Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, new here but wanted to share my experience. 2 months ago my neighbor called me and said he found some eggs in his mulch pile. I went and saw the eggs and new they were snake eggs but not sure what kind. Every thing I found pointed to black rats. I have an incubator that I bought for a python I was led to believe was pregnant.
Anyway, there was a big black snake killed in the road less than 100 yards from their house. I assumed it was the mother because they never saw her.
2 Days ago the first of five eggs opened and the next morning it came out completely. Beautiful black rat snake. I was lucky enough to get the whole thing on video. The other 4 eggs are open now and I have the camera monitoring them waiting for them to come out.
Has anyone ever raised a black rat from birth for a pet? He is very snappy and high strung and I would like to keep at least one for a pet. I have had a lot of snakes from corns to boas and pythons but never a black snake. I just wonder if constant handling will settle him down. The others I plan to raise to a decent size and then release them. We have a lot of hawks, Owls and foxes here so I know the babies won't last long.

Neonate black rats are always nippy. They do calm down well in most cases with judicious handling. As with all snakes, it's useful to separate the handling contact from the feeding, so they don't develop a feeding response every time you open the cage. Black rats are very sturdy and healthy keepers as a rule -- mine is thriving at 4.5 feet. Might try handling the little guys with light gloves for a while to avoid the nips. Of course they need to begin with small pinkies after the first shed. Given the time of year, unless you are far south, it would probably be a death sentence to release them so close to the first frosts. Good luck with one of the best captive snakes of all!

Yes...They are excellent snakes to keep. Will almost certainly settle down nicely (and quicker than you might expect). As for raising then releasing: There is a school of thought suggesting that this is NOT a good idea. If you plan to release, the earlier the better, both for the snake and for the wild population. How far north are you? Yes...Most will fall prey to the animals you mentioned. That's the way it works. Depending upon how many hatch out, you might consider releasing some right away (as close to where they came from as possible), keeping some & researching the eventual advisability of releasing some of those. Good luck. Black rats are awesome! Duffy

Since a couple of you saw my post I thought I would post an update.
This afternoon the last of the five babies was born. All are healthy and fiesty.
I have a lot of experience with snakes and have had many different kinds but I've always liked the big black snakes we have here, very strong and powerful looking creatures.
I'm not sure what to do with all of them though, I only have enough room to keep one of them. But I know there are a lot of predators here where I live that will get these neonates, human and natural. I see dead snakes here all the time. Anyway, this has been a great experience and I got everything on video.

Just a suggestion; Do you have any friends nearby that are among the snake-loving faithful? Once you got the other four little buggers eating, you could always give the little guys away.

reako45

I have been asking around but nobody is interested. If I can swing it and get the stuff I may try to keep more than one. I've considered keeping a male and female in hopes of breeding and perhaps getting an albino but I don't know yet.

No doubt...wish I was closer, I'd take one of the little fellas in a heartbeat. My rat is the best baby in the world, I know others will disagree (lovingly of course) but I think rat snakes are the best pets there are.

Good luck with your babies, it's great to know at least they got to hatch out and the possibility of a good start in life!

Bill
-----
1.0.0 Rottie/Malamute/Sheppard "Bear"
0.1.0 Tabby "Cuddle Butt"
0.0.1 Brindled Rat Snake "Templeton"