Black Whip Snake, Malta's Snake.

[DarkSmoke]

Ok So , on the maltese islands where i live we have generally this type of snake around, called the black whip snake or Coluber viridiflavus carbonarius.

this is a link to more info about it with a photo : http://www.treknature.com/gallery/Europe/Malta/photo94698.htm

we have another type of snake which is small and doesn grow.

but im intrested in the black whip snake.
would it be possible to tame this kind of snake? anyone have any expirience with this kind of snake i don't know if it lives only in malta or in other contries too. of course im not talking about the present but in future, since right now i dont have enough expirience with snakes. These snakes are becoming more rare and rare to see with bird hunters killing more of them each year because they try to eat their birds. and nobody cares about them. but in the future when i have more expirience i really wish to breed them!

its a very beutifull snakes, in that link it is said that it changes colours when it grows till it becomes black.

 

[RobbiesCornField]

It looks a bit like something in the states called a Black Racer (Coluber constrictor). If it's temperament is anything like the racers (fast, flighty, and bitey), I wouldn't try taming an adult. If you can get a juvenile, you may get lucky enough to tame one down. If they're anything like the racers (and that link makes me think they are), they're rather easily stressed out, and don't adapt well to captivity unless you have a huge viv you can make for one. That's part of the reason I gave up on my quest to get a black racer.

As for diet, it does look like they're natural rat eaters, so you probably wouldn't have any issue getting one switched over to frozen/thawed.

 

[DarkSmoke]

yes they come from the family of the black racers tough i think this sub species live on these island only , i had caught a 1metre one with my uncle one it was very bitey until we caught him but then it settled once caught and didnt make a move, tough we released him back in the wild. it was like 6years ago.

 

[Pruddock]

Racers in general have a difficult time acclimating to captivity. You'll have to get your temps almost perfect and you need to have a big space for the snake to move around in as I believe all racers are diurnal and are constantly on the go. I was going to try with a WC juvie yellow-belly racer about two years ago and decided it wasn't worth it. If you do decide to do it though, good luck!

 

[The_Thunderer]

I'd have to agree with Payton (Pruddock) above. Taming down an adult would be difficult at best - ALTHOUGH it probably would be a good eater. I've had no problems getting the adult red racers around here eating F/T mice. But they're MEAN as heck and I ended up letting them go because they're just too ferocious.

The little ones I've caught wouldn't take anything from me... live or f/t... so they were released too.

 

[vetusvates]

but im intrested in the black whip snake.
would it be possible to tame this kind of snake? anyone have any expirience with this kind of snake i don't know if it lives only in malta or in other contries too.

Did you read this on the page of your link?

Biology: This snake is very lively and often climbs trees in search of food. It hunts around mid-day and feeds on lizards, skinks, geckos, rats, mice, frogs, and the young and eggs of ground or tree-nesting birds. The Whip Snake lives in rock cracks and under rubble. When cornered it strikes and bites furiously. The animal hibernates during the winter months.

If you are interested in keeping snakes, perhaps you might try an exotic pet shop in Birkirkara.
Or Green Acres Petshop‎ in Triq San Tumas, Fgura, Malta (0)27691106.....might be able to get you started in the right direction.

 

[tyflier]

You've been given good advice. In general, whipsnakes, coachwhips, and racers don't make the best pets. They are diurnal and fast moving snakes that tend to hunt visually, and cover loads of ground during the day, hunting and scavenging small rodents, lizards, birds, and other snakes.

This means they require lots and lots of floor space, and plenty of room to climb, as well. Most likely, some form of low-level UVA and UVB will be needed, as they would be out and about during the day. Some species have had body temps recorded in the 100-110*F range, and these snakes tend to like it hot. Others are forest and higher elevation dwellers, and would need cooler temps, so knowledge of exact subspecies requirements would be needed.

They also have a nasty reputation of being very defensive and bitey. They tend to be very quick to escape, but if you do manage to grab them, they don't hesitate to let loose with a machine-gunners bite response. So take that into consideration...

Also take into consideration that my experience comes from western North American racers and whipsnakes, so...take it for whatever it's worth to you...

