Rat snakes

[Thor26]

I am concidering looking into getting a black rat or a texas rat snake has anyone had any experience with these snakes. Or know of any reputable breeders. thx -Josh

[mike m]

I am partial to the black rats myself.They just seem calmer than texans.
Check classifieds.Thay can be had at time for around 20-25$ as hatchlings
Here is a pic of my adult male.He is closing in on 7'.

[MelissaFlipski]

Amazing! 7'? How old is he? That is practically unheard of in the wild, isn't it?

I am currently rehabbing a 5' male wc black rat snake. He is SO docile and intelligent. I LOVE him, but plan on letting him go where I found him once he is healed.

We currently have 4 cb pet snakes (see sig); and I convinced that our next snake needs to be a colubrid, all b/c of the black rat. They don't get as fat as pythons or boas. Thus, 6' feet or so is not intimidating. I think the normal adult length is 5' to 6'. Correct me if I'm wrong, Mike.

[mike m]

Amazing! 7'? How old is he? That is practically unheard of in the wild, isn't it?

I am currently rehabbing a 5' male wc black rat snake. He is SO docile and intelligent. I LOVE him, but plan on letting him go where I found him once he is healed.

We currently have 4 cb pet snakes (see sig); and I convinced that our next snake needs to be a colubrid, all b/c of the black rat. They don't get as fat as pythons or boas. Thus, 6' feet or so is not intimidating. I think the normal adult length is 5' to 6'. Correct me if I'm wrong, Mike.

I pulled him from a brush pile that was about to be set on fire in a friends back yard back in 02 and he was just under 6' then.
That pic is a few years old.He was about 76" in the pic.
And yes,5-6 feet is normal adult length.There are a few 7'+ blackies out there somewhere.I once saw a photo of an albino that was over 8'.

[MelissaFlipski]

He's beautiful. Lucky you! And lucky him for being saved. Please post more pics if you have any.

Is he super-docile? What does he eat and how often?

[mike m]

He's beautiful. Lucky you! And lucky him for being saved. Please post more pics if you have any.

Is he super-docile? What does he eat and how often?

You could say he is super-docile.He is my "go to" snake when educating people.
He eats frozen thawed large rats from the cage floor once a week.
I'll try to get another pic up soon.

[mike m]

Here ya go I found this pic of him eating a small rabbit.

[MelissaFlipski]

WOW!

That is SO cool! I'm not usually a "feeding picture" person, but that is the COOLEST one I have EVER seen. I LOVE how you can see his juvenile pattern b/c he's stretching.

Do you think he's OK with living in captivity? I can tell that the black rat I am rehabbing wants to go home.

Thanks for sharing the photo!

[mike m]

WOW!

That is SO cool! I'm not usually a "feeding picture" person, but that is the COOLEST one I have EVER seen. I LOVE how you can see his juvenile pattern b/c he's stretching.

Do you think he's OK with living in captivity? I can tell that the black rat I am rehabbing wants to go home.

Thanks for sharing the photo!

Glad you liked the pic.
I have had him for 7 years now,so he is o.k. with captive life.
He normally does not feed after september.I put him down in my basement each winter so he can brumate for a few months.He always gets right back on feeding after a few weeks of warming up.

[MelissaFlipski]

Glad you liked the pic.
I have had him for 7 years now,so he is o.k. with captive life.
He normally does not feed after september.I put him down in my basement each winter so he can brumate for a few months.He always gets right back on feeding after a few weeks of warming up.

It is so cool that you are still cycling him. I bet he's your buddy, huh? Thanks for sharing all the information. Has he ever had any illnesses? Did you see my thread on rehabbing the black rat snake? He's doing great, but now has more issues! Swelling around the heart and swelling in the throat area. I am in touch with an expert rehabber and she's helping a lot. But I am always looking for more resources!