Northern pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus)

Short answers

Northern pine snake: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 200×100×150 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, bullsnakes and pine snakes, adult.

Northern pine snake: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 25–30 °C, basking spot 35 °C, at night 18–20 °C.

Northern pine snake: Does it need UVB lighting?

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

Northern pine snake: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: approx. 20 years (exceptions over 35).

Northern pine snake: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

25–30 °C

Night temperature

18–20 °C

Basking spot

35 °C

Humidity

50–60 %

UVB

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

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 200×100×150 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, bullsnakes and pine snakes, adult

Substrate

Deep (about 30 cm) substrate they can dig in, sandy or conifer forest floor; a water dish

Feeding

Food

Mice, rats, hamsters or birds (day-old chicks or quail) – not fussy

Feeding interval

adults every 14–20 days, juveniles weekly

Key facts

Adult size

140–180 cm, rarely over 200 cm

Life expectancy

approx. 20 years (exceptions over 35)

Origin

North America, the pine forests of the eastern USA (New Jersey to Georgia and Tennessee)

Protection status

Not listed under CITES (wild populations are protected in some US states – irrelevant for keeping captive-bred animals)

Brumation

Yes – from the beginning of December to the end of February at 5–8 °C; stop feeding from the beginning of November

Cohabitation

Keep them singly – a spirited, territorial colubrid; put them together only briefly for supervised breeding, and never keep males together

Notes

The northern pine snake, very active at digging – deep substrate and stable hides are essential. The nominate form of Pituophis melanoleucus. Common mistakes: substrate too shallow, a skipped winter rest, and feeding too often.

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
• Louisiana pine snake (Pituophis ruthveni) – Intermediate
• Mexican pine snake (Pituophis deppei) – Intermediate
• Middle American gopher snake (Pituophis lineaticollis) – Intermediate
• Black pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucus lodingi) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Northern pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 200×100×150 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, bullsnakes and pine snakes, adult), substrate (Deep (about 30 cm) substrate they can dig in, sandy or conifer forest floor; a water dish), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.