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Twin-spotted Rattlesnake
Crotalus pricei
The twin-spotted rattlesnake (Crotalus pricei) is a small venomous rattlesnake adapted to high-altitude montane habitats in the southwestern US and Mexico.
Class:Squamata
Order:Squamata
Family:Viperidae
Subfamily:Crotalinae
Genus:Crotalus
Species:Crotalus pricei
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
50 - 70 %
Day temperature
10 - 24 °C
Ambient temperature
10 - 24 °C
Night temperature
14 - 16 °C
Basking spot
26 - 28 °C
Adult size
67 cm
Minimum enclosure
>= 100 L
UVB
Low
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: This species is native to the high-elevation mountain ranges (sky islands) of southeastern Arizona in the United States and the Sierra Madre Occidental in northern Mexico. It inhabits pine-oak forests, rocky talus slopes, steep canyons, and grassy clearings at altitudes ranging from 1,800 to over 3,000 meters above sea level, where cool climatic conditions prevail.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Crotalus pricei belongs to the family Viperidae, subfamily Crotalinae (pit vipers), and the genus Crotalus. It is a specialized high-altitude species. Genetic studies show evolutionary isolation among various mountain range populations. Its venom contains a mix of hemotoxins and specific neurotoxic fractions. Two subspecies are recognized.
Behavior and Habits: A solitary, predominantly diurnal reptile. Diurnal activity is essential to exploit solar radiation for thermoregulation in cold montane environments. It spends the night sheltered deep in rock crevices. It is a sit-and-wait ambush predator, feeding primarily on mountain lizards (Sceloporus), small rodents, and frogs. Its warning rattle is small and produces a quiet buzz.
Morphology: One of the smallest rattlesnakes, with adults averaging only 50 to 60 cm in total length, rarely exceeding 65 cm. The body is slender and the head is relatively small, only slightly distinct from the neck. Coloration is a light grey to blue-grey, marked by a double row of small, dark, paired spots running parallel down the length of the back.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Requires a medium-sized terrarium of at least 80x40x40 cm (about 20 gallons) for a single adult, which must be escape-proof and locked. Use a dry substrate mix of soil, sand, and fine bark. Provide numerous flat rocks and cork bark pieces to create secure crevices. Add sturdy branches, as this species occasionally climbs low bushes. Ensure excellent ventilation.
Lighting and Heating: Being a high-altitude species, it does not tolerate hot temperatures. Maintain daytime ambient temperatures between 20°C and 24°C, with a localized basking spot of 26-28°C using a low-wattage basking bulb. Provide a significant nighttime temperature drop to 15-18°C. A linear 10% UVB light is mandatory to replicate high-altitude solar radiation.
Humidity and Hydration: Keep relative humidity moderate, around 40-50%. Lightly mist one corner of the enclosure once a week. A heavy, stable water dish with fresh, clean water must be provided on the cool side at all times for drinking. Keep the main substrate dry to prevent skin blister disease. Clean the bowl and change the water regularly.
Feeding and Supplementation: Strictly carnivorous. In captivity, they feed on appropriate-sized mice or pinkies every 10 to 14 days, while juveniles may require scenting with lizard scent. Feed using long feeding tongs. Do not overfeed, as they have a slow metabolism adapted to cool climates. Dust prey with a multivitamin supplement once a month.
Compatibility: Solitary and venomous. It must be housed individually. Keeping multiple snakes together leads to territorial stress, fighting, and potential cannibalism, and complicates safe management during feeding and tank cleaning.
Health and Common Diseases: Highly sensitive to overheating; temperatures above 28-30°C cause heat stroke and can be fatal. Excessively wet conditions combined with poor ventilation cause respiratory infections and skin rot. Because it is venomous, all maintenance must be performed with hooks and safety protocols by experienced keepers.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
This species is native to the high-elevation mountain ranges (sky islands) of southeastern Arizona in the United States and the Sierra Madre Occidental in northern Mexico. It inhabits pine-oak forests, rocky talus slopes, steep canyons, and grassy clearings at altitudes ranging from 1,800 to over 3,000 meters above sea level, where cool climatic conditions prevail.
Origin
Central America and CaribbeanNorth America
Reptile profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 67 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 67 cm. The ReptTraits v1.2 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 67 cm for this species, recorded as total length (TL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
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