Terrarium hunters in our country do not have many types of snakes. Most often, the variety is limited to a few pythons, snakes or snakes. But in the world there are many more reptiles that are quite suitable for keeping them in captivity.
One of the best contenders for this role is the California Royal Banana Snake. Latin name - L. getulus californiae banana. This is one of the most popular
non-toxic snakes that can live and breed in captivity.
It is characterized by its incredible morphological diversity: depending on the place of capture and the nature of the surrounding area, there are dozens of subspecies.
Behavior features
As a rule, a California banana snake leads a daily life. However, in hot and arid areas, these reptiles can go on exclusively night activity. In winter, they fall into suspended animation.
They feed on small invertebrates, rodents and other snakes. Do not disdain to attack the chicks. Like other royal snakes, they kill their prey, wrapping themselves around it. The epithet “royal” snake received just for its ability to eat other reptiles, including poisonous ones. In particular, this species can attack rattlesnakes (a genus of the viper family). Naturally, they are not immune from the poisonous bites of their “lunch”, but they have a fairly high immunity to them.
It should be noted that a banana snake resorts to this method of nutrition only when it is very hungry. Such a diet is not regular and somehow significant. Moreover, in nature there are frequent cases when the rattlesnake and the species described by us are quite comfortably adjacent, settling under the same stone. To protect themselves from attack, they use a technique known to all naturalists who dealt with snacks: releasing a pungent smelling gruel from cesspool, they seek to flee from their offender.
The royal banana snake molts up to six times a year. It is easy to notice the approach of molting, as during this period her eyes become cloudy, becoming “milky”. Young growth sheds much more often. At this time, snakes need peace, shelter and high humidity. Due to the actual loss of vision, they are very disoriented, they do not go hunting.
It is a common misconception that a banana snake is a live-bearing species. This is not true. These reptiles reproduce by laying eggs. The type of fertilization is internal.
Eggs are laid in the period from May to August, 42-63 days after mating. You can notice the cherished hour approaching by looking at the behavior of the female: she becomes more active, constantly choosing the right place for masonry. Usually, no more than a dozen eggs are "born", although there are cases when twenty pieces were found in one nest.
The kites hatch after about two months, reaching a length of no more than a dozen centimeters. With good adult nutrition and nutrition, they can grow up to one meter.
This species is especially suitable for beginner breeders. The fact is that the California banana snake, the photographs of which are in the article, is completely non-aggressive and not particularly demanding on the conditions of keeping and feeding.