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Posted by j deryke on February 15, 2001 at 14:53:08:
In Reply to: black and speckled racer? posted by ALEX S OLYVIERY on February 13, 2001 at 16:15:00:
: Does anyone have any of these two species? How do they do in captivity?
I currently have a speckled racer, and just gave away a black racer. Both are/were half-grown wild caughts. Speckled racers only get to the US in extreme south Texas where they are completely protected; in Central America, they are common. My speckled racer came out of the shipping bag hungry and ate a pinky mouse hours later. Others will eat only lizards or fish, or not eat at all. Good luck on getting one thats this easy. They are, like all racers, jerky and nervous. The backside of their teeth are serrated like a bread-knife: you REALLY don't want to get bitten by a full-grown one! In one year, he has doubled in weight and gained about 8" of length (140gms and 24-26" long). He is handle-able but really doesn't enjoy it.
The black racer was a disappointment. He was utterly vicious although an excellent eater. I literally could hardly handle him even with gloves because he was so wiggly and nippy. He was not shiny-black as I remembered them from my youth- the coloration was more like the flat black hot-rodders use as primer paint on their cars. Not attractive... I gave him to a breeder in PA, where both of us will be happier.
