Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can someone recommend a good breeder of leucistic texas rat snakes. I am looking for line known for being "mild mannered", I know this is more of an indivual thing with each snake so I am speaking in generality. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Miller
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0.1Florida King
1.1 Eastern Kings
1.0 Black Milksnake
1.0 Chow Chow (2003 Papi)
0.1 Cats (Shug)

Sorry, but snakes are like people. No two are the same.

The best way to tell anything about the snake is to pick the animal up and see how it acts. I keep normal Texans, and both of mine do well when I pick them up. What I would look for if I was buying one, is one that didn't have bug eyes. That trait is is very common in leucistic Texas Rat Snakes.

Best of luck to you in finding just the right snake.

Are you familiar with handling baby snakes? Then try this. I'm not opposed to buying from online breeders and do alot of times but, I would suggest going to one of the larger herp shows or breeder expos this late summer or fall. You should be able to find a dealer or 2 selling baby Leucistic Texas rat snakes. The clutches usully will be well started in baby pinky mice and in more quantity to choose from then. Most vendors with (good reason), will not want you to handle baby snakes due to the possible spread of infections and disease among animals at the venue. However, I always bring a bottle of waterless hand cleaner to the shows with me and after conversing with vendors and kindly asking the vendor if he or she would let you hold the animal after they remove it from its plastic tub usually will work. Baby snakes of all varietys can be nippy to begin with so this ins't always a good way to tell an animals personality. However, some animals don't act as defensive to human handling as others from the get go and if the little guy just seems curious when it is first slowly picked up and handles nicely to begin with, thats probably the best way to tell if you've got a good one. It's also a better way to tell if the animal is healthy with a closer inspection. Afer all it is an investment in an animal you intend on handling its entire life and although some may disagree with me on this I usually ask to handle the animal before I buy it at a show. I suppose I will get some feedback here. But thats the way I operate. Especially with animals that are suspect tho bad personality traits like some rat snakes. I'm fortunate. My Leucy "Noodle"like to be handled was a jewel from the get go. That doesn't mean that you won't end up with a good handling animal. As I mentioned, baby snakes are just scared can be nippy and will usually calm with gentle frequent handling. Give it a a go.... I love my Luec... shes my buddy.

Art in Indy

You also might find a quality animal with this seller/breeder. South Mountain Reptiles. http://www.cornsnakes.net He also carrys a good line of Leucistic Black rat snakes. The species is a bit smaller in size and normally not as nippy.

Art in Indy

n/p
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0.1Florida King
1.1 Eastern Kings
1.0 Black Milksnake
1.0 Chow Chow (2003 Papi)
0.1 Cats (Shug)

Even if you pick a nice one out, it may get nasty with you a few times. A lot of the Texas rats that I have always seem to get "bitey" during their second year. It's like one day you open the cage and it's a whole different snake. However, if you keep handling them they will calm back down.

Even my meanest ones are calm once I get them out and they understand what's going on. And even a bite from a large adult is nothing to be concerned about. Bee stings hurt like 10x worse.

Yea, I know they can be tempermental. Sometimes you get lines in other snake that are known for being nippy that are more "docile". I was just wondering if there was a line like that in the Texas Rat world.

Thanks,
Miller
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0.1Florida King
1.1 Eastern Kings
1.0 Black Milksnake
1.0 Chow Chow (2003 Papi)
0.1 Cats (Shug)