Those are both black rat snakes(from what I have read) just with different colorings. Black rat snakes or any north american rat snake tame down fairly well in captivity but you have to remember one thing,these snakes do have individual temperments. My yellow rat snake use to hiss,strike,vibrate his tail and musk me all the time when he was a hatchling for the first month or two when I had him. Now I can pick him up and he won't musk me at all. There are times when he is cranky and will strike at me. This happens mostly when I have to dig him out of the subtrate or if you move your hand to fast. Most of the time he will not bite me at all.



I just got a 50/50 king snake and while he is a little skittish he hasn't bitten me yet. He has vibrated his tail but for the most part he is pretty docile and I can handle him. I had an adult bull snake that was so mean everytime I walked toward his tank he would hiss,vibrate his tail and try to strike me thru the glass! He was also a pretty big snake at 5 1/2 feet long. My dad's friend gave him to me and he was my 2nd snake,next to a garter snake of course. I use to have to wear gloves handling him because he would bite without warning,try to constrict my hand/arm and crap all over me and anything close to him!





Anyway while most north american rat snakes can be tamed down remember that each individual snake will have his/her own temperment. Try to get a juvi since they will become use to you handling them and will tame down over time,most of the time.

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