Does anyone keep/breed skaapstekers?

[Groenslang]

Hey all!

Well the thread is pretty self explanatory from the heading.I want to know if anyone is keeping and breeding these stunning animals? I am obsessed with indigenous snakes and would love a striped specimen. But for now I am just keen to see if anyone still keeps them. I searched through older threads, but they seem pretty outdated?!

Regards

[Fooble]

Hey Arno,

I've kept the Rhombic Skaapsteker's - Psammophylax rhombeatus in the past, from hatchlings to Huge +1m specimens.
I know a few guys who keep Striped Skaapstekers Psammophylax tritaeniatus
They tame down quite easily and feed really well on rodents. At first can be quite feisty but calm down well.

Being diurnal they do better in quite large enclosures , i had mine set up with a basking light which they made full use of when it was on(only for a few hours a day). Loads of them are kept over sea's by the crazy Germans and Europeans.

Have you ever come across them in the wild?

[jka]

I have them before, some of them are feisty like Foole mentioned.

Some takes time to get on to rodents but do well, the ones I kept have vicious feeding responses!

I kept them as is in the summer without heat and in the winter I keep them on a heat pad.

I have never used basking spots for them but I'm sure they will appreciate it.

[Groenslang]

Only once before, a rhombic one whilst hiking in the Drakensberg. Was right up against the "big" berg, but we where still far down in one of the valleys. I hope someone breeds them. Especially the striped one. Hint hint anyone out there!

What size did they get jka?

[Bushviper]

The biggest problem with these snake is getting the babies to eat. Once they can swallow a rodent then they are a lot easier to keep and do well in captivity. I personally believe that they do better with UV lights and a basking spot than heating pads as the primary heat source. Some are placid from day one and others (the Cape ones I have had) can be rather nasty.

[John Rees]

I recently managed to get two Striped Skaapstekers (Psammophylax tritaeniatus).
Not sure whether they are a pair but hope to get some help in finding out one of these days? They are really beautiful and quite placid. Here are photos of one of them. I guess they are around 50cm long and I have them in a 900mm x 350mm tank. They have not been too active lately but then I get home too late in the evenings so hope to see them out and about on the weekend.
Really chuffed about getting them. Will keep you in mind if I ever need to pass them on.

[Groenslang]

Thanx for the pics John. I don't think anyone minds pics! They are stunning! Do they feed on rodents?