Ocotillo
2018-08-29
This is "Ocotillo," same make and model as "Spooky Noodle" but not wild.
We named her "Ocotillo." We have a lot of these plants growing wild around here (we live in the Sonoran desert). Link Link
Like Spooky Noodle, Ocotillo is a Sonoran Gopher Snake - Pituophis (pronounced "pit-chew-oh'-fis") catenifer affinis. Link Link
We hope everyone will learn the difference between a Pituophis (bull snake, gopher snake, and pine snake) and a rattlesnake. They are two different species. Pituophis are harmless and super beneficial to the ecology. They are not to be feared or killed. However, the two species look about the same. And because rattlesnakes are very dangerous, then if you don't know the difference then stay away from a wild one found during a hike.
Eggs from clutch B.
The Open Box: the young snake arrived at our local FedEx center in this insulated carton, after an overnight delivery.
Our first look at the young snake.
The snake had blue eyes, meaning she was about to shed.
Ocotillo does a hecking good shed.
Ocotillo having a yummy dinner. In the same way that people buy frozen chickens (or fish or parts of cows) at a grocery store, we buy frozen feeder mice at a pet store. Ocotillo eats once every five days, and we prepare her dinner by thawing a frozen feeder mouse in hot water. After eating, she will retire to her hide cave (a small box) and spend the majority of the next two days sleeping.
Ocotillo soaking in her water dish.
Ocotillo drinking water from an eye-dropper.
We give Ocotillo a bath once a week in an inch of warm water. She likes to wrap around her favorite rock for security.
