which ratsnake?

[Clownfishie]

Hi guys,

I'm considering purchasing a ratsnake soon -- the 2 that I like the most are the Everglades rats, and the Leucisitic Texas rats ... is there anything in particular I should keep in mind when choosing between the 2?

I *think* that they both get to around the same size, right? (4-6 feet?)..

And I seem to remember hearing at some point that the texas rats can be a little nippy... is this true?

Thanks :)
Jen

[rattekonigin]

You should keep in mind that tex rats have a less than perfect reputation when it comes to being beligerant...the majority are testy, but there are individuals that are very calm...
I don't have any first hand experience with any rats other than the Texas variety, but from what I've heard they are generally bitier and "pissier" than other obsoleta... I can definitely say that they are more testy than corn snakes...
Supposedly the leucistics are more docile, but I don't know if that's a fact...I have both a leucistic and a normal and they are both pretty much equally moody (I've been bitten by both on a few occasions), though my leucistic is more likely to display threat behaviour (tail rattling and open mouth threats) than the normal...but this is a good thing, because I can easily tell when she doesn't want me touching her...whereas the normal will rarely display threat behaviour but will just bite right off the bat...

Sizewise, everglades and tex rats are in the same range...I believe it's only the black rat, out of all the obsoleta, that exceeds that size range...

[Clownfishie]

Cool, thanks for the info! :)

[silke]

my LTR is feisty and has tried to bite me but i don't mind that
she's the only one i have

[gonesnakee]

I agree with what has already been posted in regards to temperment etc. but I think you will find it much easier (& cheaper by $100 - $200) to find an everglades rat then it will to find a texas L. rat. I have been lucky enough to obtain both a female & male T.L.Rats in the last year. The only reason I got them is because I saw then immediately after they were put up for sale & made high cash offers that I paid out immediately. Futhermore in both cases there were about a 1/2 dozen or so other people that wanted them that would have paid as much or more in both cases if I hadn't already sealed the deals with cash. If you find a L.T.Rat in the $200 - $300 range I would snap it up immediately or be left without. Just my opinion but I know a few people (Big Dan for one) who have wanted them for a while that cannot find them. My male won't be big enough until next year so count me out, but if you or anyone else knows a worthy Canadian breeder, please enlighten me. THX Mark IsBell - GONE SNAKEE!

P.S. Here's a pic to show an example of attitude!
<center><img src="http://members.shaw.ca/gonesnakee/LTR-OPENUPWIDEYOLK.JPG"width="600">

[Lisa]

What's with the Nyquil? Trying to make your snake sleep so you can handle it? :P

[Clownfishie]

Hehe... that pic looks familiar! :)

I don't know about "worthy", since I've never dealt with him before, but Pat Dring (Vancouver area) works with them... he said that he won't have any more until the summer though...

[rattekonigin]

I might have some leucistic texas rats for sale this summer, provided that the male I have is het for leucism (he's supposed to be het for either amelanism or leucism), and that everything goes according to plan...but I'm not counting my eggs before they hatch (or before they are laid, even!)...hopefully I'll at least have some normal tex rats (100% hets, mind you :) )...

[DragnDrop]

Check out Wrapped up in Reptiles website.
I have never dealt with this breeder, so I can't vouch for him in any way. However, I did find the link on the websites of two very respected breeders. Assuming that 'good guys' don't recommend nor link to 'bad guys', at the very least this one should be decent.

Wrapped up in Reptiles - Colubrids (http://wrappedupinreptiles.homestead.com/Colubrids.html)

[vanderkm]

Actually Wrapped up in Reptiles is a she, not a he - Annette is a great breeder and has produced some leucistic texas rats in the past, but I don't know if she had any this past year - didn't see any at her tables at the couple shows we made it to. She has been good to deal with though - our mexmex and variable kings came from her. She was sucessful breeding her whitelipped pythons this year - incredible looking babies that she had from them. We would buy from her again - but I would definately choose the everglades over the texas rat, just based on personality.

Mary v.

[gonesnakee]

Thanks for the input people but I know both Pat & Annette & neither produced any this past year DOH! Well Pat may have produced (can't say for sure?) but he didn't have any available. Hopefully Annette will produce some this year as she is closest to home. My female is in burmation & I may crossbreed her with a snow or ghost corn this year as my male is just little yet & isn't ready to breed yet.

I too have also dealt with Annette lots as well as Pat & would recomend either. They both produce wide varietys of nice stuff.

About the Nyquill. The snake (Yolk) is hooked on it, thats what he gets like when the bottle runs out. Mark I.

[BeHeMoTh]

nice pic


every tried to pick her up when like that??

[eyespy]

LOL at Nyquil! With attitude like that, wouldn't you need the more substantial medicine of the adult formula, though? Seems the kiddie Nyquil didn't even touch that hissy fit....

[Florence]

I've got Leucistic Texas ratsnakes and Everglades ratsnakes, and I'm happy with both.

I think Texas ratsnakes' reputation for nippiness is overstated. It might be true for wild-caught animals. But captive-bred ones are better. My LTR are as calm and easy to handle as my Everglades. (I'd even say one Everglades is generally more tense than the LTR.) Now, if I manage to breed my LTR this year, I expect to get nippy little babies. :)

[Clownfishie]

Thanks for the info Florence :)

[Katt]

Hey Jen.

You will be hard pressed to find LTR's around here. Mark of gonesnakee snapped up Yolk (Nyquil) snake, by offering me a high amount of cash for him, even after the sale, I was offered even more! It was insane!

Lucky for me. I have 1.2. Nowhere near breeding size, but I could hardly care. I love having them and getting another pair or trio is part of my plan this year.

Another in BC, besides Pat Dring, who I will not deal with, who work with LTR's would be Olaf who'z pager # can be found in the buy and sell (7 snakes for $900 this week). I believe he was selling them at $150.

I got mine from the states with the help of Crimsonking (thanks again!).

As for glades. Well there aren't many out here. Only Henry P seems to have them besides me (I have one male left for sale). They are very nice gentle snakes, not snappy at all. The male I'm selling is a steller eater and very gentle. Everglades also develop a nice orange colour as adults. I had one beautiful full grown female. Oh, nice yellow belly, great shade of orange on her body. An attractive, but over looked snake. I own two males, right now, and I think they are great.

LTR's will always remain white through their entire lives, but glades will change. I love ontogenic changes in snakes (which is why I like corns).

It's really a toss up, but if you want something that not everyone has, a glades is the way to go. Not as hard to come by either. Also, I noticed LTR's seem to go in fads, sometimes people want them and other times everyone wants them. When I first started looking for them, I had to look for over a year before I could get one! No one seemed to have them, not even in the states!

Anyways, either one is good.

[Aaron_S]

In my experience with teh 2 speices I both were handle and the LTR was jus a lil baby and was quite handlable for me. Did show threat displays but never did strike when i got it out of the enclosure.