google made me fall in love with rat snakes. - Page 2

knox · 10-30-13, 12:32 PM

Black Rats are generally very handleable.

ilovemysnake · 12-11-13, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knox

Black Rats are generally very handleable.

I have a Black rat snake who i adore.
He doesnt bite, though hes about to shed, so hes very cautious of every little movement.

On the other hand, my Luecistic texas rat snake is a spazz. and pretty nippy.
but once held, shes calm. i actually was on the laptop with her curled throughout my fingers, and she stayed stationary for a good 15 minutes, just watching what i was doing. She's Calm and well mannered when she wants to be. kinda reminds me of a cats attitude. whereas my black rat is the dog.

lisas · 11-01-13, 08:22 PM

My creamsicle corn snake is a hybrid with the rat I think. She is easy to handle.

Lichjen · 11-01-13, 08:23 PM

they have cute faces, don't they

knox · 11-01-13, 08:48 PM

Here's a couple of Knoxville, TN Black Rats that I came across in the past several years.

The first one was last year on our local Disc Golf course. Jumpy, but no interest in biting me. I would guess about 2 years old. Washed out and brown, it wasn't that nice to look at. Bad phone pic - sorry.

The larger one was especially docile and quite stunning. I rescued it off a busy road while trying to cross. That was the largest snake I have ever come across in the wild, let alone caught. I think that was from 2007 maybe. VERY strong and impressive. My daughter wanted to keep it, but I convinced her it needed to live out it's days as it always had - wild and free.

Both released after pics were taken.

They might not be the best looking snakes out there, but the Black Rats are some of my favorites.

CosmicOwl · 12-20-13, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knox

Here's a couple of Knoxville, TN Black Rats that I came across in the past several years.

The first one was last year on our local Disc Golf course. Jumpy, but no interest in biting me. I would guess about 2 years old. Washed out and brown, it wasn't that nice to look at. Bad phone pic - sorry.

The larger one was especially docile and quite stunning. I rescued it off a busy road while trying to cross. That was the largest snake I have ever come across in the wild, let alone caught. I think that was from 2007 maybe. VERY strong and impressive. My daughter wanted to keep it, but I convinced her it needed to live out it's days as it always had - wild and free.

Both released after pics were taken.

They might not be the best looking snakes out there, but the Black Rats are some of my favorites.

That second black rat snake is gorgeous. Some of them seem to have really muddy coloring, but the "salt n' pepper" thing that snake has going on is really beautiful. If I found such a stunning and docile snake I'd have a very hard time letting it go.

I don't know why, but I have a thing for snakes with grey/black/brown coloring. I'm going to have to some fun watching my white oak grey rat snake's color changing and fading as he gets older. Right now, he's very high contrast and clean looking, but I can already see his saddles breaking up. I'm looking forward to when he's a 6 foot long chestnut and silver beast.

DragonsEye · 11-03-13, 09:58 AM

As far as the "bitey-ness" issue, I think as with so many critters it can vary from individual to individual. I have been bitten by mine on a couple occasions, but each time it was my fault. (Once after I had just been handling my gecko but did not ash my hands before reaching for the snake. That coupled with it being close to feeding time, I have no doubt, confused him into thinking he had found prey. The other time I reached for him too quickly and startled him.) Mine has been handled on many occasions with nary a problem.

kala83 · 12-11-13, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DragonsEye

As far as the "bitey-ness" issue, I think as with so many critters it can vary from individual to individual. I have been bitten by mine on a couple occasions, but each time it was my fault. (Once after I had just been handling my gecko but did not ash my hands before reaching for the snake. That coupled with it being close to feeding time, I have no doubt, confused him into thinking he had found prey. The other time I reached for him too quickly and startled him.) Mine has been handled on many occasions with nary a problem.

I for one totally agree with you. I don't have a ton of experience with snakes per say
but I have owned a few rats and other rodents. I had two males that for what ever reason had.had really bad attitude issues to the point I had to go to the urgent care after intervening in a fight. I tried everything I could and it did fairly little. In my opinion getting them from a chain store where inner breeding goes on all the time. And genetic issues sadly are bound to follow I am sure snakes are no exception

Sharlynn93 · 12-13-13, 06:49 AM

my okeetee is strikes at me sometimes, but never opens her mouth...just does the action of it...my lavender corn has tagged me a few times, but she is so small I don't even feel it...but they only do it when I startle them by digging them out of the substrate (usually for feeding or cleaning)...98% of the time I have no problems with them...

ptbmaniac · 12-20-13, 02:04 PM

I have never had a problem with handling my rat snake. She is a little antsy at first,but settles right down after a minute and has never bitten anyone. However she is a Leucistic Black Rat.