Elaphe obsoleta quadravittata

[Scubadiver59]

Picked up a sub-adult Yellow Rat Snake today, along with a 40gal enclosure, for a modest sum...seller had to sell cuz their apt complex didn't allow snakes.

Snake is in good shape, receptive to handling, and not at all head shy. Seller was running their UTH w/o a thermostat and it's no wonder the snake didn't get roasted...the UTH was so hot I almost burnt my hand carrying it outside, 5 min after pulling the plug! To top that off, three sides of its glass enclosure looked like a spitting cobra was residing in there and not a rat snake. And I won't even go into the piles of feces I had to clean up when I got home.

Pathetic husbandry to say the least and I'm glad it's mine now! #13 isn't so unlucky after all!! :rolleyes:

Four more snakes to pick up later this week, one rescue, and three "opportunity" purchases:
First, a 6ft CRT Boa a woman has had for a month, but its not wanted by the boyfriend.
Second and third, a pair of 2008 Anthill Pythons...ooh, mini Pythons!!
Fourth, a juvenile tri-colored Hognose, black/red/white, but the red's not as pronounced as some others I've seen pictures; however, it's a rather unique local find.

Almost time to take a break...from the purchases that is!

[dannybgoode]

You never said anything about it being a pair of perthensis!

I may have the opportunity later in the year but it wouldn't be a cheap purchase so may have to pass.

[dave himself]

Pics asap please :D

[Scubadiver59]

Ask and ye shall receive...

http://i.imgur.com/T3uHs4u.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/hg2wzVT.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/p0f24Tv.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/zzmTJ1e.jpg

I forgot the clips for the top, so I improvised...4x 500ct bricks of 22LR...just because I can! :rolleyes:
http://i.imgur.com/MyTJZdS.jpg

[dannybgoode]

Nice looking thing - great addition.

Think I'd get in to trouble using boxes of ammo as lid clamps here in the UK though so I just use a box of books :)

[Scubadiver59]

Uh...an insubstantial omission of extraneous inconsequential information.

I don't know where everyone lives here in the states and didn't want to get cut out of the deal. :rolleyes:

You never said anything about it being a pair of perthensis!

I may have the opportunity later in the year but it wouldn't be a cheap purchase so may have to pass.

[dave himself]

That's a beautiful snake mate and thanks for posting the pics ;)

[Doug 351]

Glad to see a snake in capable hands. Rats are my favorite snake. I raised mine without a heat source ( sorta) for many years. ( It was under an A/C duct, so it got heat in the winter.)

The only thing a rat snake really needs more heat than we do for is to digest their food, but too much heat can kill them.

EDIT: Something just occurred to me....I fed her live for many years. The heat of the preys body temperature could have been a factor.

[jjhill001]

He's dark for a Yellow Rat, its actually kind of cool looking.

You'd be surprised how many people just use the heat pad with no rheostat, thermostat or any sort of regulator. Back when I was just starting out very few books or caresheets ever mentioned anything about a thermostat, I never used one until I had been in the hobby for a while.

Heck if you look at the caresheets out now, most give a temperature range and none of them usually mention controlling the temps with a thermostat. Its not surprising that the previous owner wasn't using one.

You can do a good bit of research on a reptile and never once see the word thermostat so when I bring it up to people I try and not act like I'm incredulous and just let them know how important it is.

[Scubadiver59]

Yes, he is rather dark, and his eyes are darker that the other Rat Snake pictures I've seen as well. Those two coloration differences had me wondering, and searching a lot, but the black /green banding, light belly, head scale comparisons, etc. brought me back again.

A very docile snake to be sure, it will be interesting to see if it's as docile as my Albino King...if I was a believer in reincarnation, I'd swear the King was a human in its past life! :)

He's dark for a Yellow Rat, its actually kind of cool looking.

You'd be surprised how many people just use the heat pad with no rheostat, thermostat or any sort of regulator. Back when I was just starting out very few books or caresheets ever mentioned anything about a thermostat, I never used one until I had been in the hobby for a while.

