Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was just curious. For those of you that collect wild snakes, what have you observed on how well snakes calm down in captivity? My question is basically, what are the odds that a w/c black rat or emoryi will calm down if collected from the wild and how long can I expect it to take? By calm I mean act like my corn. I understand it is possible it may never happen and it depends on the snake but I am wanting to compare notes and check out my odds. I am most interested in results for snakes under or around 24"-30". Thanks alot for all of your help.
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0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1.0 Ball Python "Wilson" (Castaway)
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
0.0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Onyx"

I think this one is kind of hit and miss. I have had snakes that calmed right down with no problems. Maybe only a week or 2 of handling before there was no fear of a bite or anything but then again I have had snakes for years that never took good to being handled. The 3 snakes I deal with the most are Cal Kings, Pacific Gophers and Western Rattlers. The kings seem to always calm right down. Even the rattlers get use to it “NEVER HANDEL A RATTLE SNAKE” By getting use to it I mean calming down in captivity so they don’t nail the cage every time you walk past. Some of the toughest most aggressive snakes I have ever dealt with are Pacific Gopher Snakes. I had one individual for several years that insisted on taking a shot at me every single day. That being said I have never had a WC snake that was as calm as the 2 Corns I currently maintain.
My Research and Collection "New server"

Well said and I totally agree with Jason. I have an emoryi that is a vicious b2$t@rd and a mealhorum that is pretty sweet. My wild caught Kingsville bull was a sweetheart and now is a strking terror. All snakes can bite and I don't fear that but my bull and Texas rats can tear you up. That said, MOST of my snakes are cool 85% I would say, but some never can be trusted! Take time with them and don't let the dog or cat near them, most will freak and imprint on it.
Todd Hughes

you may already know this but there are several species which will do better wild-caught than the rat snakes you mentioned. hognoses, rough green snakes, and mud snakes (a problem feeder) almost never bite from day one. good luck.

I have had a WC speckled kingsnake (MO locale) for close to a year now, he was rescued from the dam just down the road from me. I recieved news that they were going to start burning down all the shrubs/trees, as they do every year. So I searched and found a beautiful male speck...he is the only one in my collection that doesnt bite

Good goin', mate! Save all you can before the habitat is all gone! Too many microhabitats going too fast these days, and it is a damn shame!
Todd Hughes

ooo thats a beauty

Thanks, man, got a clearer pic of your holbrooki?
Todd Hughes

For me, temperment is the main factor in selecting blacksnakes since they have such a wide range of personalities. Try a "wait and see" period for each snake you catch, it doubles as the quarantine period used to see if its healthy, and allows you to get acquainted even with snakes you intend to release. It should be apparent quickly which ones are "mean as sin" and which can potentially be tamed. I'm looking to trade my young elaphe for a more mature one as soon as the weather gets warm since he is so skittish and a picky eater. The racer I kept last year was so vicious he would strike at the tank lid and get his teeth caught in the mesh. The day I released him it took 15 minutes to get him out of the building. This is not to naysay all aggressive species though, if youre content with looking and not touching. Snake personalities are really understated considering no two are alike.

Len

I live in the middle of the flint hills here in kansas, and the emorys and black rats are the most encountered snakes for me. I have noticed that the larger snakes are not as aggresive as the sub-adults. Last spring I caught a 84 inch male black rat. He was a handful, but never even acted like he wanted to bite. I have only found 2 emorys that have really tried to bite. They are the corns of the mid-west, and its rare to get bit by one. Both species make great pets, and almost all i have keep have been good eaters and pretty calm. Now, last year I found a gravid female black rat that bit me 3 times before I got hold of it. Being gravid explains that for me. You guys showing off your speckleds are very nice looking. I did find alot of those last year as well. Not one tried to bite me. I found the pure species and the intergrades. The intergrades have a clear chain pattern. i think the local guys are calling them Chain Kings. Wild bullsnakes are a different story, I never found a gentle one that didnt do the typical hiss and strike. Some are just faking, and will calm down, but they need more patience, but they also eat more readily.