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Captive Care of Timber Rattlesnake
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by BlackTimber on June 17, 2013
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I have experience with c.horridus horridus, but I would appreciate input in regards to humidity, cage setups, and day/night teperatures. How do you keep your snakes? Im open to improving and taking advice. Its not about me. Its about the snakes benefiting.
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RE: Captive Care of Timber Rattlesnake
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by damias on June 19, 2013
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Though I have never kept one I would imagine that it's care is very similar to that of the copperhead. They occupy the same environmental niche very often and can often be found together while denning. So in conclusion I see no reason to keep them in any different way.
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RE: Captive Care of Timber Rattlesnake
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by 10KillerHots on June 28, 2013
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I agree with keeping the Timbers like the Copperheads. In Oklahoma, we keep them pretty much the same, and the D-Backs too. The Cottonmouths are a bit different, as most come with an attitude and like it a bit wet, requiring more cleaning, etc.
Good Luck and Stay Alert!!
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RE: Captive Care of Timber Rattlesnake
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by choppergreg74 on June 30, 2013
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I keep two timbers on an educational endangered species permit. They are the most amazing snakes in my opinion. While environment may be similar to a copperhead in some places. Their behavior is anything but. First off I do not condone or recommend wild caught timbers. If you are going to get one please do you homework and make sure you are buying a captive born one from captive born parents. Please do not support people that collect wild caught timbers. Timbers are very smart snakes. They are also very skilled climbers. They happen to be the most arboreal rattlesnake. They love to climb and have been seen way up in trees. So if looking to create a nice enclosure, some high branches would not hurt. Also from my years experience raising them. They seem to loose fear of humans. They will recognize you. So be careful opening the cage. They will check you out and then strike. Timbers also like to climb up a hook really quickly so once again be careful. Timbers do not have the same defensive coil most other rattlesnakes have. They tend to lay out straight and just jump propelling their whole body forward. Please understand that I am not saying copperheads are not dangerous, but people really seem to underestimate timbers. If you are considering one be careful and get the right equipment. Once again this is my opinion. A timber can be much more of a handful than most cobras.
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RE: Captive Care of Timber Rattlesnake
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by Peter84Jenkins on July 1, 2013
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I agree very strongly with Choppergreg74's sentiments regarding wild caught Horridus, they tend to be a poor choice for captives anyway. It is poor logic to keep one species in the same conditions and using the same methods as another sympatric species by virtue that they occur together. For instance, diamond backs and timbers occur in overlapping populations in some parts of their range, but timbers prefer mesic mixed pine/hardwood forest while diamondbacks like the xeric sandhill habitat. To interchange those microhabitats among those species in captive conditions will result in poor specimen health. Copperheads can tolerate more moisture, timbers prefer to be slightly drier. As adults, timbers are also more likely to respond to the seasons and changes in hormone levels and stop feeding. In my opinion, an adult male timber should be given a larger enclosure to allow him to "migrate" as per his biological needs. Males in the wild will roam many miles from their winter den, and thus they will pace their enclosures. I have seen males rub their rostrum raw because they were given so little space. Again, Choppergreg74 said it very well, do the species a favor and find a captive bred animal. As hobbyists, we can no longer afford to look the other way when it comes to conservation issues, we are too numerous and the animals are too few.
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RE: Captive Care of Timber Rattlesnake
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by andrewhopkins on July 10, 2013
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Choppergreg74 this is very valuable and interesting information, especially regarding their arboreal behavior. There seems to be a scientific study out on this topic "Arboreal behavior in the timber rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus, in eastern Texas" and if there is a way for someone to distribute this paper legally I would love to have a read.
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