Rat Snake rescue?

[SSSSnakes]

A man said he wanted to surrender his rat snake that he had for 7 years. I ask what kind of Rat Snake was it and he did not know. When I arrive to pick up the snake, here is what he had.
http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr115/JerryTheSnakeman/DSCF5691.jpg (http://s475.photobucket.com/user/JerryTheSnakeman/media/DSCF5691.jpg.html)

Notice anything wrong with this picture?

[CosmicOwl]

Looks like a perfectly healthy rat snake to me.

[kelzerman]

can I get a pupil shot?

[poison123]

Antaresia childreni...

I wonder where he got it from.

[poison123]

Did you let him know what it was?

[kelzerman]

Antaresia childreni...

I wonder where he got it from.

^^^ That is why I wanted a shot of the pupil. Nice find!

[SSSSnakes]

can I get a pupil shot?

Sorry for the bad quality, but I did not want to take new pictures. You should be able to see what you are looking for in these pictures.

http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr115/JerryTheSnakeman/IMG_0706.jpg (http://s475.photobucket.com/user/JerryTheSnakeman/media/IMG_0706.jpg.html)
http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr115/JerryTheSnakeman/IMG_0705.jpg (http://s475.photobucket.com/user/JerryTheSnakeman/media/IMG_0705.jpg.html)

[SSSSnakes]

Antaresia childreni...


Good job Poison

Did you let him know what it was?

Yes, as soon as I saw the snake I said, that is not a Rat Snake. It's a Children's Python. How can someone have a snake for 7 years and not know what kind of snake they have. Very different care for a Rat Snake and a Children's Python.

[kelzerman]

Not a round pupil I take it? lol Definitely can not tell from the photo. sorry

[LiL Zap]

I don't understand some people lol.

[SSSSnakes]

I don't understand some people lol.

I don't understand most people, that's why I hang with my snakes. LOL

[EL Ziggy]

If the husbandry requirements are so different, how does such an improperly cared for animal "look" so strong and healthy. Im sure there could be unseen issues. Is that just a testament of the snake's hardiness? I'm a new keeper and want to learn as much possible.

[Mikoh4792]

If the husbandry requirements are so different, how does such an improperly cared for animal "look" so strong and healthy. Im sure there could be unseen issues. Is that just a testament of the snake's hardiness? I'm a new keeper and want to learn as much possible.

They aren't so different, just a little different.

They need to be kept a few degrees hotter than NA rat snakes(Ambient temps can be as high as 84F while having a basking spot of around 90f), and usually thrive in low AND high humidity conditions. And yes they are very hardy snakes.

[Will0W783]

Geez....there's a huge difference between a rat snake (colubrid) and a Children's python. How can someone mistake those two??

[sharthun]

Very cool rescue!

[SSSSnakes]

If the husbandry requirements are so different, how does such an improperly cared for animal "look" so strong and healthy. Im sure there could be unseen issues. Is that just a testament of the snake's hardiness? I'm a new keeper and want to learn as much possible.

Children's Pythons are hardy forgiving snakes. He used a basking lamp so the snake stayed under the light were the temp was the highest.

The difference in the husbandry would be the Python needs higher temps and normally higher humidity. I keep my Rat Snakes at lower temps and I don't worry about the humidity with them.

[StudentoReptile]

They were probably newbs who got it from a podunk pet store who told them that. Chances are all the snakes were in the same tank and he may have just assumed that was what it was. Or some people just have piss-poor memories and/or simply do not care, and assume all snakes are cared for the same way. Really, with few exceptions, most are relatively forgiving and do okay, such as in this case.