• Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

  • IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!! About the Google Adsense ads being displayed

    =====================
    Posted 08/15/2025
    =====================


    Yeah, I know. They are a pain in the butt. But they pay the bills to keep my server running. Just a fact of life, I am afraid.

    Want to get rid of them? Simple. Just become a Contributor level member or above and they will be gone. -> Please click HERE."

    Is that too much for me to ask of you to keep this site running? Well, sorry about that. I too wish I could get everything for free. But alas.....

    =====================
    Addendum: 01/10/2026
    =====================


    Google Adsense ad revenue for December, 2025 was just $30 over the cost of the lease for the server running this site. So, in effect, the money providing the incentive for me to continue running this site is coming SOLELY from the paid memberships and sponsorships here. Which honestly ain't much....

Cave dwelling rat snakes

AbsoluteApril

AbsoluteApril

mighty blue justice
Staff member
Staff
Endowment
Joined
Feb 6, 2002
Messages
7,589
Reaction score
687
Points
113
Age
50
Location
Washington, USA
Moved my pair of Orthriophis taeniurus ridleyi (cave dwelling rat snakes) into a new set-up and figured that's a good time to snap some quick pics. Lucy and Ricky.

One of these days I'll get some good photos.. one of these days.

what's that over there?
Lucy4_2012b.jpg


Fresh water
Lucy4_2012c.jpg


Close-up
Ricky4_2012a.jpg


Run, back into the cave
Ricky4_2012b.jpg


thanks for looking
-April
 
thank you! They were on my wish list for a very long time.

These snakes have the most intense feeding response I've ever seen, I'll try to get a video of it.
 
D'awww Lucy and Ricky, how cute! Cave dwelling rats are just the coolest thing, love those tails! <3 They're on my wishlist too, but I can't realistically see myself getting some for a few years. Someday though~ ;)

I hear a lot about their feeding response, so that sounds like fun! :D Feeding moments aside, how is their temperament? Also if I can ask - how large/old is your pair? *nosy*
I've actually never seen that species in person... never at a show or anything, and I don't even see too much of them online either. Bit of a bummer, I really wish there was more out there on them. :eek: So thank you so much for sharing since I can't get enough of those guys! :p
The new set ups look awesome too, so I'm sure they're happy! The rock walls are especially neat! :thumbsup:
 
thanks! I told myself Someday for a while too, they're worth the wait!
:D

~Just Curious~ said:
Feeding moments aside, how is their temperament? Also if I can ask - how large/old is your pair?
Click to expand...

They are '08s and unrelated CBB. I was lucky to buy them last year from
another hobbyist. So they were already adults and had been worked with a
lot. They can be huffy and strikey when in the cage but usually once out
I can handle them fine. They are pretty much constantly on the move, like
big giant corn snakes haha. The strike though is surprisingly strong! I mean,
they hit harder than my big boa constrictors do and it's over and over -
*wham*wham*wham* like a firecracker.

I haven't measured them but they are over 6' in length or close to it. I'll
make sure to get some vids up soon. I've only seen them at shows a couple
of times. They can be hard to find, it took me a while to find these two and I
pretty much just got lucky.
:yesnod:
 
Lucky you!!! They sound awesome! :D
"Big giant corn snake" LOL That's perfect, makes 'em fun to watch! They're so pretty, it'd be a right shame if they were shy~ :p
Their strikes sound like it'd be something to see too. :eek: Well never a boring moment right? I imagine it keeps you on your toes during feeding times. :rofl:

Thanks for the answers though, it's great learning more about these guys! :yesnod:
 
couple more pics, took these last night

fresh shed:
Lucy4_28_12a.jpg


closer:
Lucy4_28_12b.jpg


This shows how they love to trash their enclosure and make a big ol mess, and everytime I'm in the snake room, they always watch what is going on.
Ricky4_28_12a.jpg
 
I'm SO jealous, April, I think these are the most elegant snakes ever. Please keep sharing photos.

One day, if I ever hit the Real World.............. :thumbsup:

Do you handle them much? How do they tolerate it?
 
I handle them every once in a while. My dad likes them and my BPs, so I usually take them out when he is over. The original owner handled them a lot when they were younger which is a huge part of how docile they are (imo). I'm curious to see the behavior of the babies.
 
:eek: Awesome!!!
Thanks so much for sharing, they look gorgeous! The shiny, new skin makes their colors even more vibrant! <3 I love that golden orange, it's actually nicer than a lot of others I've seen who are more olive in color, plus it really contrasts with the skunk tail. :thumbsup: I remember the first time I ever saw a picture of this species, my first thought was that it was two different snakes coiled up together. "Where's the stripey one's head?" :rofl:

AbsoluteApril said:
This shows how they love to trash their enclosure and make a big ol mess, and everytime I'm in the snake room, they always watch what is going on.
Click to expand...
How funny! I love a snake with personality! :p
Kinda reminds me of my gophers, I redid their enclosure last weekend which immediatly encouraged them to -trash it- do some radical redecorating of their own. lol This is why I can't have pretty things. :rolleyes:

Ones like that may be more of a handful, but they're just so entertaining~ :D
So I too am curious to see what the babies will be like in regards to personality! :yesnod: I apologize if you mentioned this earlier and I didn't catch it, but are you breeding Lucy and Ricky this year?
 
thank you both!

Sorry I missed your question earlier -
~Just Curious~ said:
I remember the first time I ever saw a picture of this species, my first thought was that it was two different snakes coiled up together. "Where's the stripey one's head?"
Click to expand...

too funny! That is exactly what I thought first time I saw a photo as well! They do look like a patchwork of two snakes franken-morphed together.
:D

~Just Curious~ said:
are you breeding Lucy and Ricky this year?
Click to expand...

I am going to try, probably put them together this weekend (they both ate last night). I may be a little late in the season but the weather has been so weird, you never know! I'll post an update if anything looks promising.
:thumbsup:
 
:bow01: ridleyi are just amazing. Love them. Good luck with the breeding. Hope you don't mind a death by a 1000 nips. :D
 
Thanks Tyler!

Utta said:
Hope you don't mind a death by a 1000 nips. :D
Click to expand...

:rofl:


"And if this thing starts claiming to be the "vanguard of our destruction," then I got shotgun on the first lifeboat, okay?" - Joker
 
AbsoluteApril said:
Thanks Tyler!



:rofl:


"And if this thing starts claiming to be the "vanguard of our destruction," then I got shotgun on the first lifeboat, okay?" - Joker
Click to expand...

:hehe: yes, that'll be you with a bunch of baby ridleyi.

Fun fact! They don't have egg tooths, they bite their way out of the egg. :D (i kid... they do have an egg tooth)
 
Utta said:
:hehe: yes, that'll be you with a bunch of baby ridleyi.

Fun fact! They don't have egg tooths, they bite their way out of the egg. :D (i kid... they do have an egg tooth)
Click to expand...

Now that you put that image in my head, it'll never leave! lol I can already see it... :rofl:

Best of luck with your breeding April, I've got my fingers crossed for you this weekend! :D
 
~Just Curious~ said:
Now that you put that image in my head, it'll never leave! lol I can already see it... :rofl:

Best of luck with your breeding April, I've got my fingers crossed for you this weekend! :D
Click to expand...

:rofl: It's funny to watch in my head on a loop.

Well Apwiwl? WELLWELLWELL?! :DDDDD
 
Back
Top