Baja California gopher snake (Pituophis vertebralis)

Short answers

Baja California gopher snake: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 170×85×130 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, bullsnakes and pine snakes).

Baja California gopher snake: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–28 °C, basking spot 30–32 °C, at night 20–22 °C.

Baja California gopher snake: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB not essential, weak UVB (Ferguson zone 1–2) recommended.

Baja California gopher snake: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 12–15 years (over 20 is possible).

Baja California gopher snake: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–28 °C

Night temperature

20–22 °C

Basking spot

30–32 °C

Humidity

40–50 % (dry)

UVB

UVB not essential, weak UVB (Ferguson zone 1–2) recommended

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 170×85×130 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, bullsnakes and pine snakes)

Substrate

Dry: beech or aspen shavings, sand and soil; room to dig

Feeding

Food

Frozen mice of a suitable size

Feeding interval

adults every 7–14 days (not too large a portion – they tend to regurgitate), juveniles weekly

Key facts

Adult size

90–170 cm (usually ~110–130 cm)

Life expectancy

12–15 years (over 20 is possible)

Origin

Baja California (Mexico) – the Cape / Baja California gopher snake

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

Winter dormancy of 2–3 months at 5–15 °C recommended; 8 weeks at around 12 °C is enough for fertile clutches. Also helpful for males' fertility.

Cohabitation

Single housing. Put animals together only under supervision for mating and separate them again afterwards. The reason is not territorial behaviour – keepers describe them as getting along with each other – but feeding accidents: if two snakes grab the same mouse, one can swallow the other along with it, and cannibalism has been documented in this species in captivity. In addition, when kept together you cannot tell which animal has eaten and which is losing weight.

Notes

Taxonomically sometimes listed as Pituophis catenifer vertebralis. With meals that are too large or too frequent it tends to regurgitate – feed it in moderation. It takes high humidity badly (keep it dry). Fewer specialist sources than for the northern Pituophis – treat the figures as a conservative guide.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer sayi) – Beginner
• Gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer) – Intermediate
• Pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucus) – Intermediate
• Louisiana pine snake (Pituophis ruthveni) – Intermediate
• Mexican pine snake (Pituophis deppei) – Intermediate
• Middle American gopher snake (Pituophis lineaticollis) – Intermediate
• Northern pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus) – Intermediate
• Black pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucus lodingi) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Baja California gopher snake (Pituophis vertebralis) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 170×85×130 cm (minimum size per the 1997 expert report, bullsnakes and pine snakes)), substrate (Dry: beech or aspen shavings, sand and soil; room to dig), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.