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bamboo ratsnakes
(oreocryptophis porphyraceus ssp.)
In the past, I have maintained the four most commonly held subspecies (coxi, laticinctus, pulchra, and vaillanti). As of 2011, I have adult groups of all but pulchra. The first two subspecies are incredibly prolific; some (both males and females) will breed before their first birthday, and multiple clutching (2 or 3 clutches a year) is common. The vaillanti are quite different; they mature at a more typical colubrid rate (2-3 years), have small clutches (often just 2 or 3 eggs), and usually only have a single clutch a year. All the subspecies typically do very well if kept in the 60s and 70s year round with access to quality hides (i.e. corkbark) and moderate humidity (a water bowl for all, and access to damp spagnum moss for gravid females). I disagree with hybridizing the subspecies; confusion down the road about the purity of lineages (as well as blatant misrepresentations) isn’t worth it.