Re: Western Green Rats

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Posted by Rich G. on May 24, 1999 at 12:05:28:

In Reply to: Re: Western Green Rats posted by Rob on May 21, 1999 at 12:05:23:

: Triaspis have always been a favorite of mine. I currently maintain a small collection represented by three localities. WC specimens can be difficult to maintain and have a high mortality rate, even long term established captives. Hibernation tends to be the most problematic time for them for reasons unknown to me or most others, and it's during this time that most die. Breeding in wc specimens is also sporadic. In a nutshell, stick with cb specimens, and even though they are high priced, after dealing with wc's you'll understand why :)

With the exception of Chiricahua animals I don't think W/C are that difficult. The critical thing is to get them to a vet as soon as after capture as possible in order to check for and treat internal parasites. Almost all who fail to do this lose their animals within a year. All the specimens we have found fed imediately on frozen thawed mice whether they were male, female, adult or juvenile. Adult snakes are very stressful, particularly the females, luckily most of the specimens we have found have been juveniles, these adapt well and grow up to be as calm as captive bred snakes. We have lost two in hibernation, one long term adult, one fresh caught juvenile.I think this is due to too temperatures that were too cold.This is essentially a tropical/subtropical species that just extends its range into our country. At the elevations were it is most common in S. Arizona daytime temps. during the winter are often in the sixties and seventies, nightime temps drop to the forties but the rocks retain heat well into the night.In the wild they would have ample opportunity to bask during warm winter days.

There is no doubt that C/B snakes are much easier to keep.If you are not prepared to spend some money at the vet or keep the cage and water dish as clean as a doctors office, don't mess with wild caught. Rich

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Re: Western Green Rats Rob 5/24/99 (1)
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: : Triaspis have always been a favorite of mine. I currently maintain a small collection represented by three localities. WC specimens can be difficult to maintain and have a high mortality rate, even long term established captives. Hibernation tends to be the most problematic time for them for reasons unknown to me or most others, and it's during this time that most die. Breeding in wc specimens is also sporadic. In a nutshell, stick with cb specimens, and even though they are high priced, after dealing with wc's you'll understand why :) : With the exception of Chiricahua animals I don't think W/C are that difficult. The critical thing is to get them to a vet as soon as after capture as possible in order to check for and treat internal parasites. Almost all who fail to do this lose their animals within a year. All the specimens we have found fed imediately on frozen thawed mice whether they were male, female, adult or juvenile. Adult snakes are very stressful, particularly the females, luckily most of the specimens we have found have been juveniles, these adapt well and grow up to be as calm as captive bred snakes. We have lost two in hibernation, one long term adult, one fresh caught juvenile.I think this is due to too temperatures that were too cold.This is essentially a tropical/subtropical species that just extends its range into our country. At the elevations were it is most common in S. Arizona daytime temps. during the winter are often in the sixties and seventies, nightime temps drop to the forties but the rocks retain heat well into the night.In the wild they would have ample opportunity to bask during warm winter days. : There is no doubt that C/B snakes are much easier to keep.If you are not prepared to spend some money at the vet or keep the cage and water dish as clean as a doctors office, don't mess with wild caught. Rich

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