 

[bitsy]

My ex-b/f managed to get hold of a pair of wild-caught Red-Tail Racers (not sure if they're the same sort of thing?). They were absolutely beautiful but loaded with parasites and frantic as all heck.

He intended to establish a captive breeding programme with them, but the intensive vet treatment needed to clear their parasites was very tough on them. The male never calmed down, never ate and died after a few months. The female did eventually start eating but was never handleable - she used to strike at the glass of the viv if anyone went near her. I believe she's now been passed on to someone with a male (and presumably a large supply of Elastoplast and antiseptic cream...).

If the Maltese versions have the same type of temperament, then I'd steer clear.

 

[DarkSmoke]

Did you read this on the page of your link?

If you are interested in keeping snakes, perhaps you might try an exotic pet shop in Birkirkara.
Or Green Acres Petshop‎ in Triq San Tumas, Fgura, Malta (0)27691106.....might be able to get you started in the right direction.

???!!?!?? O_O
first of , im already on snakes and i have a corn and a ball pyhon.
second iv been living in malta for 19years, do you think i need someone from Louisiana in the case i wanted to get started on snakes? LOFL!!
well anyways.

 

[RobbiesCornField]

???!!?!?? O_O
first of , im already on snakes and i have a corn and a ball pyhon.
second iv been living in malta for 19years, do you think i need someone from Louisiana in the case i wanted to get started on snakes? LOFL!!
well anyways.

I'm sorry, but that was incredibly rude, and completely uncalled for. All he was trying to do is HELP you.
I've lived in Florida for 19 years and have been keeping herps for over 3 years. So does that mean I can go out and get an alligator? NO. Just because you live near where it's found doesn't mean that you're an expert in an animals care. As apparently was the case with your uncle. Isn't this the same type of snake he killed?

 

[DarkSmoke]

My ex-b/f managed to get hold of a pair of wild-caught Red-Tail Racers (not sure if they're the same sort of thing?). They were absolutely beautiful but loaded with parasites and frantic as all heck.

He intended to establish a captive breeding programme with them, but the intensive vet treatment needed to clear their parasites was very tough on them. The male never calmed down, never ate and died after a few months. The female did eventually start eating but was never handleable - she used to strike at the glass of the viv if anyone went near her. I believe she's now been passed on to someone with a male (and presumably a large supply of Elastoplast and antiseptic cream...).

If the Maltese versions have the same type of temperament, then I'd steer clear.

yeah everyone has been saying how the american whip is farocious, but from the way everyone is describing it the maltese one is way less aggressive. as i said i have captured one with my uncle like 6years ago , it really was fast as light and when we cornered it it stroke like a monster, but once we caught it it stoped striking, we even putted it in a bucket and stay there without moving for like 2hrs and handeled it a few times. then as i said earlier we released it the same day back to the wild.

 

[Pruddock]

???!!?!?? O_O
first of , im already on snakes and i have a corn and a ball pyhon.
second iv been living in malta for 19years, do you think i need someone from Louisiana in the case i wanted to get started on snakes? LOFL!!
well anyways.

Settle down dude, [I believe] he was just trying to point you in a direction where you could talk to somebody in person that might know the racers you're talking about better than a bunch of people from the states do.

 

[v_various]

uh, so you guys caught one? That's what your basing your temperament evaluation on, one snake? Who's to say it wasn't sick or dying when you got it?

I'd listen to people with more experience with these snakes, or else just try and catch a few more to get a better idea of what they're like. Is there no local herp club you can talk too? They'd probably know. Also, make sure it isn't illegal, I know where I live you can't keep native species.

 

[vetusvates]

Ok So , on the maltese islands where i live we have generally this type of snake around, called the black whip snake or Coluber viridiflavus carbonarius.

this is a link to more info about it with a photo : http://www.treknature.com/gallery/Europe/Malta/photo94698.htm

we have another type of snake which is small and doesn grow.

but im intrested in the black whip snake.
would it be possible to tame this kind of snake? anyone have any expirience with this kind of snake i don't know if it lives only in malta or in other contries too. of course im not talking about the present but in future,since right now i dont have enough expirience with snakes.[/COLOR] These snakes are becoming more rare and rare to see with bird hunters killing more of them each year because they try to eat their birds. and nobody cares about them. but in the future when i have more expirience i really wish to breed them!

its a very beutifull snakes, in that link it is said that it changes colours when it grows till it becomes black.

