Sunbeam snake (Xenopeltis unicolor)

BarelyBreathing · 08-29-12, 10:25 PM

This is not my snake, but I got to hang out with her today. Beautiful, docile animal. Check out her pictures. In the sunlight, she is truly amazing.

BarelyBreathing · 08-29-12, 10:27 PM

Okay, so I may have gone a bit overboard on pictures.

Kaetlinv · 08-29-12, 11:01 PM

Makes her look like a beautiful coil of living oil.....that sounds odd but it makes sense to me. >xD

Hurrok · 08-30-12, 12:32 AM

Wow, I saw one at a Reptile Expo but it was in shed and didn't know anything about them. I searched it up later and realized that they had iridescence, and a lot of it.

Beautiful snake, truly a gem!

StudentoReptile · 08-30-12, 02:37 AM

They're hard to keep, too. I got a pair on an impulse purchase once (mistake). One lasted a month, and the other lasted 3.

shaunyboy · 08-30-12, 04:47 AM

the irridescence on those guys are second to none imo

i really like sunbeams,but wouldn't keep them,they're too shy for my liking

cheers shaun

Charis · 08-30-12, 09:48 AM

Beautiful snake! Too bad they are so delicate.

BarelyBreathing · 08-30-12, 10:56 AM

They are VERY difficult to keep. They also only eat amphibians.

Wildside · 08-30-12, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarelyBreathing

They are VERY difficult to keep. They also only eat amphibians.

Not true. I sold one in my shop once. It sold very fast so I can't say much about the care but it did eat a mouse for me before I put it up for sale.

Jlassiter · 08-30-12, 11:14 AM

Loxocemus bicolor make better captives.
I have 1.2 subadults that I will be trying to breed next year.
Sunbeams are gorgeous but I've heard many things about them that would deter me from keeping them.

StudentoReptile · 08-30-12, 11:15 AM

I think she was just impiying that as almost exclusive amphibian eaters in the wild, they are difficult to acclimate to a rodent diet in captivity. Very similar to eastern hognose snakes.

If you can get one to eat mice, that is most of the battle. The other aspect is habitat: they like it HUMID and swampy. Someone who successfully keeps a pair told me: hot, humid, and hidden. He gives his about 6" of eco-earth bedding, probably 90%+ humidity in a dark, enclosed habitat with little interaction.

Shame for such beautiful snakes, they are so secretive.

snake man12 · 08-30-12, 11:27 AM

That iridescence rival brb's.

BarelyBreathing · 08-30-12, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StudentoReptile

I think she was just impiying that as almost exclusive amphibian eaters in the wild, they are difficult to acclimate to a rodent diet in captivity. Very similar to eastern hognose snakes.

If you can get one to eat mice, that is most of the battle. The other aspect is habitat: they like it HUMID and swampy. Someone who successfully keeps a pair told me: hot, humid, and hidden. He gives his about 6" of eco-earth bedding, probably 90%+ humidity in a dark, enclosed habitat with little interaction.

Shame for such beautiful snakes, they are so secretive.

Yep, that's pretty much how they have them set up.

StudentoReptile · 08-30-12, 11:56 AM

Its like having an eastern hognose snake, a miniature blood python and a sand boa: a humidity-loving, frog-eater that stays buried 99% of the time.

**millertime89** · 08-30-12, 12:37 PM

very cool, I would love to see them in person sometime. Anyone I met?