I have been working with Mid-Baja Gophersnakes, or Pituophis vertebralis bimaris, since 2004. They are closely related to the Cape Gophersnakes are are found in the central region of Baja California. In the wild, their color and pattern can be highly variable, but some specimens are beautiful snakes with a dark black pattern interspersed with a rich orange or red base color. The contrast can be striking. As with many of the other pituophis, babies tend to be drab and they gain their colors as they age.
I have found bimaris to be a very shy subspecies. They tend to prefer cooler cage temperatures much like vertebralis and the other Mexican pituophis. I have found success with keeping them in well-ventilated enclosures with a dark hide boxes. I provide them with a warm side of the cage that reaches 84 degrees, but I keep the cool side of the cage in the mid-seventies.
While most captive-bred individuals are pretty drab, my male breeder has some incredible coloration- unlike any I have ever seen in the pet trade. I was fortunate enough to get viable eggs out of my female the last two years in a row. You will not find higher quality babies anywhere in the US!
