Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Welcome to kingsnake.com's message board system. Here you may share and discuss information with others about your favorite reptile and amphibian related topics such as care and feeding, caging requirements, permits and licenses, and more. Launched in 1997, the kingsnake.com message board system is one of the oldest and largest systems on the internet.

Click here to visit Classifieds
Click for ZooMed
Click for 65% off Shipping with Reptiles 2 You

black snakes

housesnakes Feb 26, 2007 09:43 PM

how big can they possible get in captivity?ive cought them in the wild as long as 6 feet.will they get longer in captivity?
housesnakes@yahoo.com
-----
until next time make mine slither.herb
www.housesnakes@yahoo.com

Replies (3)

MikeinOKC Feb 27, 2007 07:25 AM

Black rat snakes you mean? From all I have seen and heard, about six feet is tops, perhaps 6.5 for a really big specimen. More common is 4-5.

wolfpackh Feb 27, 2007 02:21 PM

yeah 6' is a nice specimen the record is 8 feet or so

Rivets55 Feb 27, 2007 03:20 PM

>>how big can they possible get in captivity?ive cought them in the wild as long as 6 feet.will they get longer in captivity?
>>housesnakes@yahoo.com
>>-----
>>until next time make mine slither.herb
>>www.housesnakes@yahoo.com

According to Tennant, WC adult Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta average from 5.5 to 6.5 ft, with individuals exceeding 7 ft "regularly reported." The WC record Black Rat is 101 inches according to Conant. From what I've read, the northern locality rat snakes may get somewhat larger.

Personally, I have seen some impressively huge captive-rasied specimens of Elaphe obsoletta ssp, especially the Yellow Ratsnake (E. o. quadrivittata).

I would guess that you could expect most CB Black Rats to easilly reach 6 ft (esp. males) with the occasional monster that pushes 8 ft.

Hope this helps.

John D
-----
I am so not lesdysxic!

0.1 Creamsicle Cornsake "Yolanda"
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake "Steely Dan"
0.1 Desert Kingsnake "FATTY"
0.1 Black Rat (WV Rescue) "Roberta"

Site Tools