bred fertilized chicken eggs with a developed chick inside?

[Jason_Hood]

Thanks for the information. Would they do well on organically bred fertilized chicken eggs with a developed chick inside?

Hahaha Well in Costa Rica they just call those chicken eggs and yes they do well!! My friends and I have been offering quail eggs and they love them. One of my friends took in a bunch (like 20) parrots and their eggs have all been fed to them as well.


I didn't mean to post both species together as it confuses people when introduced to 2 new species, sorry about that. You can see where I posted a new title above to start my new topic if any admins are able to split these that would be awesome.

Jason

[Robyn@SYR]

Those reds and oranges are incredible!

[UwabamiReptiles]

Those are some really cool snakes. It makes sense they are related to the tiger rats because thats the first thing I thought of when I saw the pics.

[BarelyBreathing]

Hahaha Well in Costa Rica they just call those chicken eggs and yes they do well!! My friends and I have been offering quail eggs and they love them. One of my friends took in a bunch (like 20) parrots and their eggs have all been fed to them as well.


I didn't mean to post both species together as it confuses people when introduced to 2 new species, sorry about that. You can see where I posted a new title above to start my new topic if any admins are able to split these that would be awesome.

Jason

That's good to know.

[RobsCornField]

You have GOT to put me on your list for babies when you breed them, ESPECIALLY those poecilonotus!!

[Roadtrash]

Great looking snakes I can only imagine what a 14 footer would look like.

[rmfsnakes32]

They are very interesting snakes thanks for sharing

[Jason_Hood]

You have GOT to put me on your list for babies when you breed them, ESPECIALLY those poecilonotus!!

I should be breeding them next year but I am not sure if any will be available, I have quite a few people interested in these. We will have to see how many eggs I get and what happens when deposits need to be put down. :yes:

They tend to double clutch as well so I guess we will have to see how many eggs I get in each clutch and how many people get the money out. I am hoping to add a couple more females to my group this year or next and unrelated females if at all possible.

Jason

[Will0W783]

Those are really really neat snakes! I love some of the more obscure colubrids!
I've got an 8 foot or so LTC Spilotes pullatus who's just a nut. She puffs, drums her tail, rears like a cobra....really cool behavior.

Do these guys rear or tail drum?

[Jason_Hood]

Those are really really neat snakes! I love some of the more obscure colubrids!
I've got an 8 foot or so LTC Spilotes pullatus who's just a nut. She puffs, drums her tail, rears like a cobra....really cool behavior.

Do these guys rear or tail drum?


Yeah, some more than others and on some days more than others. I catch them randomly puffing once in a while like they are practicing looking tough and I have seen one of them scare himself and and have a whole battle with his tail and the leaves in his cage. They have character to spare!

Jason

[Jason_Hood]

Here are a couple feeding videos

Pseustes poecilonotus female feeding - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocmW8eybY2E&feature=plcp)

Pseustes sulphureus inhaling a small rat. - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CI2ewdqTVc&feature=plcp)

Pseustes sucking down rats - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OdnbF-xUGs&feature=plcp)


Hope you enjoy!! These are some fun snakes for me to play with!

Jason

[Pareeeee]

Cool snakes! I had never seen one before, thanks!

Went to Youtube and found this:
Woodpecker vs. egg eating Yellow-bellied Puffing Snake (Pseustes sulphureus) - YouTube (http://youtu.be/ipdiai7or_o)

[Kingsnakechris]

Very cool snakes, I love colubrids so this is double interesting. How much do these guys go for if you don't mind me asking?

[Jason_Hood]

Very cool snakes, I love colubrids so this is double interesting. How much do these guys go for if you don't mind me asking?


It is an open market right now. Only 2-3 guys breeding them in the US, and depending on the parent stock and if you have heritage beyond the parents to show colors in the lineage you can get more. But we are looking at around $300-$500 an animal right now. If we can prove that any of the lines can inherit color like the parents some line will go up. Problem is they are all born looking the same for the most part and it takes 12-18 months to see adult colors.

Jason

[Jason_Hood]

Cool snakes! I had never seen one before, thanks!

Went to Youtube and found this:
Woodpecker vs. egg eating Yellow-bellied Puffing Snake (Pseustes sulphureus) - YouTube (http://youtu.be/ipdiai7or_o)

Yeah I love that video and it is a beautiful Peruvian specimen!!

Jason

[Blaze Mcsmith]

like what i see.

[bluelephant]

Jason - those individuals are very interesting - though I have no experience with them. Inflated 'necks' like the Gonysoma etc.
That woodpecker video is pure - how natural and how lucky the observers, what a treat.

[Roadtrash]

Beautiful snakes! What is their life span?