Spilotes (Tiger rat snakes)

Retic chic · 05-15-04, 07:54 AM

First off, a big thanks to Luke Bonham for sending us a male spilotes to pair up our female with. Second, a big thanks to Jordan for delivering him to us during the spring snake count.

The female just shed yesterday, so as soon as they finish their meals today, we will be putting them together to see if they will breed for us this season. I am wondering how many others are working with spilotes, and whether you are expecting to breed them this year?

Simon Sansom · 05-16-04, 10:12 PM

Hi Sheila,

I have a captive-bred pair of two-and-a-half year olds. I'll be trying them in '05.

Cheers!

Simon R. Sansom

rwg · 05-17-04, 03:18 PM

How are spilotes to handle? I've seen them feed before, and I have never seen a rat that big (relative to body diameter) disappear so fast. Couldn't have been more than 5 seconds from strike to fully swallowed.

rg

vanderkm · 05-17-04, 03:52 PM

Best of luck with the pair Sheila - they are such gorgeous snakes - would be fantastic to see baby pics -

mary v.

Unregistered · 05-17-04, 03:56 PM

Ya , good luck with those awesome snakes!

Simon Sansom · 05-17-04, 08:44 PM

This is really a great specie, which has gotten a lot of bad press over the years, unfortunately.
These are the "Ferraris" of the snake world: powerful, quick, and extremely agile with a relatively high-strung temperament.
I have never seen a snake swallow prey faster than these guys - it's absolutely incredible to watch.

Handling-wise, I'd say that in my relatively brief experience, they're not as bad as traditional "herp-lore" would have us believe (but don't forget, mine are captive-bred - wild-caughts might be a different story)). They can be nervous and "flighty", and I find that they will often threaten you with extended tongue-flicks and throat-inflation, but I have yet to actually be bitten by either of mine. They do seem to have a habit of looking you directly in the eye, which can be a bit disconcerting with a large specimen at close quarters. They often seem to react to your eye-movement.
Makes 'em a lot more fun to play with than some of the more conventional species, though, lol!
If you want something that's a bit more of a challenge, <html><i>Spilotes </i></html> are definitely worth a look.

Cheers!

Simon R. Sansom

Simon Sansom · 05-17-04, 08:44 PM

This is really a great specie, which has gotten a lot of bad press over the years, unfortunately.
These are the "Ferraris" of the snake world: powerful, quick, and extremely agile with a relatively high-strung temperament.
I have never seen a snake swallow prey faster than these guys - it's absolutely incredible to watch.

Handling-wise, I'd say that in my relatively brief experience, they're not as bad as traditional "herp-lore" would have us believe (but don't forget, mine are captive-bred - wild-caughts might be a different story)). They can be nervous and "flighty", and I find that they will often threaten you with extended tongue-flicks and throat-inflation, but I have yet to actually be bitten by either of mine. They do seem to have a habit of looking you directly in the eye, which can be a bit disconcerting with a large specimen at close quarters. They often seem to react to your eye-movement.
Makes 'em a lot more fun to play with than some of the more conventional species, though, lol!
If you want something that's a bit more of a challenge, <html><i>Spilotes </i></html> are definitely worth a look.

Cheers!

Simon R. Sansom

Retic chic · 05-18-04, 07:28 AM

Thanks, they are amazing snakes to work with. The big dark eyes and the flaring throat can be unnerving in close proximity to your face, but these are extremely nice to handle. The female is all of 9 feet, and at least 2 feet of that is her tail that she likes to lash around an arm like a whip. I have yet to be bitten by either snake, but the female has had her days when in blue.

We are really excited to be working with a pair again, and hope to produce babies in the next little while.

gurkee · 05-18-04, 10:41 AM

Hi folks!

I can absolutely agree in every point with Simon.
Also I've not been bitten by any of my pair, and I've not seen a "serious" throat-inflation yet.

Spectacular animals. Very fast. Very attentive. A bit defensive. Great fun to handle.

And at 6 o'clock in the evening they go to bed.

I've got no breeding experience yet.
Is there any breeding stimulant for them (like brumation on cornsnakes) ?

greets,
Martin

Simon Sansom · 05-18-04, 03:21 PM

Greetings, Martin!
It's nice to hear from yet another "Tiger" afficionado, particularly one from "across the pond".

These snakes are one of the reasons I get up every morning, lol!

Cheers

Simon R. Sansom

gurkee · 05-21-04, 05:26 AM

By the way. Has anybody of you the article **** Bartlett wrote on Spilotes in Reptiles Magazine?

It's hard to get by over here.

greets,
Martin

Simon Sansom · 05-21-04, 07:38 PM

No Martin, I haven't read that article though I've heard about it.

A friend had a copy of it - I'll have to see if he's still got it.

Cheers!
Simon R. Sansom

gurkee · 05-22-04, 02:42 PM

Thanks Simon!

Here's a recent pic of my male yawning.

cheers,
gurkee

Vanan · 05-23-04, 12:02 AM

WOW! Sweet shot! Beaut of a Spilotes.

Simon Sansom · 05-23-04, 08:43 AM

EXCELLENT pic, Martin!

I love it!

Simon R. Sansom