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any advice with ratsnakes?

A

angjess1

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I been wanting to get an all black ratsnake for a while (and a few others), and would like some insight on them. Handling and keeping ball pythons are a bit different i know. How are their temperament, humidity range, how their enclousers should be???? can they be housed in tubs like bp`s? Any information will be helpful or even pointing me in the direction of some good websites.
 
Black ratsnakes can be nippy when they are juveniles but most CB black rats will calm down with regular handling. Black ratsnakes can easily reach 6' so if you intend to keep them in a rack system I would use a larger rack system like the ones designed for mid-size pythons or boas. They are semi-arboreal and make great display animals if you are able to keep them in a larger cage with tree branches, etc. Their care is pretty much like any North American colubrid. They will be more active than your typical ball python. Let them move from hand to hand like they are moving through tree branches. Juvenile black ratsnakes may bite when they feel restrained.

Most black ratsnakes are not jet black and maintain some pattern in to adulthood. (varies with genetics and different localities). If you are looking for a solid black ratsnake I would ask to see the breeder's adults because it's difficult to predict what a CB hatchling is going to look like when they lose their juvenile pattern.

They are awesome snakes...you can't go wrong with a black ratsnake!
 
A few years ago my son came right back home, after heading up to his friend's house, in a frenzy. He told me he'd heard a rattlesnake under dead leaves as he passed a house, and I needed to check it out right away. Yeah, we live in a very wooded area with lots of stuff that can bite, sting, harm .... but no rattlers (that I've seen). I walked up the street and found a gorgeous 5' + black rat snake under the pile of dead leaves.

It was not particularly aggressive, though it did tag me once. It readily ate the live mice the short time I kept it and I could easily clean the tank it was in until I took it to a more remote place to release it. I had pics on my other computer, likely deleted now. It was a beauty!

You won't go wrong with a black rat if you care for it properly :)
 
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