info on glossy snakes

[k2mag360]

My friend just got a glossy snake and we were on the internet looking for info but there doesnt seam to be a lot. Does any1 no what the temps,what kind of substrate, are they good pets, and anyother information you might no. thanks a lot

[Simon R. Sansom]

Hi there,

Known as the Glossy or Faded snake, this medium-sized colubrid can attain a length of over 50 inches.

Typical husbandry practices for North American colubrids should suffice for "Arizona elegans". I would give it a dry terrarium, with several hide-boxes and a hot-spot of about 28 - 30 degrees C.

Good Luck.

Simon

[Jonathan Crowe]

<img src="http://www.mcwetboy.com/reptiles/photos/glossy_600x400.jpg" border="0" width="600" height="400" alt="Photo of glossy snake" />

I've had a Desert Glossy Snake (<i>Arizona elegans eburnata</i>) for two years. It's easily the tamest snake I have. A real sweetie. They're wonderful, underrated snakes.

They're close relatives of gopher snakes (<i>Pituophis</i>) and can be treated like any other standard colubrid.

They supposedly eat lizards in the wild, but I've had no trouble with mine eating mice -- well, once I had her de-mited. Still, that might be something to keep an eye out for.

A mouse-eating, acclimated glossy snake would even be a good beginner snake.

[Simon R. Sansom]

Nice one, Jonathan! You certainly don't see a lot of them up here, do you? .

Cheers!

Simon