Tell me everything you know about black ratsnakes

I currently have a wild black ratsnake I am attempting to help b/c of an infection he has. He is in a tub in a quarantine room. For more info, you can see the other threads I posted on him.
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=63373

He seems SO docile (other than trying to bite my husband the first time we saw him) and calm.

Please tell me everything you know about black ratsnakes. :please:

Thanks!

I'm going to be of no help to you in this since I know very little, but maybe my bump will attract someone's attention.

I thought it was interesting that you were talking about how docile "yours" is, because yesterday I was walking by the pool and noticed a black tail sticking out into the walkway. When I went over to investigate I saw it was a black rat snake and I bent down to look at him. That bugger actually turned around and came over to me, picked its head up to look at me, and after a while decided I wasn't anything interesting and went on his way. There was no fear what so ever. I felt like Harry Potter, speaking Parsel tongue or something. It was absolutely amazing.

Please keep us updated on the one you've found. I've been following the story since you first posted. I'm hoping everything turns out ok for him.

i keep a wild one a while back he had to have been 7-8 feet long. it was very docile and never struck at me. when i found him he looked very underfeed. i keep him for about 6 months feeding him small rats weekly till he got normal looking then i let him go. i felt bad for taking him from his home and wanted to set him free.

Great story, Mindibun. Yes, this guy has lifted his head to look at me. I swear I could see the intelligence behind those eyes.

DSGB, that is awesome that you "fattened him up" then released him. Would he ever take f/t?

Anyone else keep rat snakes?

Mindibun, if you found the snake in Florida it was probably a black racer or else an escaped pet. Black rat snakes are not native to Florida.

Melissa, you may want to register on this site.
http://www.ratsnakefoundation.org/modules/news/
There are numerous articles and other information on black rat snakes available to full members. Even if you do not register, you should find a good deal of information.

John

That's weird. I've seen black racers - we had a breeding pair under our porch for quite a while. This wasn't one. And as far as I know, no one around us has snakes. But that doesn't really mean anything since they can travel. I'll have to keep my eyes out for it. If I see it again I'll try to get a definite ID on it. Either way, it's staying where it is because I can't catch him by myself and I have no one that will help me. Not to mention, he was perfectly healthy so he must be doing ok.

Black ratsnakes aren't so very different from Texas rats - or corn snakes, for that matter, save that they grow larger.

They'll need more space and larger prey than corn snakes, of course, but enjoy similar temperature and humidity requirements.

IIRC, they're the northernmost of the ratsnakes. I wonder if that's got anything to do with their color - black would help absorb sunlight & heat for basking in the cooler northern summers.

HTH, and good luck with that abcess!

~Bruce

Thanks, John and Bruce.

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Originally Posted by MelissaFlipski

DSGB, that is awesome that you "fattened him up" then released him. Would he ever take f/t?

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never tried just bought live.

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Originally Posted by DSGB

never tried just bought live.

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It seems like that would be a good idea if you intended to release it.

yeah i never feed f/t. i feel that it is more natural for the snake. plus i think its gross keeping dead rats.

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Originally Posted by DSGB

yeah i never feed f/t. i feel that it is more natural for the snake. plus i think its gross keeping dead rats.

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I was just wondering since you fed him for so long. Did a rat ever bite/injure the black rat snake?

Unfortunately, we have plenty of wild mice in our house. I know you are not supposed to feed them to pet snakes b/c of risk of illness, parasites, etc. But if I use a humane trap to catch them (uninjured), and keep them for a month (to be sure they are mostly healthy), do you think I could then give them to my not-so-humane mouse trap - the black rat snake - since he is wild, too?

Well they are Black.. does that help...

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Originally Posted by Montessa Python

Well they are Black.. does that help...

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Hmmm... thanks! I think I have it named right then. But I have another question. Why aren't Black Mambas black? :confused:

Their mouths are black ;)

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

Their mouths are black ;)

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Mambas? Cool! I want to see one of THOSE yawn, but behind glass, please. :D

I think it might be that "Dusty Grey Looking Mamba" just didn't carry the same impact - or it might have something to do with the fact that they're a lot blacker than the green or Jameson's mambas.

~Bruce

i think if you ever plan to realease him you should stay with live i don't use f/t for my snakes i think its unnatural

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Originally Posted by MelissaFlipski

Mambas? Cool! I want to see one of THOSE yawn, but behind glass, please. :D

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Originally Posted by BrucenBruce

I think it might be that "Dusty Grey Looking Mamba" just didn't carry the same impact - or it might have something to do with the fact that they're a lot blacker than the green or Jameson's mambas.

~Bruce

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LOL, the mambas are feisty and when cornered or pissed off, they will flash their mouth gaping to terrify and warn their attacker. It's black and quite a sight to see.