Louisiana pine snake (Pituophis ruthveni)
Snakes · Difficulty: Intermediate
Key facts and care guidance for Louisiana pine snake (Pituophis ruthveni) (origin: Louisiana, Texas – longleaf pine forest). Adult size around 120–180 cm. Life expectancy 15–25 years. The values below are carefully researched guidance.
Short answers
Louisiana pine snake: How big does the enclosure need to be?
From 180×90×135 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, bullsnakes and pine snakes).
Louisiana pine snake: What temperature does it need?
Daytime 25–31 °C, basking spot 34 °C, at night 16–20 °C.
Louisiana pine snake: Does it need UVB lighting?
UVB: Recommended (UVB 5.0).
Louisiana pine snake: How long do they live?
Life expectancy: 15–25 years.
Louisiana pine snake: Is it suitable for beginners?
Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).
Climate
- Daytime temperature
- 25–31 °C
- Night temperature
- 16–20 °C
- Basking spot
- 34 °C
- Humidity
- 50–65 %
- UVB
- Recommended (UVB 5.0)
Enclosure
- Minimum size
- from 180×90×135 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, bullsnakes and pine snakes)
- Substrate
- Sand-loam with leaf litter and room to dig, a cork hide
Feeding
- Food
- Frozen-thawed mice and rats
- Feeding interval
- 1×/week
Key facts
- Adult size
- 120–180 cm
- Life expectancy
- 15–25 years
- Origin
- Louisiana, Texas – longleaf pine forest
- Protection status
- Federally protected in the USA (Threatened) – only European captive-bred animals
- Brumation
- A winter rest of 10–14 weeks
- Cohabitation
- Keep them singly. Snakes are solitary and do not seek company — a shared hide is competition for the best spot, not social behaviour. The concrete reason is the feeding accident: if two animals grab the same food item, one can swallow the other along with it. On top of that, once they are kept together you can no longer tell which animal has eaten and which is losing weight. For breeding, put them together under supervision and separate them again afterwards.
Notes
One of North America's rarest snakes, tied in the wild to gopher tortoise burrows. In Europe from only a few breeding lines – have the origin documented.
Do you keep this species?
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Related species
- Baja California gopher snake (Pituophis vertebralis) – Intermediate
- Bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer sayi) – Beginner
- Gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer) – Intermediate
- Pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucus) – 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
What you need to start
To keep Louisiana pine snake (Pituophis ruthveni) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 180×90×135 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, bullsnakes and pine snakes)), substrate (Sand-loam with leaf litter and room to dig, a cork hide), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.
The complete, interactive care database is in the Reptoria app.
Last updated: 9 October 2026 · Editor: Reptoria editorial team · Sources include: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_pine_snake, https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Pituophis&species=ruthveni
All values are non-binding guidance and do not replace expert advice. Research thoroughly from several sources before acquiring and keeping an animal, and observe the applicable law (species and animal protection in particular).