Hi all,
The Speckled Rattlesnakes come in five sub-species:
Crotalus mitchelli mitchelli
Crotalus mitchelli angelensis
Crotalus mitchelli muertensis
Crotalus mitchelli pyrrhus
Crotalus mitchelli stephensi
The only change I have heard of, is that stephensi has been upgraded to it`s own species, so now it is Crotalus stephensi.
This Arizona Speckled must be one of these sub-species, it cannot be just Crotalus mitchelli.
All the best,
Brian.

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All venoms are poisons but not all poisons are venoms

Okay, don't know too much about the husbandry of rattlers myself... I've dealt with Crotalus atrox and Crotalus cerastes at work but haven't really looked at the group.

But... I have a copy of Ludwig Trutnau's "Venomous Snakes in the Terrarium" handy so I'll try to summarise the valid points regarding C. mitchelli husbandry. (BTW Mr. Trutnau says the C. m. pyrrhus is the most commonly imported - this is an old-ish book though so not necessarily up to date).

Needs a bright terrarium with 10-12 hours of light.
Daytime temperatures of 25-32 degrees celsius, falling to about 18-22 at night. (Optimal daytime temp is 30-31 to aid digestion).
He also reckons that a "mild bottom heater" is needed during the day to prevent respiratory infections.
The author notes that some individuals are easy and some can starve to death by refusing to feed. Stress is a very important factor in this species.
Apparantly brumation of between 3-5 months at 8-12 celsius is required.
This species prefers desert-like terrain, with lots of rocks and low plant-growth. It can be found on sunny slopes and in gorges but rarely on sandy substrate.
C. mitchelli can be rather nocturnal thanks to the high daytime temperatures in its range and can be active after rainfall.

Okay, so that was basically just regurgitated information and no substitute for good first hand experience. I'm sure if you find some one who has kept this species you'll get a more first-hand response. But as I always say, there's no substitute for research. Hope that helps, even if only a little.


For anyone into venomous snakes, or any snakes for that matter, I really recommend this book. It's packed full of information and is just such a good read. Perhaps my favourite reptile book ever, and a bible for DWA keepers (haven't got my hands on the new B.W. Smith book yet, though).

Hi Thrasops,
I keep two species of Speckled Rattlesnake, the South-west Rattlesnake, Crotalus mitchelli pyrrhus, and the Panamint Rattlesnake, Crotalus mitchelli stephensi, now upgraded to Crotalus stephensi by some taxonomists.
They are easy to look after with the advise in your thread. As for feeding, the Panamint takes one or two adult defrost mice every 10 to 14 days, the South-west feeds only on fuzzy mice, if you try him on adults, he will regurge them. This seems a common thing with people that keep pyrrhus. By the way, every time I feed them, I put their rock heaters on at night for about 7 nights after.
All the best,
Brian.

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All venoms are poisons but not all poisons are venoms

Cool! Thanks for the info.

I didn't see anything about venom in the book - just out of curiosity, what is this species like venom-wise? Supposedly these snakes can be a little on the defensive side...?

Regards
Francis

Hi Francis,
The Speckled Rattlesnakes seem to have a typical Rattlesnake venom, so a bite would seem to have a danger relative to the snakes size.
Having said that, the venom has not been studied as well as the more medically important Rattlesnakes, so you never know. The closely related Tiger Rattlesnake, Crotalus tigris, has a very potent venom that also contains neurotoxins similar to "mojavetoxin".
As for temprement, I don`t find them bad at all, in fact the Panamint is very laid back, while the South-west can be a bit nippy, he is not hard to handle at all.
All the best,
Brian.

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All venoms are poisons but not all poisons are venoms

Thanks Brian i will look up each of the sub species and gather more info on each

Thanks also for your first hand experience feeding wise i will note this down and bare it in mind not to feed large meals but only small meals every 10-12 days.

Francis: Thanks also for your information Ludwig Trutnau's "Venomous Snakes in the Terrarium" is a book i will now get and read it thouroughly.
What you have said is exactly how i've heard their evironment is like
The venom is said by comparison to be ''twice as bad as the western diamondback rattlesnake'' although i'll have to find what the breakdown of the venom enzyme and toxin wise.

This information is much appreciated by myself i am very grateful for this stepping stone in the research

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xkellyx



0.1 07.albino burmese python (Peaches)
1.0 07.super tiger retic (Flare)
1.0 07.jungle carpet pythonxdiamond (Rug)
0.1 07.IJxJJ carpet python(Persia)

that book is definately worth getting, not the cheapest book but well worth the money.

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The question about the venom:
For Crotalus mitchelli pyrrhus which i believe is one of the most commonly kept and also from the areas i have been researching:
Venom:LD50: Type a - Venom Type: HemotoxicAntivenom: Crofab / Wyeth polyvalent
Does this help?

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xkellyx



0.1 07.albino burmese python (Peaches)
1.0 07.super tiger retic (Flare)
1.0 07.jungle carpet pythonxdiamond (Rug)
0.1 07.IJxJJ carpet python(Persia)

Hi all,
I do not understand the LD50; Type a.
The LD50 is a test to determine how toxic various venoms and toxins are. A venom would be tested on 18 to 21 gram white mice, and the ammount that will kill 50% of the animals will be the LD50 for that venom.
Obviously, the lower the figure, the more toxic the venom, so, the Inland Taipan, ( Oxyuranus microlepidotus ) has an LD50 of 0.025 mg/kg in 18 to 21 gram mice, making it the most potent snake venom yet tested.
As for anti-venom , only Cro-fab is available now, Wyeth stopped making it, not enough money in it.
All the best,
Brian.

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All venoms are poisons but not all poisons are venoms

The intraperitoneal LD50 is 2.844 mg/kg, putting it inbetween Crotalus mitchelli pyrrhus (2.7 mg/kg) and Tropidolaemus wagleri (3.58 mg/kg). However, this is significantly less than Crotalus durissus terrificus (0.216 mg/kg), Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus (0.159 mg/kg) or Crotalus durissus durissus (0.667 mg/kg)

There are quite a few antivenom manufacturers out there in america that will supply however in the uk not sure i will phone the west midlands safari park and ask what they stock as they have a few rattlesnakes.

__________________
xkellyx



0.1 07.albino burmese python (Peaches)
1.0 07.super tiger retic (Flare)
1.0 07.jungle carpet pythonxdiamond (Rug)
0.1 07.IJxJJ carpet python(Persia)