San Diego Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer annectens)

Common Name: San Diego Gopher Snake
Scientific Name: Pituophis catenifer annectens
Source: CB
Adult Size: Typically 120–180cm (4–6ft), occasionally reaching 200cm
Native Range: Southwestern California (USA) and northern Baja California (Mexico), across coastal scrub, chaparral, grasslands, and open woodland

Enclosure: A minimum 120×60×60cm Viperia PVC vivarium for adults, with a deep loose substrate such as topsoil or coco coir for burrowing, multiple secure hides at both the warm and cool ends, and a temperature gradient across the full length of the enclosure
Heating: Basking spot of 30-32°C; ambient cool end of 22–24°C; night-time drop to 18–20°C is well tolerated
Humidity: 40–60%; achieved easily in a PVC vivarium with a loose substrate and a small water bowl — allow the substrate to dry out partially between light mistings
UVB: A 6% UVB tube run along most of the vivarium's width, positioned so the animal can bask 25–30cm from it; while gopher snakes are largely crepuscular (most active around dawn and dusk), there is good evidence that access to UVB lighting supports long-term health and normal behaviour
Diet: Frozen/thawed mice and rats of an appropriate size (roughly as wide as the snake's widest point); juveniles every 5–7 days, adults every 10–14 days

ABOUT THIS SPECIES

The San Diego Gopher Snake is a robust, beautifully patterned subspecies of gopher snake native to the sun-baked scrublands and grasslands of southern California and northern Baja. They are active, inquisitive snakes with a striking natural pattern of dark brown blotches on a warm tan or cream background — and this particular ph Super Hypo line promises the potential for dramatically reduced or absent dark pigmentation in future generations, making it an exciting prospect for breeders and collectors alike.

Gopher snakes are a brilliant choice for keepers with some experience who want a larger, personable colubrid (the group of snakes that includes kingsnakes and rat snakes) that is genuinely interactive and rewarding to observe. They can be defensive when young but typically settle with regular, calm handling, and their hardiness, straightforward diet, and tolerance of moderate temperature fluctuations make them an excellent species to build confidence with.