Spilotes

[Jason_Hood]

So I picked a pair of CBB Spilotes pullatus over a year ago and I have really enjoyed raising these guys up. They are totally aware of their surroundings, do the crazy rattlesnake like tong rolls over their heads and they also have a lizard like head bob they do, presumably to get a better look at you. They also grow super fast and mine are up around 5ft now, maybe longer and that is on a 10-14 day feeding schedule. These guys can easily eat ever 3 days and not get fat until they are adults. The lineage from this pair is different then all the Guyana animals that are coming in now and as such they have a much higher yellow.

We will start with some older pics, not sure if I posted these or not

Some baby puffing
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Spilotes%20pullatus/PA299059.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Spilotes%20pullatus/PA299061.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Spilotes%20pullatus/PA299062.jpg

The whole time this one is puffing it is also bobbing it's head, just adorable

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Spilotes%20pullatus/PA299049.jpg

The female

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Spilotes%20pullatus/PA299042.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Spilotes%20pullatus/PA299039.jpg

The male a little older

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Spilotes%20pullatus/PB089336.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Spilotes%20pullatus/PB089337.jpg

[Jason_Hood]

Not sure what ridiculous thing was going on here but puff away little dude

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Spilotes%20pullatus/PB079329.jpg

All of the above shots were from months and months ago and since then I have been taking pics much less frequently and only with my cell phone it seems. Also they have both calmed down quite a bit and are not as photogenic. I still get pics but not with the same flare. Most days it is just them relaxing and watching me now like this.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Spilotes%20pullatus/PB093644.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Spilotes%20pullatus/PC223928.jpg

And while beautiful it is not as adorable as a full on puff. So less adorable equals less pics, that is until I took one to a friends place and my male was introduced into the sun... holy crap was that funny! This boy puffed for no reason and stayed puffed until I put him away.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Spilotes%20pullatus/P9163090.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Spilotes%20pullatus/P9163098.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Spilotes%20pullatus/P9163099.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Spilotes%20pullatus/P9163106.jpg


http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Spilotes%20pullatus/P9163102.jpg

Anyway, that is it for now. I was just looking back on some fun summer memories and thought I would share.

Jason

[Jason_Hood]

Here are a few of the female being a little curious sweety

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Spilotes%20pullatus/P7122334.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Spilotes%20pullatus/P7122338.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Spilotes%20pullatus/P7122330.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/SnakesUnlimited/Spilotes%20pullatus/P7122332.jpg

And a fun video of them scarfing down food, those are hairless adult mice.

Spilotes feeding x2 - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qs6fybtBcE)

Jason

[Roman]

Hi Jason,

great snakes!

Could you add some information about how you keep them?

Roman

[EmbraceCalamity]

Oh my god. That's awesome! =D

~Maggot

[Jason_Hood]

Hi Jason,

great snakes!

Could you add some information about how you keep them?

Roman


They do quite well set up in an arboreal oriented cage with a hot spot of 90-95 and a ambient of 75-80. Humidity should be over 60% with misting a few times a week as well. They will drink from water sprayed on them as well as a bowl. They will bomb the water bowl with feces fairly frequently and they have a tremendous appetite but as adults you need to take care not to over feed them. Also as adults the deserve large spacious cages with lots of cage furnishings to explore and climb over and around. I switch in boxes and leaves to give them new smells and things to explore. All snakes will benefit from handfuls of leaf litter tossed in the cage (pesticide/fertilizer free) but day active sight hunters like Spilotes seem to need a bit more stimulation.

They actively watch what is happening in a room and react to your presence. They are all the things that people like about elapids but without the venom. I highly recommend them if you have the ability to find CBB.


Jason

[Roman]

Hi Jason,

thanks for your information.

I posted the setup of my Spilotes in an older thread in September. You are absolutly right that Spilotes is always watching his surroundings. They are some of the most watchful snakes I ever kept.

Interestingly my snakes have never used the water bowl as their toilet. They drink sometimes from it, but I have never seen them actually bathing in it. Most of the time they will just drink the sprayed water.

I do not change the setup of my enclosure, because I am not sure if this kind of enrichment might disturb the snakes more than it might "entertain" them.

Roman

[Jason_Hood]

Hi Jason,

thanks for your information.

I posted the setup of my Spilotes in an older thread in September. You are absolutly right that Spilotes is always watching his surroundings. They are some of the most watchful snakes I ever kept.

Interestingly my snakes have never used the water bowl as their toilet. They drink sometimes from it, but I have never seen them actually bathing in it. Most of the time they will just drink the sprayed water.

I do not change the setup of my enclosure, because I am not sure if this kind of enrichment might disturb the snakes more than it might "entertain" them.

Roman


Haha I remember your cage post and your cage is not like many American cages, your cage has live plants and is far larger than what I use. Still some clean leaf litter just tossed in from your yard or local forest area will offer them new smells to explore and little "adventures" as they try to figure out where these new smells came from. You cage is a dream cage though, and I don't see how I can offer you any advice when I would want advice from you.

Jason

[Roman]

Hi Jason,

I am most interested in exchanging information and even more importand first hand experience, so any input you might offer is really appreciated.

If you would like to get any further information about my setup, please ask right away.

Roman