(I know that growth rates are very influenced by sex, temperature & feeding schedule. I’m only seeking general, overall figures.)

During a recent thread on this topic, Aaron Bayer stated: “I remember them hitting about 3' around the 1.5 year mark…”

Ameratsnake stated: “I have had a few North American rat snakes (black, yellow, glades, Texas, and gray) that were still slightly smaller than 18" at the two year mark.(although most are closer to 30" All of them were also four and a half to five and a half foot, by the fourth year!

My Yellow Rat male arrived at the dealer in August 2013. The lady said that he was “pretty small”, and she thinks that he was a hatchling then. His feeding schedule indicates that he fed routinely every 7-10 days, on fairly large prey.

He is at least 40 inches now, and I’m wondering if he was a 2012 hatchling, and a year old when he arrived at the dealer in August 2013.

I’d like to hear from seasoned veterans who have kept many North American rat snakes, and know overall growth rates. What is your guess? Is mine likely a 2012 or 2013 hatchling, coming up on his second or third year?

1.0 Pantherophis guttatus (Tallahassee locale)
1.0 Lampropeltis getula floridana
1.0 Pantherophis obsoleta quadrivittata
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