The
Cold-blooded animals, symbolic figure sometimes badly
seen in our catholic parts of the country, sometimes
worshipped to the others (India for example). These
animals do not leave anybody indifferent.
Except the
famous cobras and the snake with bell, without
speaking about boas, pythons and about the other
anaconda which are for the first very dangerous and
the second often of respectable size (6m for the
burmese python), many of the other crawling reptiles
contain more ease in the breeding in terrarium for a
private individual.
These
grass-snakes exceed rarely 2 métre and are of a
relatively quiet character. Manipulations are even
possible without too many risks (limited to a simple
small bite in the worst) although they are disadvised
for the general health of the animal. It is in the
terrarium that this one will take advantage in best of
the chosen temperature and will avoid thermic shocks
and drafts.
For the
beginner, we prefer to advise these variety show of
grass-snakes:
-
The
corn snake,
-
The
king snake,
-
House
snake,
- And
the
garter snake.
The
Corn Snake (Elaphe
guttata) and the King Snake
(Lampropeltis getulus
californae) come both of North America and mainly
United States. They are reproduced in captivity for
long years anddifferent forms of colours are
commercialized.
Their
grown-up size is of 1,5 in 2m and they are not
delicate. These reproduce rather easily and have good
character. They feed on rodents (mice mainly). On the
other hand, Lampropeltis is cannibal and can live with
other snakes only in breeding's period. Some specimens
manage sometimes to live together but this is not
without risk.
The
House Snake
(Lamprophis/Boaedon fuliginosus) comes from Africa.
The nickname comes from the fact which it often goes
into houses to feed on rodents, by clearing so the
inhabitants. Of more modest size, rarely more than a
metre, he is very nice. For the reproduction, they are
real athletes, females can lay until 5/7 times a year
and about about ten eggs every time. The food must be
important and for base of rodents of small sizes
(young mice).
The
Garter Snake (Thamnophis sp) comes mainly of North
America. Their grown-up size is about 1,20 m. It feeds
of fishes (dead or lively) and amphibians, where from
their interest. He is more often evident to obtain a
goldfish and to keep it certain time at the house
rather than one mouse. Some will find it "less
bestial".
The
conditions of breeding of all these sorts are about
identical, except for Thamnophis which ask for a pond
more important for the catch. The temperature of the
terrarium will be in the warmest place between 26 and
28 °C and in the most freshly between 22 and 24
°C. The food will make according to the age of
the animal: twice the week for young one of the year
and 1 time every 1 or 2 weeks for an adult.
Some of
these grass-snakes can hope to live more than 20
years.
These
animals shall bring you a lot of pleasure in all the
domains that is observation or reproduction. They will
allow you also to give a better idea of these
magnificent snakes with the novices or reluctant
people.
