Keeping Latin American Ratsnakes: the Tiger Ratsnake

[BronxZooFrank]

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.[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]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
Please also check out my posts on Twitter http://bitly.com/JP27Nj and Facebook http://on.fb.me/KckP1m

My Bio, with photos of animals I’ve been lucky enough to work with: http://bitly.com/LC8Lbp

Best Regards, Frank Indiviglio

 

[Edwardo]

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.[FONT="] [/FONT]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
Please also check out my posts on Twitter http://bitly.com/JP27Nj and Facebook http://on.fb.me/KckP1m

My Bio, with photos of animals I’ve been lucky enough to work with: http://bitly.com/LC8Lbp

Best Regards, Frank Indiviglio

I had a hugh, nice yellow one years ago,
One of the highest maintenance snakes I have ever kept, I remember feeding it a half dozen mice one day, and the next day it would take a dump, super high metabolism, not to mention I could barly get the cage door open to clean, without it trying to take my head off, very hard to work around.

Gorgeous snake, but not for many.
I know they are captive breeding them now, hopefully there more mellow.
Nice article Frank, brought back memories.