Tantilla ssp.

Does anyone keep Tantillas, blackheaded/black crowned snakes?
I am intrigued with their natural history and am wondering if anyone keeps them in captivity.

I have a friend who tried to keep one of the California species. The snake refused to eat anything except centipedes and it only would eat a certain species of centipede. He was never able to get it to feed on the local centipedes and the snake died.

-Alice

Oh. That's too bad. Thanks for sharing though.

This is one reasons that I started this thread. In the hope of getting information like this. It just might be that they have such exacting requirements that they are unsuitable captives. After all, humans don't have to make everything into a pet.

I have read that they are rear fanged and do have a venom. Although it is only dangerous to the small animals that make up their prey.

If you have them locally, may want to still consider giving them a go. Maybe your species won't be as finicky in terms of prey and you would have access to local prey species to experiment with. I don't know what the laws are in your area, but if it's legal you could release it if refuses food.

-Alice

Originally Posted by aliceinwl

If you have them locally, may want to still consider giving them a go. Maybe your species won't be as finicky in terms of prey and you would have access to local prey species to experiment with. I don't know what the laws are in your area, but if it's legal you could release it if refuses food.

-Alice

This would be a great way to give it a try. But it won't work for me. We don't have any in Montana. As a matter of fact, the list of native Montana reptiles is pretty short.