Pinesnake Care Sheet
Introduction
Pinesnakes (Pituophis melanoleucus) are large, non venomous colubrid snakes known for their impressive size, bold markings, and loud vocalizations. These snakes are a joy to keep for intermediate to advanced reptile enthusiasts due to their fascinating behaviour and hardy nature.
Care sheets are only to be taken as guidelines. Just as with all animals, each reptile will have unique traits and personalities special to the individual animal that may require adaptation in their husbandry and care. The following care sheet will address basic requirements but as the primary caretaker of your pet, we encourage you to take notice of your pet's behaviours and preferences and make adjustments as they grow with you and your family. Please also keep in mind that unlike mammals, most reptiles change their behaviour according to seasonal weather changes even if you keep them indoors all year round. Most reptiles also change their behaviour according to their life stages and should not be expected to behave the same their whole life.
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Cheat Sheet
Pinesnake
| Common name | Pinesnake |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Pituophis melanoleucus |
| Natural location | Southeastern United States of America |
| Habitat (wild) | Sandy Pine Forests, Scrublands, Grasslands |
| Captive enclosure | 20gal for hatchlings/juveniles, 60gal+ for adults |
| Substrate | Aspen, Cypress Mulch, Loose Bark, Rock/Clay/Sand mixture |
| Temperature tolerance | Nighttime: 68-75°F (20-24°C), Cooler: 72-78°F (22-26°C) |
| Basking temperature | 82-88°F (28-31°C) |
| UVB lighting | Optional. Beneficial in moderate amounts |
| Humidity | Approx. 30%-60% |
| Average adult size | 4-7 feet |
| Captive lifespan | 20-30 years |
| Fun fact | Will flatten their bodies to appear larger |
Housing
Enclosure: Adult Pinesnakes require a spacious enclosure to accommodate their medium to large size and high activity levels, which can range from 4 to 7 feet in length. A minimum of a 4'x2'x16" enclosure is recommended for a single adult, but larger is always better. Ensure the enclosure is escape proof, as these snakes are strong and curious.
Substrate: Choose a substrate that encourages burrowing and retains moisture without being overly damp, such as cypress mulch, coconut husk, or reptile bark bedding. You can also use aspen shavings if you are able to provide adequate air humidity. Advanced setups can use a rock, clay, and sand mixture. This species loves to burrow and dig so provide a nice deep substrate to allow this behaviour to transpire.
Heating: Maintain a thermal gradient within the enclosure, with a warm side temperature of 85-90°F (30-32°C) and a cool side temperature of 70-75°F (21-24°C). Night time temps can drop to 65-70°F (18-21°C). For smaller enclosures, we recommend using heat pads but this will likely not be sufficient for larger enclosures. Overhead heat such as heat lights, emitters, and radiant heat are all excellent choices to heat your Pinesnake habitat. Overhead heat will continuously dry your terrarium so ensure you provide humidity for hydration.
Hide spots: One hide spot is often enough but the more the merrier! If only offering one, ensure that it is situated on the warm side. If you have the space, at least two is ideal, one on the warm side and one on the cool side of the enclosure, to allow your Pinesnake to thermo-regulate and feel secure. Half logs, cork bark, and commercially available hides are suitable options. You may also want to turn your cool side hide into a humid cave.
Humidity: Pinesnakes prefer low to moderate humidity level of 30-50%. They can tolerate low humidity very well but will eventually need to retreat to higher humidity cave or burrow structures. Ensure proper ventilation in the enclosure to prevent excessive moisture. A humidity box filled with damp sphagnum moss can be added, especially during shedding, to help maintain proper hydration.
