New Black Rat

[SWDK]

I ended up adopting a 2yr old black rat on Saturday. Guy told me it only eats live mice. Well I offered frozen last and and it took without any issues. It ate 1 mouse and 1 rat pup.

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r254/hiker4twenty/Snakes/7D8B0811-7924-4092-A35B-277F4B4C3556.jpg (http://s146.photobucket.com/user/hiker4twenty/media/Snakes/7D8B0811-7924-4092-A35B-277F4B4C3556.jpg.html)

[macandchz]

really nice looking snake. he must have been really hungry! hope he stays on frozen for you.

[SWDK]

It could have been hungry or just a good feeding response. It's not underweight or malnourished looking. It has an attitude to match its hunger. That is one thing I know for sure...lol. I'll have to do some handling work with this one and see if he/she calms down.

[dave himself]

Nice snake Dave do these go jet black like MBKS

[SWDK]

Nice snake Dave do these go jet black like MBKS

Some of them get almost completely black with some very faint pattern. Really depends on the genes and locality. My area of Pennsylvania produces very dark black ones. They start out patterned and get darker as they age.

[Albert Clark]

Niiiiice pickup! You're gonna have to charge admission soon to your reptile house.

[SWDK]

Here's a better full body pic. I'm hoping it eventually gets darker and more if the pattern vanishes.

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r254/hiker4twenty/Snakes/D3BD44E1-9B31-4614-9A4C-DDEA56BA1877.jpg (http://s146.photobucket.com/user/hiker4twenty/media/Snakes/D3BD44E1-9B31-4614-9A4C-DDEA56BA1877.jpg.html)

[dave himself]

Some of them get almost completely black with some very faint pattern. Really depends on the genes and locality. My area of Pennsylvania produces very dark black ones. They start out patterned and get darker as they age.

He's still a beautiful snake no matter how he turns out mate ;) but keep us posted with updates please it'll be interesting to see if he does darken down more

[toddnbecka]

I'd expect him to settle down, black rats aren't usually nasty tempered snakes IME.

[SWDK]

I'd expect him to settle down, black rats aren't usually nasty tempered snakes IME.

I'm sure it will calm down over time. I don't believe the past owner handled or worked with the snake much. It was in a very small aquarium that was filthy dirty. I'm guessing it was only fed and watered and given minimal care.

[Tsubaki]

Oh thats a cool looking rat! he will probably settle down yeah

[SWDK]

Here's a freshly shed pic. It took this guy nearly 2 weeks to finally shed. I was starting to think something was wrong.

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r254/hiker4twenty/Snakes/93F46D7A-2EA8-4098-B06A-5F8CA9D137F4.jpg (http://s146.photobucket.com/user/hiker4twenty/media/Snakes/93F46D7A-2EA8-4098-B06A-5F8CA9D137F4.jpg.html)

[dave himself]

He's a beautiful snake Dave has he settled down any for you mate

[EL Ziggy]

Great looking critter Dave!

[SWDK]

He's a beautiful snake Dave has he settled down any for you mate

Thanks Dave. Yes, he's calmed down a lot. Still somewhat defensive while in the enclosure, but very nice to handle when he's out. He was quite grumpy while in shed though.

[eminart]

Grow him big! I want to see him hit 8 feet.

[SWDK]

Grow him big! I want to see him hit 8 feet.

That's the plan. They're quite impressive as large adults.

[dave himself]

Thanks Dave. Yes, he's calmed down a lot. Still somewhat defensive while in the enclosure, but very nice to handle when he's out. He was quite grumpy while in shed though.

Glad to see he's calming down for you Dave and a snake that good looking can be forgiven for being grumpy in shed ;)

[SWDK]

Here's a pic of the shed. It came out in one nice piece. It's almost 6' in length, if I was able to hold it straight, but it measured at 5'

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r254/hiker4twenty/Snakes/DE1895E8-99BC-4C6C-B704-1DF535DCD2EC.jpg (http://s146.photobucket.com/user/hiker4twenty/media/Snakes/DE1895E8-99BC-4C6C-B704-1DF535DCD2EC.jpg.html)
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r254/hiker4twenty/Snakes/14212B67-B848-4A96-8182-0B3CC826FAB1.jpg (http://s146.photobucket.com/user/hiker4twenty/media/Snakes/14212B67-B848-4A96-8182-0B3CC826FAB1.jpg.html)

[Cyclops]

lol he probably wanted you to buy some of his live mice

[LISA127]

Gorgeous snake!

[CosmicOwl]

He's a handsome fella. :D

But be careful trying to grow out rat snakes. my gray rat is already 6 feet and he wont stop growing lol.

[SWDK]

He started eating again the past 2 weeks after going off feed for the winter. Last week he ate an adult mouse and a chick. Today he shed and ate a small rat for his 2nd feeding. Now this boy can get into some growing.

[dave himself]

Glad to hear he's back on his food again for you Dave

[LISA127]

He is beautiful! Is he still eating f/t for you?

[SWDK]

He is beautiful! Is he still eating f/t for you?

Thanks and yes he still eating frozen.