First) Coluber species are varied and numerous in the States. You asked. :shrugs:
Second) Ever thought of buying a field guide? They have maps and descriptions of ranges, by species. :shrugs:
Third) You say yourself you have 'less than a lot' of experience with snakes. Which is obvious in your wanting to "tame" and/or "breed" a Coluber species. I have 'more than a little' experience with racers and whip snakes. That would be snakes grouped together, because of similarity, in the Genus "Coluber". You asked. :shrugs:

I was attempting to be helpful in my first post. And somewhat curious , I admit, if they had large cities for shopping, and pet stores, in your country. So I googled and read about your country today....and it was absolutely fascinating. Most of what I knew was historical, and not modern, so you prompted a positive learning experience for me today. I thank you for that. I am sorry that, in my destitute attempt, I did not inspire the same reaction or response in you. For that, precisely, I do apologize.
Incidentally, we have books, stores, bookstores, snakes, snakes in stores, cornsnakes in stores, cornsnakes in our rural wilds, and Colubers in our rural wilds.
All in Louisiana. I've been living here, off and on, for 46 years.
NOTE : We also have in-door plumbing and the internet.

 

[bitsy]

All in Louisiana. I've been living here, off and on, for 46 years.
NOTE : We also have in-door plumbing and the internet.

...and Britney Spears. Don't forget The Britney.

Doesn't she cancel out all the other stuff??

*ducks and runs*

 

[diamondlil]

I'd suggest joining a local nature conservency or herpetological club if you intend to work towards keeping your local snakes, find out all the legal implications of keeping, breeding and maybe releasing them.
But first I'd also suggest you get one snake to be healthy and thrive under your care. If you can't find the equipment to raise something as easy as a cornsnake to aduulthood then any more specialised species may be out of your league for a while.

 

[DarkSmoke]

first off, i apologize vetusvates for being rude.
i don't think the other snake we caught was sick cause at first it was running around like crazy and attacking us, but well , im no expert.
thanks for the info so fur, this is for the future as i stated in the original post ,just got my ball python it will be some more time till i get another snake, well at least thats what i think cause im finding getting another snake is really tempting lol.

but well i need to do more research about this wild ones , and its difficult to find answers since there arent many maltese people if any on reptile forums to discuss with.

but will be giving a try to catch a juvenille one in the future so please keep posting your ideas

 

[tyflier]

yeah everyone has been saying how the american whip is farocious, but from the way everyone is describing it the maltese one is way less aggressive. as i said i have captured one with my uncle like 6years ago , it really was fast as light and when we cornered it it stroke like a monster, but once we caught it it stoped striking, we even putted it in a bucket and stay there without moving for like 2hrs and handeled it a few times. then as i said earlier we released it the same day back to the wild.

And than you stuck it in a cage, and it, like died, like, 6 months later. But it fully adapted to captivity without any problems...

Dude...it's obvious that you don't really want people's input and opinion, so why did you ask for it? If you wanted everyone to agree with you, you should have put that in the title. You wuold have had fewer responses to deal with...

 

[vetusvates]

...and Britney Spears. Don't forget The Britney.

Doesn't she cancel out all the other stuff??

*ducks and runs*

:roflmao:
Well.....*hangs head in shame*.....you've got me there.....LOL.....

And apology accepted, DarkSmoke. *shakes hands*
I'm still not through googling and google-earthing Malta. Beautiful place.

 

[Pruddock]

:roflmao:
Well.....*hangs head in shame*.....you've got me there.....LOL.....

And apology accepted, DarkSmoke. *shakes hands*
I'm still not through googling and google-earthing Malta. Beautiful place.

Agreed. After you last post about Malta I've been having some fun going through and learning about it as well. Can't say I knew a damn thing about it beforehand. Beautiful and interesting place for sure.