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

ErikBush97 · 10-30-13, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kala83

so they are bitey so are they good to handle then.

is it just me or do they look a lot like the black mamba

I love how they look like they are smiling a lot.

I would adore to get a white or silver grey one.

I've only handled one ratsnake. He went straight for my face, but didn't get me. He tried over and over, though. I'm sure it just depends on the individual snake, though

mistersprinkles · 10-30-13, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poison123

Explain......

Corn snake is just a common name. They are in the genus Pantherophis which includes everal other species of rat snakes like the black rat. It IS a rat snake.

Corn snakes aren't all that tame either. I've been snapped at by many a cornsnake. Including one that I had for 3 years that suddenly became very mean. Almost every ratsnake I've touched has tried to bite me. That's all I can say.

poison123 · 10-30-13, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistersprinkles

Corn snakes aren't all that tame either. I've been snapped at by many a cornsnake. Including one that I had for 3 years that suddenly became very mean. Almost every ratsnake I've touched has tried to bite me. That's all I can say.

Oh come on, now your just making stuff up jk (kinda)

How much experience do you have with corns? I've had corns that have been through horrible situations like getting their tail chopped off on purpose and that corn has never bitten anybody. The only corns that seem to be defensive are young ones (not all of them) and ones that I have gotten that have never been handled (also not all of them).

mistersprinkles · 10-31-13, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poison123

Oh come on, now your just making stuff up jk (kinda)

How much experience do you have with corns? I've had corns that have been through horrible situations like getting their tail chopped off on purpose and that corn has never bitten anybody. The only corns that seem to be defensive are young ones (not all of them) and ones that I have gotten that have never been handled (also not all of them).

Nope. I had a corn that was bitey. Didn't get that way until he was about 2 years old.

Come to think of it, might have had something to do with me switching him to live. I wouldn't do that now... I was 10.

He also had a tendency to poo on people. Being handled always made him move his bowels. .

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.

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

kala83 · 12-11-13, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kala83

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoo Nanny

Kala you have so many interest why not volunteer at a reptile rescue or zoo close by to you. This will give you an opportunity to actually handle and work with a variety of different herps. You may just end up finding your true calling in life as a herptologist.

If it were not for the fact the closest zoo osteoporosis ours away I think totally would do that. Ironically about two years ago I was living in theory and could have done that, buying was also going to veterinary technician schooling /training

SASQUATCHUK · 12-11-13, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistersprinkles

Corn snakes aren't all that tame either. I've been snapped at by many a cornsnake. Including one that I had for 3 years that suddenly became very mean. Almost every ratsnake I've touched has tried to bite me. That's all I can say.

PMSL

rat snakes are ok,we have a VVB,they can get up to ten ft,and you need to handle them every day,then they should carm down,try handleing our big CCP,he gives a good nip or 2 and so fast,just need to be patient with them

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.

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.

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.