Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Wondering if anyone here could point me in the right direction on care sheets for this species, as well as any opinions on them. I currently keep subocs, cribo's, kings and rainbow boas. These looked interesting to me, but I can't find a lot of info. thanks, John

I don't have a complete caresheet for you, just some of my experiences with these animals.

1. They're definately not beginners snakes.
2. They're quite ophiophagous, therefore they need to be kept seperately.
3. They are quite agressive snakes and they absolutely hate it to be handled. It's best to allow these snakes to have some privacy. If you disturb them too frequently, they go off feed.
4. They are best kept rather cool, very much like the Russian Ratsnake (Elaphe schrencki). Also, they need about 3 months hibernation to reproduce.

I think the King Rat is a great snake to have, but they also can be a little bit of a challenge. You definately should do some more research before stepping in. But if you're up to it, then go for it. You'll love 'em.

Cool. I will do some more research. Thanks for your reply. They still sound like something I can deal with, but I wanna make sure I understand specific requirements. Not wanting to be handled doesn't bother me, I like the idea of being kept cool...just don't like dealing with problem feeders...lol.