Western Pygmy Rattlers - Experts Forum at VenomousReptiles.org

Western Pygmy Rattlers	Reply
by ReptileBob on September 10, 2007	Mail this to a friend!
hi i am interested in obtainig a young pair of western pygmy rattlers. i wanted to know some general info about them and if the would make good first hot snakes. do they usually feed well? what is there normal temperment? any other information on them would be greatly appriaciated. thank you!

RE: Western Pygmy Rattlers	Reply
by Cro on September 10, 2007	Mail this to a friend!
Bob, Pygmy Rattlesnakes are fun and fairly easy to keep. Do not purchase new-born young of the year, but instead purchase established feeders that are well started. There is an article on this site titled Captive Care and Breeding of the Carolina Pygmy, which you will want to read. Although it is written about the Carolina Pygmy Rattlesnake, the care information will be mostly the same for Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnakes and Western Pygmy Rattlesnakes. Best Regards JohnZ

RE: Western Pygmy Rattlers	Reply
by ReptileBob on September 10, 2007	Mail this to a friend!
thank you very much for directing me to the article. of all the pygmys (western, carolina, and dusky) which one would you recommend? Bob

RE: Western Pygmy Rattlers	Reply
by Cro on September 10, 2007	Mail this to a friend!
Bob, it has been my experience that Western and Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnakes eat very well in captivity, and that Carolina Pygmy Rattlesnakes are a bit more picky when it comes to feeding. Some folks will describe all three types as having "firey" tempers, but I would dissagree with that. They might be a bit hyper when first caught, however, they usually calm down quickly in captivity. Some Pygmys can be difficult to work on a hook unless you are very fast and deliberate in scooping them up and moving them. If you manage the right technique, they are fairly easy to move on a hook. I often hold something below them like a dust pan or screen cage top when hooking them from one cage to another, just in case they decide to plunge off a hook abrubptly. That way they will not fall to the floor. Wild caught Pygmys will usually have some parasites, because they eat frogs and lizards when they are young. This will require treating. Captive born Pygmys are less likely to have parasites. Carolina Pygmys seem more prone to having skin tumors and problems than the other two types. All Pygmys can have problems shedding the last bit of skin off of their rattles, and might require soaking, tubing, and gently removing the stuck shed from around the rattle base with tweezers. Hope this helps. Best Regards JohnZ

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