Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I went looking for Black Rat Snakes yesterday and found about fifteen. It is not often that I find a six footer but on this occasion I found two along with a five and a half footer. These six footers are real monsters and I kept them for pictures but I got to thinking , I assume they are both males but what is the largest female either found ore captive hatched? I will sex them for argument sake but again I will assume they are males. One is jet black and the other has white tipping. The Kansas record is a Male that measured six feet two inches. Looks like one of them might tie or break the record as he is over six feet, I will re-measure. The largest specimen I caught was seven feet two inches but was released before I knew it was a record about 8 years ago. The monster was from Cherokee county Kansas these six footers are from Miami county Kansas fifteen miles apart. Again my reason for posting is in an effort to find the largest captive female. I will post pics in a few days they are both in the blue.
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"Life without risk is to merely exist."

Of all the ones I have found here in Pa.the largest have always been males including my 6 year captive that is around 6'4".
I am curious to know how large a female can get also.
Here is a pic of the biggest female I have seen.Found basking in my neighbors driveway, and gravid at that.She may have been close to 5'.Keep in mind that in my area there is no way a fellow can find 15 in a day.If I see 3 in a season,thats good.
Look farward to seeing your pics.
Mike

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"Upon Thy Belly Thou Shalt Go"

Same female, in hand.

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"Upon Thy Belly Thou Shalt Go"

that's a hefty blackrat. last year i moved deep into the stix and there is a 7 footer living in our shed. biggest one i ever did see. luckily, you can still find big ratsnakes out there

This one is five feet eight inches but very Black sex is undetermined.

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"Life without risk is to merely exist."

Massive ....That is one nice looking blk rat

While fishing here in MD I came upon a shedded skin of a blk rat that was over 7 all in one piece and still wet

Never found her

Looks like u have a future herping partner

Nice! I love the jet black ones.
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"Upon Thy Belly Thou Shalt Go"

Sight Man gets some really nice ones out his way. I'm raising some hatchlings with those genes.

That is so cool to get to see snakes like that in your yard! Cool pictures.

I've been watching a big black ratsnake at work for a couple of weeks now,he stays in the walls of an old house trailor but,when I see him I can only see his head and maybe 10 inches or so of his body.If I ever catch him all the way out I'll take some pics.Going by the size of his head he appears to be huge! Jeff