Eastern Fox Snakes

[Topaz]

I'm getting a baby from a rescue and have found an extreme lack in information on these snakes. They look easy to take care of, and the baby I'm getting is already on f/t pinkies (three weeks old.) Any info, links, experience, etc. would be appreciated.

[Garter_Gertie]

sorry. have wayward peepers in one hand, trying to tame.

;rockster can help you. i think she has a bazillion.

[Loren]

Never had one, but in my peterson field guide, they are shown to be in the ratsnake/cornsnake family elaphe (which has since been changed, I think), so I would imagine they are similar in care to corns and rats.
It says 36-54" usually for adults, with a record of 70.5" long. They seem to be found in a wide variey of habitats, so a basic normal cornsnake type set-up should be ok.
Hopefully you can find some more experienced info than mine though

[Topaz]

Thanks! I plan to bombard the rescue folks with questions when we meet, and they seem to have a large collection of them. They don't seem to be very populare pets.

[Zephyr]

Originally Posted by Topaz

They don't seem to be very populare pets.

Apparently they have a bad temper and don't like to cooperate at feeding time either.

[sschind]

Treat them like a corn snake or a kingsnake. I've had a few WCs over the years and with regular handling they can be as tame as either and feed just as well. I think that one of the reasons they are not more popular is that very few people are breeding them. People over here just don't seem to have the interest in the native snakes without all the morphs. They are one of my favorites however and I would take one of them over a corn snake or a kingsnake any (unless its a mt. king of course)

[Topaz]

The lady that has them told me they'd be better than a corn snake because of how easy they are to care for and how readily they take f/t mice. I personally think they're prettier than corns.

[Loren]

Originally Posted by Topaz

The lady that has them told me they'd be better than a corn snake because of how easy they are to care for and how readily they take f/t mice. I personally think they're prettier than corns.

I didnt know there ws anything that took f/t better than corns.
Mine will aggressively eat any form of rodent you wiggle in front of them, every time.

[Loren]

Originally Posted by sschind

Treat them like a corn snake or a kingsnake. I've had a few WCs over the years and with regular handling they can be as tame as either and feed just as well. I think that one of the reasons they are not more popular is that very few people are breeding them. People over here just don't seem to have the interest in the native snakes without all the morphs. They are one of my favorites however and I would take one of them over a corn snake or a kingsnake any (unless its a mt. king of course)

This kind of explains the bad temper reputation- most of the animals people have kept so far are probably wild caught, and half grown already at capture.
I know with gopher snakes for example, there is often a night and day difference in the handleablilty of a cb vs a w/c.

[Topaz]

I guess I really lucked out on this litter, then. She has many babies that were captive hatched. I don't know about the parents other than she said the female was a two headed snake that died soon after laying(that she keeps in the freezer in case no one believes them.

Do you guys think the mom's early death will contribute to a shorter life span to normal babies?