I've had a male Pakistani Jeweled ratsnake- brick-red with a gloss black head, for 13 yrs and to date, no bites. I can pick him up & hold him for cage cleanings, & as long as he's not tightly restrained its OK. He doesn't enjoy it but tolerates handling. Good thing- he's over 6 ft, heavy-bodied -weighs 3 lbs- and these guys are rear-fanged according to Dr. Brian Fry. Rats are viciously grabbed and inhaled but being a desert snake, he seldom drinks. I also have an Egyptian variant that's 2-1/2 yrs and just beginning to change to butter-yellow with a black head. About the same temperament as the big one; watch closely for aggressive signals if you're holding them.

Spalerosophis are more nervous and racer-like than Elaphe. They're very fast and quite curious. My wife can hear them hissing at the other end of our house when they're restrained; makes our 6 ft Bullsnake sound like a little kitty. But it's all bluff.... so far.

The young look like Gophers but around 3 yrs, they start to change color and most of the dark spots disappear. The spots that stay turn coal black along with the head. There are 5, 7, 9, or maybe more subspecies; most do some sort of color change but a couple retain the juvenile pattern forever. Not much good info out there.

Interesting animals but never take them for granted if they're out of the cage. With their big mouths, long teeth and nervousness, an adult could do some damage apart from the rear-fang thing.

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