Pet Profile - Northern Pine Snake

The most unusual Valentine's Day gift I have received was a leucistic Northern Pine Snake, Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus. When my husband told me to close my eyes and hold out my hands I certainly wasn't expecting him to put a little pink snake down. As a hatchling it was pink but it has since matured to a solid white with blue eyes. This designer snake was bred in captivity and could make a great pet to an experienced snake owner.

Pine snakes, a member of the Colubridae family, are native to the United States. There are four types of pine snakes - Northern Pine (Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus), Southern or Florida Pine (Pituophis melanoleucus mugitus), Louisiana Pine (Pituophis melanoleucus ruthveni) and Black Pine (Pituophis melanoleucus lodingi). Designer morphs such as albino and luecistic are becoming more common in pine snakes but are not nearly as abundant or variable as their close cousins Corn Snakes, Elaphe guttata.

Characteristics of the Northern Pine Snake - Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus

Northern Pine Snakes are long and slender snakes which can grow to between five and seven feet long. Although their small head and ability to hiss makes them seem menacing, they are harmless and usually not aggressive.

They do have a high metabolism so they need to eat often. As a result of their healthy appetite they also require frequent cage cleanings. When the pine snake is young it can eat small mice and rats. Once the pine snake is fully grown they will need to eat several rats a week.

Recommended Habitat

The Northern Pine Snake prefers to be underground so a display tank is not the best choice. They are large snakes and therefore need a large home. Their tank should be at least 75 gallons.

I recommend giving them several inches of substrate so they can burrow. Make sure to include a water bowl in the cage. If the snake knocks it over and spills it you can anchor the bowl with a rock.

Handling your snake

There are some tips to handling snakes that are applicable to any species. Do not handle your snake right before or right after a feeding. If your snake's eyes are cloudy that means it is about to shed and cannot see very well. It is best to avoid holding your snake until after the shed is complete.

The Northern Pine Snake is an active snake so there is a specific way to best handle it. Take care when removing it from the tank. Allow the snake to climb on you rather than grabbing it to pick it up. The snake will most likely move a lot so you need to make sure you move your arms to support it at all times. Think of your hands like a treadmill, always moving to give the snake a place to go. Keep the snake well supported but do not constrict it. If it seems agitated put it back.

Northern Pine Snakes can make a great pet but do require a more experienced snake owner to handle them. They are not a display snake since they will spend most of their time underground. They have rough scales and are a beautiful native snake.

Sources:

Adam Jansen, Jansen Exotics
http://www.jansenexotics.com