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[ackie]

i hav been keepin a few whipsnakes over the years...currently hav only one. Whipsnakes are not going to just convert from reptiles to mice. To tell ya the truth i hav never got a whipsnake to eat any sort of mammal. They feed exclusivley on reptiles or their eggs. U will probably have to feed him/her reptiles, particularly skinks for the time u hav him as they r extremely fussy feeders. I hav tried everything i hav heard to convert mine onto mice without any sucess. Whipsnakes are almost completly terrestrial apart from climbing low bushes, usually to help in thermoregulation. 80cm is just an average, i hav found and measured full grown yellow faced whipsnakes averaging between 90cm-100cm but my bro and i found one that was 120cm, huge for a whipsnake. Another thing is that u shouldnt under-estimate venom. IT HURTS!!
even the tiny ones like u hav can make u swell up, itchiness and make u clench ur teeth coz it can be extremely painful but generally, whips are not aggressive.
Try to keep the enclosure much longer than the snake coz whipsnakes are extremely active. A heat lamp is a good way to go as they are active snakes and will repeatedly sit under the light before cruizin around.
Also make sure the tank is escape proof and never under-estimate wat they can squeeze through.
By the way, great snake for a first timer :S (sarcasm involved)