The Pine Snake

Scienfic Name:- Pi􏰢􏰺ophis Spp

They are found throughout the Coastal Plain of North Carolina,   South Carolina,   Georgia,   and throughout Florida,   with disjunct populations in the dry mountains of Virginia,   Tennessee,   and northern Georgia.   There are 3 Species:   The Common Pine Snake,   The Luisianna Pine Snake and the Mexican Pine Snake.   Many􏰹 are bred in captivity􏰹.

Habitat :- Because of their si􏱉ze and curious nature the􏰹y require a large enclosure such as a 250-340 litres   (55-75 Gallon) tank with a secure screen top.   Furniture within the enclosure should include a place to hide and secure branches to climb.   Water should be provided in a heav􏰹y based water dish.   The substrate can be reptile carpet which is easy􏰹 to clean although ground bark a few inches deep will allow burrowing behaviour but is difficult to maintain.   UV light is not considered necessar􏰹y however a source for 12 hours a da􏰹y allows the natural colours of the snake to shine.   These snakes need to be kept at 26-29^oC   (80-85^oF) with slightl􏰹y lower night-time temperatures and this should be provided b􏰹y an overhead heat source with an appropriate guard.   A thermostat will prevent the risk of overheating.

Diet :- As they are fast growing they need feeding twice weekly􏰹 with a couple of appropriately􏰹 si􏱉zed mice.   The􏰹y should not be fed while shedding as this often leads to regurgitation.

These snakes are relatively􏰹 tame if used to handling, however they􏰹 are voracious feeders and ma􏰹y mistake their keepers arm as pre􏰹y and strike so the􏰹y should alwa􏰹ys be approached with caution!

Life expectancy :- 20 years.

The􏰹 are t􏰹ypically􏰹 large snakes growing to 240cm   (8ft) in length and are heavil􏰹y built.

􏰷􏰱 􏰴􏰽􏰲􏰴􏰸􏰸 􏰵􏰿 􏱌􏰉 􏰹􏰴􏰮􏰶􏰸􏱁