Ladder Snakes

[Alex]

Anyone keep these? Hopefully picking up some in a couple of weeks, but with a view to keeping them in indoor vivaria. However, with caution exercised i see no reason why they can't be kept outdoors and then cooled inside overwinter. Be interested to know of any keepers/experiences.

[soe]

Hi Alex
Of all European ratsnakes, the ladder snake is the one that likes the most heat. Keeping them outside would probably be too cold for them. I have them finally again after a break of about 15 years. At that time I bred them for generations so if any questions just catch me at [e-mail]
Best wishes
Søe

[Alex]

soe said:

Hi Alex
Of all European ratsnakes, the ladder snake is the one that likes the most heat. Keeping them outside would probably be too cold for them. I have them finally again after a break of about 15 years. At that time I bred them for generations so if any questions just catch me at [e-mail]
Best wishes
Søe

Hi Soe, it doesn't look like i'll be getting the scalaris now unfortunately, as the supplier doesn't seem to know quite where the 'reply' button is on his or her computer!. Probably busy, yet still frustrating as i am/was a genuine buyer. I see your point on the ladder snakes, yet would argue that various species of southerly reptiles that favour the warmth i.e testudo hermanni/timon lepida etc do do well in outdoor vivaria during the summer months here in England. However, you have far more experience with the captive care of R.scalaris than me so i'm listening to what you're saying! . If, by a miracle, i do get these snakes then i'll certainly be in touch. Many thanks, alex

[soe]

Hi Alex
Scalaris are fantastic snakes to keep, so I wish you the best of luck finding them. I keep both hermanni and lepidus outside all year here and yes especially lepidus do have some problems in our cold weather. I wouldn`t try scalaris outside though. They are absolutely the snakes I have that stands and likes most heat.
Best wishes
Søe

[mark68]

Hi Alex
where I am in central Portugal they are common. I'm sure they need heat in summer but with an outside viv thats easy to give. Here we had regular night frosts last winter so I think if the conditions are ok for lepida they should be ok for scalaris. I would just add extra insulation fallen leaves etc in the winter.

[Alex]

mark68 said:

Hi Alex
where I am in central Portugal they are common. I'm sure they need heat in summer but with an outside viv thats easy to give. Here we had regular night frosts last winter so I think if the conditions are ok for lepida they should be ok for scalaris. I would just add extra insulation fallen leaves etc in the winter.

Hi Mark, that's what i suspected but don't doubt for a minute they really enjoy the heat. I've not been to Portugal for years but had a happy time in the Algarve hunting Montpellier snakes, Common Chameleons and Bedriagas skinks amongst other things . Don't remember seeing a Ladder snake though sadly.

[mark68]

Alex,
I normally find snakes here tucking into my mice that I breed in our barn, for the captive snakes. Its a real problem !!

we have 5 species Ladder, false smooth, horseshoe whip, montpellier and viperine. The temps here are much hotter in the summer than the algarve and much colder in the winter. We had an average maximum day temp of 36.7 in July and last winter my first here, it often fell to around -3c at night. So I think the ladders are really tough. My Wife found a ladder snake in the summer in one of the mouse cages and because of the shock she dropped the lid of the cage. This trapped its head between the lid and the cage bottom This seemed to stun it and cause the mouth to be misshapen. I really felt sorry for the poor thing.

I kept it in a cage for a few days to see how it was. A week later it looked fine and happily ate a DEAD mouse I offered it. It was nice to then release it knowing it was ok !!

[mark68]

Alex,
I normally find snakes here tucking into my mice that I breed in our barn, for the captive snakes. Its a real problem !!

we have 5 species Ladder, false smooth, horseshoe whip, montpellier and viperine. The temps here are much hotter in the summer than the algarve and much colder in the winter. We had an average maximum day temp of 36.7 in July and last winter my first here, it often fell to around -3c at night. So I think the ladders are really tough. My Wife found a ladder snake in the summer in one of the mouse cages and because of the shock she dropped the lid of the cage. This trapped its head between the lid and the cage bottom This seemed to stun it and cause the mouth to be misshapen. I really felt sorry for the poor thing.

I kept it in a cage for a few days to see how it was. A week later it looked fine and happily ate a DEAD mouse I offered it. It was nice to then release it knowing it was ok !!

[Alex]

Mark, you got to put some pictures up i think mate!

[mark68]

I will happily do so, if somebody can explain how?
I'm not very computer geeky.
Mark

[Killian]

set-up an account on photobucket.com upload the photos and then paste the code straight into your reply and it should display after you post it. any problems let me know and ill help you.

[mark68]

[/img]

Montpellier snake

[mark68]

[img src="[/img]i131.photobucket.com/albums/p294/mark68_bucket/montpeliersnake011-1.jpg"]

[mark68]

[mark68]

Hi Killian
finally got it to work!! above is a pic of wild Montpellier snake

thanks for your advice
Mark