Heck if you look at the caresheets out now, most give a temperature range and none of them usually mention controlling the temps with a thermostat. Its not surprising that the previous owner wasn't using one.

You can do a good bit of research on a reptile and never once see the word thermostat so when I bring it up to people I try and not act like I'm incredulous and just let them know how important it is.

[toddnbecka]

Definitely an odd colored yellow rat snake, calm disposition is always a plus regardless of species or appearance IMO.
As long as the snake can get to a cooler area in the enclosure having the hot spot warmer than necessary isn't likely to be a problem. Incidentally, tera tie down straps are much more effective than bricks, whether they're ammo or sand/clay. The spring clips now being sold are pretty much worthless for containing snakes.

[Scubadiver59]

But not as classy! :rolleyes:

Definitely an odd colored yellow rat snake, calm disposition is always a plus regardless of species or appearance IMO.
As long as the snake can get to a cooler area in the enclosure having the hot spot warmer than necessary isn't likely to be a problem. Incidentally, tera tie down straps are much more effective than bricks, whether they're ammo or sand/clay. The spring clips now being sold are pretty much worthless for containing snakes.

[jjhill001]

But not as classy! :rolleyes:

Cheaper and more effective in my opinion is getting a giant roll of stick on velcro. Shouldn't be more than 10 bucks. Use a 3 or 4 inch strip on the corners and the middle and boom. Cheaper than clips and safer than books. It's not very visually appealing but it works plus one roll should last you quite a long time.

[Scubadiver59]

What's even cheaper is the bricks of .22's I already have! :rolleyes:

Cheaper and more effective in my opinion is getting a giant roll of stick on velcro. Shouldn't be more than 10 bucks. Use a 3 or 4 inch strip on the corners and the middle and boom. Cheaper than clips and safer than books. It's not very visually appealing but it works plus one roll should last you quite a long time.

[Doug 351]

What's even cheaper is the bricks of .22's I already have! :rolleyes:

Yeah, but should your baby escape, and you fall into deep depression, you can't shoot yourself in the head with Velcro!:yes:

[Scubadiver59]

If my "baby" can lift/dislodge/move/etc. the bricks off the top, and escape, I'm gonna call my feeder supplier and tell them to stop feeding their rats steroids! :eek:

Yeah, but should your baby escape, and you fall into deep depression, you can't shoot yourself in the head with Velcro!:yes:

[jjhill001]

Yeah, but should your baby escape, and you fall into deep depression, you can't shoot yourself in the head with Velcro!:yes:

If you use enough you can hang yourself with it.

[Scubadiver59]

Taking this girl to the vet this Saturday...there's a lump, about the size of the small rats I feed her, that looks like it could be either food that never moved south, or it's a tumor, or it's something else.

Either way, she's going in for a looksee by the vet.

I'll post the results Saturday afternoon/evening.

[Aaron_S]

I know it's general joking but let's shy away from suicide jokes okay? It can be a touchy subject for some.

[Scubadiver59]

Wow, Aaron, that was an old post about the "hanging"! I didn't even pay attention to it.

I know it's general joking but let's shy away from suicide jokes okay? It can be a touchy subject for some.

[Aaron_S]

Wow, Aaron, that was an old post about the "hanging"! I didn't even pay attention to it.

I clearly missed it months ago but it should be mentioned at any rate.

[Scubadiver59]

Well, an ultra sound and X-rays were inconclusive, so we're going to try antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory to see if the "object" is infection related; if the shots don't work, the doc thinks it might be the same type of cancer she recently found in another snake, which means I might be saying good-bye well before I had hoped to.

Sure hope the medicine works...

Taking this girl to the vet this Saturday...there's a lump, about the size of the small rats I feed her, that looks like it could be either food that never moved south, or it's a tumor, or it's something else.

Either way, she's going in for a looksee by the vet.

I'll post the results Saturday afternoon/evening.