Diet
Feeding: Pinesnakes are carnivores and primarily prey on rodents, small birds, frogs, lizards, and eggs. In captivity, a staple diet of mice and rats is sufficient and easy to obtain. Hatchlings should be fed fuzzy mice every 5-7 days, while sub adults and adults can be fed appropriately sized rats every 7-10 days. Prey items should be no wider than the thickest part of the snake's body. Pinesnakes have a fast metabolism and over time you will notice that they become very restless when they are hungry. As they age, their feeding frequency typically decreases, with very mature Pinesnakes (over 15 years old) often eating only once every 2-3 weeks, provided the meal is appropriately sized. There is strong debate over feeding live versus frozen thawed and there are pros and cons to both. Nutritionally, one is not better than the other assuming you have acquired your feed from a healthy source. Never leave a live rodent unsupervised with your snake and never leave an uneaten frozen/thawed rodent to decompose overnight. To read more about feeding live versus frozen/thawed, please refer to Karen's Corner.
Water: Provide a water dish filled with fresh, clean water at all times. Ensure the water dish is large enough for your Pinesnake to soak in if desired.
Health & Maintenance
Hygiene: Your Pinesnake will relieve itself once every 5-7 days on average. Over time, you will learn your snake's bathroom routines. Look out for it regularly and remove all excrements as soon as you see it to prevent the buildup of bacteria and parasites. Remove excrements, shed skin, and uneaten prey items promptly. We recommend a full substrate change once per season, 4 times a year, for smaller setups. For larger setups, a full change once per year is enough as long as you maintain spot cleaning daily or weekly. Wood and plant décor can be washed monthly with hot water and dish soap and put back into place.
Handling: Pinesnakes are confident and strong snakes with a very inquisitive personality. They can become defensive and vocal if they feel threatened or challenged. Handle them confidently and avoid sudden movements in order to make them feel secure. Avoid handling during the shedding process and after feeding to minimize stress. Wash your hands before and after handling to prevent the spread of bacteria. Regular handling helps them become more accustomed to human interaction.
Behavioural observation: Pinesnakes are known for their defensive behaviour, which includes hissing loudly and flattening their bodies when threatened. This behaviour is natural and should not be mistaken for aggression. They are active and curious, often burrowing or exploring the entirety of their enclosures. They provide keepers utmost delight observing them and can be highly rewarding and provide insight into their unique personalities. Monitor your Pinesnake's behaviour for signs of illness or stress, such as decreased appetite, lethargy, or abnormal shedding. A healthy and well fed Pinesnake will always have strong muscle tissue and holds itself up well at all times.
Quarantine: Quarantine any new additions to your reptile collection to prevent the spread of diseases.
Common Questions
Why does my pinesnake hiss and puff up?
It is a defensive display, not aggression. Pinesnakes hiss loudly and flatten their bodies to look bigger when they feel threatened. Handle confidently and avoid sudden movements and most settle with regular contact.
How big do pinesnakes get?
4 to 7 feet. A single adult needs at least a 4' x 2' x 16" enclosure, and the sheet is firm that larger is better for an animal this active.
Are pinesnakes venomous?
No. They are non venomous colubrids. The noise and the display are all bluff.
Are pinesnakes good for beginners?
This sheet puts them with intermediate to advanced keepers. They are hardy and straightforward to feed, but they are strong, curious escape artists with a loud defensive streak, which is a lot for a first snake.
How often do you feed a pinesnake?
Fuzzy mice every 5 to 7 days for hatchlings, appropriately sized rats every 7 to 10 days for sub adults and adults. Very mature animals over 15 years often drop to once every 2 to 3 weeks. Never feed anything wider than the thickest part of the snake.
Do pinesnakes burrow?
Constantly, and it is one of the pleasures of keeping them. Give a deep substrate that holds shape, such as cypress mulch, bark bedding, or a rock, clay and sand mix for a more advanced setup.
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Snakes in stock now
We carry the aspen, cypress mulch and clay substrates, cork bark, hides, heat pads, radiant heat and sphagnum moss covered in this guide at 1911 Kennedy Rd. Unit 99 in Toronto. Staff can walk you through a full setup in person.
