Gopher Snake / Bullsnake — Care Sheet & Morphs

Husbandry requirements

Gopher Snake / Bullsnake — origin: North America: western and central United States, southwestern Canada and northern Mexico. Mostly semi-arid to temperate habitats (grasslands, deserts, scrubland, open forests, agricultural areas)..

Terrarium temperature gradient

Night min18 °C

Cool side22–25 °C

Warm side27–30 °C

Basking spot30–33 °C

Diurnal, heliophilic species that uses a genuine hot spot: provide a clear thermal gradient with a basking zone at 30-33°C. With heating off at night, a drop to 18-20°C is beneficial. Always monitor temperatures with a thermostat and a thermometer.

Enclosure (adult)

120 × 60 × 60 cm

Spacious terrestrial terrarium (active, burrowing species)

Absolute minimum for an adult; 150 x 75 x 60 cm or more is strongly recommended for this active snake. Powerful species and skilled escape artist: a locked lid and doors are essential. Provide several hides (warm side and cool side), branches/relief and a layer of substrate thick enough to allow burrowing.

Humidity

30–50 %

Species of a rather dry environment: moderate conditions, avoid stagnant humidity but also dehydration. Provide a humid box (a hide with damp sphagnum/moss) during shedding periods.

Substrate

Aspen shavingsCoconut fibreTopsoil/soil-sand mixCypress mulch

Choose a dry, absorbent substrate deep enough to let the snake burrow. Absolutely avoid pine and cedar shavings (aromatic oils toxic to reptiles).

UVB

Optional

Not strictly essential but beneficial for this diurnal species: low to moderate UVB (5-7 % tube, Ferguson zone 1-2) supports wellbeing and calcium/vitamin D3 metabolism. Always provide shaded and hiding areas.

Water source

Always available

A large bowl of clean water available at all times, wide enough to drink from; renew regularly. The species bathes little, but water remains essential for hydration and a good shed.

Origin

Colubridae

North America: western and central United States, southwestern Canada and northern Mexico. Mostly semi-arid to temperate habitats (grasslands, deserts, scrubland, open forests, agricultural areas).

Feeding & health

Diet

Strict carnivore (rodent-eater) — Rodents of suitable size (mice, rats), occasionally birds and eggs.

High metabolism and voracious appetite. Adults: one prey item every 7-10 days; juveniles every 5-7 days. Match the prey size (about the snake's widest diameter, ~10-15 % of its weight). Watch for obesity in less active individuals.

Breeding

Oviparous

Clutch 5–20 eggs/young. Breeding is usually triggered by a brumation (cooling) of 2-3 months at ~10-15°C. Clutch of large eggs (5-20, sometimes more in large specimens), incubation of about 55-75 days at 27-29°C.

Health watch points

Respiratory infections (conditions too cold or too humid, poor ventilation)
Dysecdysis / incomplete shedding (humidity too low, dehydration)
Obesity and hepatic steatosis (overfeeding, inactive animal)
Mites (Ophionyssus) and internal parasites, especially in wild-caught individuals
Stomatitis (mouth rot) and skin lesions / blister disease on dirty or overly humid substrate

Morphs & genetics

Registry of 5 documented genes and 3 named combos for Gopher Snake / Bullsnake.

Albino (T-) amelanisticRec
Whitesided sockheadRec
Axanthic (Miami/VPI) aneryRec
Hypo (Stillwater) stillwater hybino (combo)Inc.d
PatternlessRec

Named combos — 3 documented combined morphs

SnowGhostWhiteout / Blizzard

Pairing calculator

Pick each parent's genotype — clutch probabilities update live. Free, no sign-up.

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Gopher Snake / Bullsnake × Gopher Snake / Bullsnake

Probabilities per gene (independent loci).

Expected clutchSelect at least one gene on a parent.

Frequently asked questions

Answers to the most common questions about keeping the gopher snake / bullsnake.

The gopher snake mimics the rattlesnake: is it dangerous because of that?▾

No, it is a completely non-venomous species and harmless to humans, even though its defensive behavior is spectacular: a very loud hiss produced by an epiglottal keel, a flattened head, a body coiled into an 'S' shape and tail vibration to imitate a rattlesnake. It may feign bites, especially in more nervous juveniles, but it generally tames well and calms down with regular, calm and gentle handling.

How big can an adult gopher snake get?▾

It is a large colubrid with a massive, heavy body: most adults measure between 120 and 180 cm, but the largest specimens, notably the bullsnake (P. c. sayi), can reach 200 to 240 cm, making it one of the largest colubrids in the United States.

What terrarium should be provided for such an active, burrowing species?▾

A spacious terrestrial terrarium of at least 120 x 60 x 60 cm for an adult, but 150 x 75 x 60 cm or more is strongly recommended given its activity level. It is a powerful snake and a skilled escape artist: a locked lid and doors are essential, along with several hides on both the warm and cool sides, some relief features or branches and a layer of substrate thick enough for it to burrow.

What temperature gradient should it be given?▾

It needs a basking spot of 30 to 33°C, a warm zone of 27-30°C and a cool side of 22-25°C, turning off the heating at night: a drop to 18-20°C is even beneficial. As always, temperatures should be controlled with a thermostat and a thermometer.

What humidity and substrate should be chosen?▾

It is a species from a rather dry environment, to be kept between 30 and 50 % humidity, avoiding both stagnation and dehydration; a humid box filled with sphagnum moss is useful during shedding periods. The substrate must be dry, absorbent and deep enough to allow burrowing; aspen shavings, coco fiber or a soil-sand mix are suitable, but pine and cedar shavings must be absolutely banned, as they are toxic to reptiles.

What does it eat, and how often?▾

It is a strict carnivore, essentially rodent-eating: mice and rats of an appropriate size, with the occasional bird or egg. Its metabolism is high and its appetite voracious, so beware of excess weight in less active individuals; adults are fed every 7 to 10 days and juveniles every 5 to 7 days, with a prey item whose diameter roughly matches that of the snake.

Is UVB necessary?▾

It is not strictly essential for this species but remains beneficial: low to moderate UVB, a 5-7 % tube in Ferguson zone 1-2, promotes general well-being and calcium metabolism, provided you always allow shaded and hiding areas.

What are its water requirements?▾

A large bowl of clean water must be available at all times, wide enough for it to drink from, and renewed regularly. It bathes little, but this water remains essential to its hydration and to successful sheds.

How long does a gopher snake live?▾

Its lifespan is 15 to 20 years in captivity, and can even reach around 25 years with good care, a long-term commitment to anticipate.

How does it reproduce, and what is brumation?▾

Reproduction is usually triggered by brumation, that is, a cooling period of 2 to 3 months at around 10-15°C, followed by the laying of large eggs, 5 to 20, sometimes more in large specimens, incubated about 55 to 75 days at 27-29°C.

Which health problems should be watched for in particular?▾

The main risks are respiratory infections when the environment is too cold, too humid or poorly ventilated, dysecdysis linked to overly low humidity, obesity and hepatic lipidosis from overfeeding a little-active animal, as well as mites and internal parasites, especially in wild-caught specimens, hence the value of favoring captive-bred animals.

Is it a good species for a first snake?▾

Yes, it is rated beginner to intermediate: its imposing size and impressive defensive behavior do still require a little experience and some firmness at the start, but it is not venomous, it is not protected by CITES and it tames well with regular handling, an excellent compromise for anyone looking for a large terrestrial snake.

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