Re: elaphe longissima...

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Posted by Pedersen, S�e on August 31, 2001 at 01:17:12:

In Reply to: elaphe longissima... posted by Steve on August 30, 2001 at 11:51:06:

Hi Steve
Actually very few people keeps longissima successfully. It has been owerseen for many years and now it is protected in most of its distribution. Here in Europe they are rarely seen at saleshows, and I don`t think that there are more than 5-10 breeders in Europe (or they are very secret about it)We are lucky that there are actually some pure locality animals among the few remaining strains, including the melaninistic form (Loir Valley) and a pure German form (most northern)
Longissima belongs to the ratsnakes that hates heat. If you read about the behaviour of ratsnakes like situla, mandarina, hohenackeri they are similar animals. Keep them cool with one isolated heating spot. My animals are active at 12*C. The often only eats during spring and they prefer small jumpers.
During my years with this snake I learned that the western form is more difficult to keep than the eastern. The eastern form gets very big eats rodents even from the start and stand more heat the the western form. They on the other hand are smaller almost newer eats rodents as juveniles and have very long periods of time where they don`t eat.
All my longissima are honest snakes: THEY BITE EVERY TIME. They are active at night and rarely seen during the day. Hibernate them cold in 4-5 months if you wants to breed them but expect that they don`t breed some years even you have done everything right.
All together I find longissima very interesting. They don`t behave like a clock and gives you some gray hairs at times, but when it all works out, it is sooooo nice.
Feel free to contact me directly if you have more questions.
Best wishes
S�e

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: Hi Steve : Actually very few people keeps longissima successfully. It has been owerseen for many years and now it is protected in most of its distribution. Here in Europe they are rarely seen at saleshows, and I don`t think that there are more than 5-10 breeders in Europe (or they are very secret about it)We are lucky that there are actually some pure locality animals among the few remaining strains, including the melaninistic form (Loir Valley) and a pure German form (most northern) : Longissima belongs to the ratsnakes that hates heat. If you read about the behaviour of ratsnakes like situla, mandarina, hohenackeri they are similar animals. Keep them cool with one isolated heating spot. My animals are active at 12*C. The often only eats during spring and they prefer small jumpers. : During my years with this snake I learned that the western form is more difficult to keep than the eastern. The eastern form gets very big eats rodents even from the start and stand more heat the the western form. They on the other hand are smaller almost newer eats rodents as juveniles and have very long periods of time where they don`t eat. : All my longissima are honest snakes: THEY BITE EVERY TIME. They are active at night and rarely seen during the day. Hibernate them cold in 4-5 months if you wants to breed them but expect that they don`t breed some years even you have done everything right. : All together I find longissima very interesting. They don`t behave like a clock and gives you some gray hairs at times, but when it all works out, it is sooooo nice. : Feel free to contact me directly if you have more questions. : Best wishes : S�e

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