Bamboo rat snakes

BillyCostume · 06-09-17, 07:20 PM

I have an oprotunity to get a pair Oreocryptophis porphyraceus coxi. Anyone have any experience with them? Any tips or info would be appreciated. I've done some reading on them but I always like hearing from someone with firsthand experience.

**Tsubaki** · 06-10-17, 12:14 AM

I don't own any, but the zoo I volunteer at does. They're really easy going snakes, the ones there love eating a lot. They're nervous to handle though. Bit all over the place, but I've never heard them bite any of the keepers, and a calmer larger female is used in the educational "show" for visitors without issue. That's about all the experience I have with them, not my thing but still pretty cool looking snakes.

Oh and they seem to really use any space available, horizontally and vertically

BillyCostume · 06-10-17, 09:05 AM

Thanks

they're definitely beautiful snakes. I may just have to snatch them up. I'm not much of a colubrids guy but I figure I have to start somewhere

Charis · 06-10-17, 07:53 PM

They are pretty hardy, easy to care for and cool looking. They are also fast and the coxi in particular are very bitey as babies. They can be pretty tame and calm as an adult and they are interesting to keep. If you want a BP or boa and are afraid of getting bit though, these are the opposite in temperament and would not be a good choice.

They tolerate cold pretty well but are very vulnerable to heat spikes and will quickly die at temps over 85 degrees F, so you want to be very careful about not letting them overheat.

BillyCostume · 06-11-17, 06:58 PM

Thanks for the info, bitey snakes isn't really an issue for me. I'll be sure to get pics up when and if I get them

pet_snake_78 · 06-11-17, 09:47 PM

Mine love to eat and will come flying out of their hides to grab mice off tongs. However, I otherwise don't both them and leave them alone. They are often in a hide or burried in their cypress mulch. Would be a good snake if you don't need to constantly see them and can keep them air conditioned all summer long. Mine do great in the mid to upper 70s and no additional heat.