A winter visitor to my Amaryllid room!

12 years ago

For the past few weeks, I have been watching this guy, sunning himself under a 400 watt HID light, in my plant room. He seems to enjoy the company of this large Boophone disticha in its 14" pot. It's a small Black rat snake, Elaphe obsoleta, about 30" long. They can grow to 8' here in southeastern PA. They are constrictors and I figure if there are any mice wishing to harm my hippeastrums and South African amaryllids, they don't stand a chance!

See him here? He's pretty well camouflaged in the charcoal, fir bark and pumice of the pot.

{{gwi:373582}}

Here's a closer look.

{{gwi:373583}}

Jim

Comments (6)

kaboehm (zone 9a, TX USA)
12 years ago
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!! Aside from the coral snake and the coppermouths that I've killed (not IN the house), little ribbon snakes and checkered garter snakes that appear in the guest bath get captured and plopped outside. Kinda cool that he is so welcomed!
:-)
K
dragonstone
12 years ago
Pretty neat that you let him stay. I think I might obsess over how he got in to enjoy the lights... ;)

I uh... can't tell them apart. I've tried to study the venomous and non-venomous snakes in my state but really can't tell them apart even after taking a picture and comparing online. Because of that, I kill them on sight for safety of my dogs. I know, I'm a big meanie...
Related Professionals
Accokeek Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Horsham Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Brentwood Landscape Contractors · Wilmington Landscape Contractors · Ashburn Landscape Contractors · Hendersonville Landscape Contractors · Huntington Landscape Contractors · North Richland Hills Landscape Contractors · Pahrump Landscape Contractors · Riverhead Landscape Contractors · Rosemount Landscape Contractors · Washington Landscape Contractors · Merrifield Landscape Contractors · Las Vegas Swimming Pool Builders · Rowlett Swimming Pool Builders
dondeldux z6b South Shore Massachusetts
12 years ago
I don't kill anything other than a mosquito, or NFB larvae..I'd put him outside (preferably on a warm sunny day) he looks so comphy...then there are always fungus gnats...
haweha
12 years ago
That is cool! Thank you for showing this. BTW: No mice, nor other MammalZ will feed on your amarylligenous treasures: All these contain certain Alkaloids, which are poisonous for them. Regrettably these Amaryllid Alkaloids are not poisonous to certain Mollusks (namely Slugs and Cie.) and ArthroPodes (namely various Insects and certain Mites)
anna_in_quebec
12 years ago
@dondeldux - "I don't kill anything other than a mosquito, or NFB larvae" - me neither!!!

@Hans - as usual, so very well phrased, esp. "amarylligenous treasures" - love it!

I love this forum!
dondeldux z6b South Shore Massachusetts
12 years ago
I agree, Anna..I love this forum too..we are an eclectic bunch aren't we??

Donna