Snakes
Bullsnake / gopher snake care guide
Pituophis catenifer
Big, powerful burrowers (4–7 ft). Loud hissing bluff, usually tames well.
Terrestrial — floor space first
New to reptiles? Check your keeper level first →Bullsnake / gopher snake enclosure size
Terrestrial — floor space first. An adult bullsnake / gopher snake should live in at least 48" L × 24" W × 24" H; we build toward 72" L × 24" W × 24" H (6 × 2 × 2 ft, roughly 12 sq ft of floor and about a 180-gallon glass equivalent).
- Hatchling / baby
- 30" L × 12" W × 12" H recommended · min 18" L × 12" W × 12" H
- Juvenile
- 48" L × 18" W × 18" H recommended · min 30" L × 18" W × 18" H
- Adult
- 72" L × 24" W × 24" H recommended · min 48" L × 24" W × 24" H
Temperature and heating
Overhead heat (halogen, deep heat projector or radiant panel) on a thermostat, creating a warm-to-cool gradient.
- Basking / warm surface
- 90–95°F surface
- Warm side (ambient)
- 84–88°F
- Cool side (ambient)
- 72–78°F
- Night
- No lower than 65°F
Lighting and UVB
UVB: Low-level UVB (ShadeDweller / T5 6%) is beneficial but not strictly required. Run lights on a 12 hours on, 12 hours off photoperiod, on a timer, and replace UVB bulbs on the manufacturer's schedule even while they still emit visible light.
Humidity
Target 30–50%. Dry overall with a water bowl.
Substrate and depth
Aspen or a diggable soil/sand mix. Depth: 4–6 in.
Diet and feeding
Appropriately sized frozen-thawed rodents — every 5–7 days for juveniles, every 10–14 days for adults.
Enclosure tips and furnishing
- Hides on both the warm and cool sides
- Clean water available at all times
- Clutter — cork, leaf litter, plants — for cover
Build list
- Enclosure at adult size — Buy for the adult footprint to avoid repeated upgrades.
- Digital thermostat — Every heat source must run through a thermostat — unregulated heat burns animals.
- Two digital probe thermometers + hygrometer — Read the warm side, cool side and humidity directly.
Bullsnake / gopher snake FAQ
How big should an adult Bullsnake / gopher snake enclosure be?
At least 48" L × 24" W × 24" H, and we recommend building to 72" L × 24" W × 24" H — about 6 × 2 × 2 ft, or a 180-gallon glass equivalent. Terrestrial — floor space first.
What temperatures does a Bullsnake / gopher snake need?
Basking or warm surface 90–95°F surface, warm side 84–88°F, cool side 72–78°F, night No lower than 65°F. Overhead heat (halogen, deep heat projector or radiant panel) on a thermostat, creating a warm-to-cool gradient.
Does a Bullsnake / gopher snake need UVB?
Low-level UVB (ShadeDweller / T5 6%) is beneficial but not strictly required. Photoperiod: 12 hours on, 12 hours off.
What humidity does a Bullsnake / gopher snake need?
30–50%. Dry overall with a water bowl.
What substrate is best for a Bullsnake / gopher snake?
Aspen or a diggable soil/sand mix, at a depth of 4–6 in.
How big does a Bullsnake / gopher snake enclosure need to be for a hatchling?
Hatchling / baby: 30" L × 12" W × 12" H recommended, minimum 18" L × 12" W × 12" H. Scale up to the adult footprint as the animal grows.
Sources
Put this guide to work
Apply these targets to your own bullsnake / gopher snake record, then log feedings, sheds and weights against them.