Jack the Russian Rat Snake/elaphe schrenckii (progression)

[Starscream]

They won't reach closer to adult size until 2-3 years down the line, but I'm currently thinking a 4x4x2 foot AP cage! So 4 feet length and 4 feet tall. Or a custom glass cage around that size.

For now, he can live in this 15qt for at least 6 months, and I'll just upgrade tub size. The biggest sterilite tub is the 110qt and that would also fit an older one comfortable for quite awhile.

Sterlite also has 50 gallon tubs. I don't know what the footprint difference is, but I couldn't find this size on their website for some reason? They sell it through Walmart, though, which is where I got mine. It's pretty tall so if you wanted a more arboreal temp cage when he gets older/before you get the 4x4 that might work.

[Prognathodon]

Such a neat little guy! Jealous!


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[zina10]

Well, how did I miss this !!!!!!!!!

I kept checking the Ratsnake forum, LOL

He is SOO cute. You will be surprised how fast they grow, though !!

Mine used to rattle their tails when "hunting", and then smash the food around. Very dramatic !! hehe...

Unless a house is quite cold, these snakes do not need heat. Maybe a light bulb on a large cage to give a bit of a warmer spot. The only time mine were upset, is when I lost AC and my house got to warm.

They are from a rather coolish climate..

[hilabeans]

Beyond excited...I couldn't stand the wait and just ordered a little russian dude from Zerkles. Perhaps Jack's clutch-mate???
He'll be here Friday.

If you've got updates on Jack, I'd love to hear them!! Are you using a UTH for a little belly heat? Zerkles advised just for an 80 degree hot spot, but not sure if they need it. Our ambients in his room are between 74-76 in the summer and 69-72 in the winters...

[zina10]

Beyond excited...I couldn't stand the wait and just ordered a little russian dude from Zerkles. Perhaps Jack's clutch-mate???
He'll be here Friday.

If you've got updates on Jack, I'd love to hear them!! Are you using a UTH for a little belly heat? Zerkles advised just for an 80 degree hot spot, but not sure if they need it. Our ambients in his room are between 74-76 in the summer and 69-72 in the winters...

Aw man...I'm jealous !!!

I never gave a "hotspot" per say (UTH) but I used a cage and it had a light above it and branches under the light, so they could climb up there if they wanted it "warmer". They did occasionally, but they seemed more bothered if the house got to hot, rather then being cooler.

But I would go by the breeders recommendations, esp. while they are so small. To make the transition easier.

[hilabeans]

Aw man...I'm jealous !!!

I totally have you and redshepherd to blame (or thank!) for this as it was your past threads singing the praises of these that turned me on to them. I've never heard of them before and thought I was destined for a bp since i am a "beginner". But everything about the Russians appealed to me, whereas I wrestled with some of the beep's known habits. This just feels right.

So THANK YOU both!!

[redshepherd]

Sterlite also has 50 gallon tubs. I don't know what the footprint difference is, but I couldn't find this size on their website for some reason? They sell it through Walmart, though, which is where I got mine. It's pretty tall so if you wanted a more arboreal temp cage when he gets older/before you get the 4x4 that might work.

For some reason I totally wrote up a reply to this but somehow it didn't submit! Anyway, thanks, I found the 50gal online! I haven't seen it in stores though, but that will definitely work for quite awhile or even permanently for one of these guys.

Well, how did I miss this !!!!!!!!!

I kept checking the Ratsnake forum, LOL

He is SOO cute. You will be surprised how fast they grow, though !!

Mine used to rattle their tails when "hunting", and then smash the food around. Very dramatic !! hehe...

Unless a house is quite cold, these snakes do not need heat. Maybe a light bulb on a large cage to give a bit of a warmer spot. The only time mine were upset, is when I lost AC and my house got to warm.

They are from a rather coolish climate..

Haha I was waiting for you to see him! That's good to know that they grow fast, because I really want him to grow up quick LOL. I saw someone on another site post a pic of their yearling russian rat snake, and it was still so small, so I was thinking they must grow pretty slowly... But maybe that one was just being underfed or weird.

Can't wait to see more feeding behaviors when he grows up! Right now, he's pretty shy, being so tiny.

And lol yeah, my house is currently 79 degrees so I see him chilling on his leaves on the cool side, probably trying hard to cool off!

[redshepherd]

Beyond excited...I couldn't stand the wait and just ordered a little russian dude from Zerkles. Perhaps Jack's clutch-mate???
He'll be here Friday.

If you've got updates on Jack, I'd love to hear them!! Are you using a UTH for a little belly heat? Zerkles advised just for an 80 degree hot spot, but not sure if they need it. Our ambients in his room are between 74-76 in the summer and 69-72 in the winters...

Daaang congrats!!! You jumped on it!! Probably is Jack's clutch mate, since this was their last late clutch! Hatchlings tend to be shy, being SO small and prey for literally anything, so you won't see that outgoing nature until they're larger.

I used a UTH last week when it got cooler, but set to 80. So it only really turned on more overnight. I just removed it since it suddenly became so hot around here since yesterday.

[zina10]

Ok, this is now a whole 2 days without our Russian Ratsnake update...

*drums fingers on the desk*

[redshepherd]

Ok, this is now a whole 2 days without our Russian Ratsnake update...

*drums fingers on the desk*

YAY, here we are!!

Well, he's being a great little shy hatchling! I'm afraid of putting him anywhere for pictures, because he is so small and fast. I've been handling him daily or even twice a day, for 5-10 minutes each, and he seems to be calming down already with realizing I won't kill him every time I open his enclosure. He's very aware of what's going on around us though, it's pretty interesting. Sort of reminds me of the awareness my scrub python displays, except docile! LOL

I have his tub near my turtle tank, and as I was putting him back today, he looked up distinctly to watch my turtle (making a lot of movement in her tank) that was a couple feet away.

So far though, he still only eats if I leave the prey item in his tub, but he eats it right away. He hasn't struck at the prey when I offered yet. I think I'm still too big and scary right now.