The Southern Copperhead Agkistrodon c. contortrix is, in my opinion, one of the most elegant venomous snakes in the world. The subtle beauty of this snake, coupled with a mild temperament, make it ideal for captive collections. Let me state that I do not condone the keeping of venomous snakes by inexperienced herpetoculturists. The copperhead is a good choice for a "first" hot because of its relatively mild venom and usually docile manner. I am writing this article on copperheads because I think they are the most underrated of all venomous snakes. Anyone who is interested in keeping venomous snakes should seek a mentorship with an experienced keeper before obtaining any venomous snakes.

There are 5 subspecies currently recognized: Agkistrodon c. contortrix - Southern Copperhead, Agkistrodon c. mokasen - Northern Copperhead, Agkistrodon c. laticinctus - Broadband Copperhead, Agkistrodon c. pictigaster - Transpecos Copperhead, Agkistrodon c. phaeogaster - Osage Copperhead.

Copperheads range from S.E. New York, to West Texas, to the Florida Panhandle. They occupy a diverse range of habitats that include: mountain valleys, rocky hillsides, deciduous forest, and the fringes of coastal swamps. These snakes adapt readily to human habitation and can be found in many urban settings as well.

Activity occurs mainly during the daytime in the Spring and Fall, but becomes more nocturnal during the hot summer months. I have seen as many as 10 in a night crossing a 1 mile stretch of road in the foothills of South Carolina. They seem to be more locally abundant in the hilly parts of their range than they do along coastal areas. As you might have guessed the copperhead is one of my favorite snakes. They are easy to care for and have a potentially long life span, up to 20 years!

For my adults, I house them in 3ft. custom built cages. I build the cages out of ¾' plywood that is painted with a quality high gloss black enamel paint. Both sides of the cage are ventilated with 7"x9" double screened openings. I utilize front opening sliding ¼" glass doors that are fitted with a key lock. I also install a fluorescent light to add asthetic appeal to the cage. For the substrate I use cypress mulch.

During the summer months the temperatures vary from 90 degrees in the daytime , to 70 degrees at night. I allow my captive a winter "cool down" where they are kept at temps of 50-60 degrees. During this period the snake are not fed. Specimens from more northerly areas may require a longer brumation period.

I usually feed my adults once every 10-14 days. For the most part, I offer them live adult mice, although they will eagerly accept thawed frozen mice if necessary. One thing I have noticed about captive raised specimens is their tremendous feeding response. By saying this I mean when I open the cage they are trying to come out and find the food. This is when it is important to have a pair of long(24") hemostats to offer the prey items from. Even though they are not aggressive snakes, they will strike blindly at any movement if they think food is nearby. Make sure you use the utmost caution when feeding your hots. Neonate copperheads usually do not present any problems when feeding. Most will readily take newborn pink mice for their first meal. Some, however, will require a lizard or frog for the first few meals. If you are worried about parasites, freeze the specific prey item for a minimum of two weeks before using as food. The babies grow quickly and can attain breeding size within 3 years.

Following a winter cool down, most copperheads will breed readily in captivity. Most captive breedings occur in the spring, however fall breedings have been recorded. Anywhere from 4-21 live young are born in late summer to early fall. You can usually tell if the snake is gravid by her refusal to eat. I did have one Northern Copperhead that continued to eat right up until she gave birth to 6 babies. Make sure that the gravid female has room to thermoregulate by providing her with a "cool" side and a "warm" side in the cage.

Breeding these snakes has been a very rewarding experience for me. Though relatively common, I encourage keepers of copperheads to breed their animals. Doing this takes pressure off of the wild populations and allows keepers to obtain healthier animals. Happy Herpin!

I'm sorry, this Article is unavailable or waiting for administration approval and therefore no comments are allowed.