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Bull snake

The bullsnake, Pituophis catenifer sayi, is a large North American colubrid of the central plains and prairies, tan and cream with dark blotching, and one of the biggest snakes on the continent.

Adults reach 1.5 to 2.4 metres. The defining behaviour is the bluff: a threatened bullsnake inflates, flattens its head into a triangle, vibrates its tail and produces a loud rasping hiss through a modified epiglottis — a convincing impression of a rattlesnake from an entirely harmless animal. Captive-bred bullsnakes are generally good-natured, and they are prodigious rodent hunters, which is why farmers value them.

Origin
Central plains of North America
Adult size
1.5–2.4 m
Lifespan
20+ years
Basking temperature
29–31°C hot spot, 22–24°C cool end
Humidity
40–50% — a dry-climate species
Temperament
Loud bluffing display; generally calm when handled

Related: Black rat snake

2 bull snake photos, newest first

Bull snake feed
  • Bandit IV, a bull snake

    Bandit IV

    Bandit IV tried to catch the bouquet at the wedding. The lemon pyramid is coming down either way.

    FrostyOtter · 1 week ago

  • Bandit IV, a bull snake

    Bandit IV

    I have never once won a staring contest with Bandit IV.

    SunnyHeron · 2 weeks ago

Living with a bull snake

Do not read the display as aggression. Hissing, inflating and tail-rattling is a bluff, and most bullsnakes handle calmly once lifted. It is worth knowing before it happens.

They get big, and an adult needs an enclosure of at least 1.8 metres in length. Floor space matters more than height — this is a ground-dwelling burrower, so give a substrate deep enough to dig into.

A dry-climate species: 40–50% humidity, a hot spot around 30°C and a proper cool end.

The feeding response is strong. Use tongs.

They are prone to obesity in captivity because they will eat whenever offered. An adult eats every one to two weeks at most.

General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual reptiles vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.

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