Keeping Latin American Ratsnakes: the Tiger Ratsnake

Hi, Frank Indiviglio here. I’m a herpetologist, zoologist, and book author, recently retired from a career of over 20 years with the Bronx Zoo. The first time I saw an adult Tiger Ratsnake (Spilotes pullatus pullatus) streaking through the brush in Costa Rica, I was immediately struck by the appropriateness of its local name – the Thunder and Lightning Snake. Large, fast-moving, and eye-catching in coloration, this impressive beast stopped me in my tracks and made me gasp. I’d captured dozens of adult Green Anacondas and handled thousands of other snakes in zoos and the wild, but this Tiger Ratsnake was in a class by itself. Small wonder that it draws attention throughout its huge range, where it is known by many common names, including Tropical Ratsnake and Tropical Chicken Snake (the latter refers to its food preference on farms). The first individual I encountered eluded me, but I was eventually able to get my hands on other wild specimens, and to care for a few in captivity. Read the rest of this article here http://bit.ly/19e4n2p
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Best Regards, Frank Indiviglio

my boss is vet who has been keeping them for quite awhile, very cool snakes. Have you ever tried male combating or seperation to stimulate breeding?

Originally Posted by hadenglock

my boss is vet who has been keeping them for quite awhile, very cool snakes. Have you ever tried male combating or seperation to stimulate breeding?

Thanks...separation has worked, but a co-worker also was successful with a pair housed together year-round; I don't recall the details re temperature/humidity changes, but can check into it if I can reach him. I've not tried combat, was not lucky enough to witness in wild, unfortunately, Best, Frank