Bull Snake

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by Kettennatter

Unfortunately she regurgitated last night. Even though the prey item was maybe 1.5x the snake's girth, it must have been too much for her. I will switch back to the previous schedule until she is a little larger.

Double check your temps.

Bull snakes are found in quite high temperature areas so it could be that yours are too low to digest a meal of that size.

[Ryodraco]

I don't want to hijack the thread so let me know if I'm out of line here, but given this does concern bullsnakes it seemed appropriate to ask here rather than make a new topic.

Namely I hear many recommendations regarding them, even recommending them over favorites like corn snakes, due to how active and hardy they are. However, unless one is able/willing to build their own terrarium, isn't getting a enclosure large enough to keep an adult bullsnake happy a potential problem that you don't have with the smaller varieties of kingsnake and corn snake?

From what I've read they are snakes that like to use their space, and yet my searches have found little in the way of terrariums large enough that cost less than five hundred dollars. The Penn Plax one is pretty attractive but at 47 x 20 x 20 inches isn't it still a bit small for any bullsnake reaching six feet or more in length? Yes one could use a aquarium, but that removes the benefits of front-opening doors and leads you needing to create a top that a powerful snake can't break through.

I'm just curious what those advocating bullsnakes as easy snakes would recommend as good housing for them? Do all of you use cages you build yourselves, or have you found a brand of terrarium that works well for you?

[Terranaut]

My Pit is fine in her 4x2x16".

[Ryodraco]

Originally Posted by Terranaut

My Pit is fine in her 4x2x16".

Yeah I forgot to point out that I could be just completely mistaken about their space needs. I just keep reading that "bigger is better" concerning bullsnake enclosures.

[h3h]

I like these snakes, especially the hypos. Good looking snake you got there!

- h3

[Kettennatter]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Double check your temps.

Bull snakes are found in quite high temperature areas so it could be that yours are too low to digest a meal of that size.

Just did. The warm hide is at 93 degrees, and the snake is currently in the cold hide, which has a temperature of 79 degrees. The lowest ground temperature in the enclosure is a 75 degrees.

The snake goes back and forth between both hides, and I could only think that it possibly spent too much time on the cold side. But overall her metabolism has been rather high, very similar to my king snakes, requiring me to clean the enclosure frequently.

She just took a small mouse in her usual 60 second time frame. I will see how that goes.

[Kettennatter]

Originally Posted by exwizard

I'm sorry to hear that. Mine eat fairly well as well. Luna is an '09 female that is currently on Small rats and Sol is an '08 male that is currently on Medium rats. I haven't had these snakes very long but they seem to be doing ok. Sol was a little underweight when I got him and he is gaining back to what he's supposed to weigh. If it were me in your position, I would do the same as what you're already doing. It'll happen soon enough.

Those are pretty. Mine is a normal phase, one of those $15 reptile expo specials. She has been gaining weight at a steady pace, so far. I will simply increase the F/T size more gradually.

[Ryodraco]

Originally Posted by Terranaut

My Pit is fine in her 4x2x16".

That's still bigger than the Penn Plax though. Is it a terrarium you built or is it a terrarium that can be purchased?

Do you think that all but the largest bullsnakes could do fine in the 47 x 20 x 20" Penn Plax? If not then what would you recommend?

[Terranaut]

My gopher snake (almost the same) is in the top viv.
I am not familiar with the cage your asking about. Mine is great in hers.


As long as it is a snake cage and not a fish tank it should be ok.
Albinos are cool too.

[Ryodraco]

Originally Posted by Terranaut

I am not familiar with the cage your asking about. Mine is great in hers

Just to be clear, this is what it looks like. Course I would cover up the sides with some kind of background for it to feel more secure, but I like having the top screen open to let in more light and air, at least for those that don't require very high humidity. Again the dimensions are stated to be 47 x 20 x 20"