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Hey everyone,
I just saw a couple of beautiful Korean ratsnakes for sale in the old world ratsnake section of kingsnake. I was curious if anyone on here has any experience with these guys and can tell me a bit about them. Thanks!
Kevin

>>Hey everyone,
>>I just saw a couple of beautiful Korean ratsnakes for sale in the old world ratsnake section of kingsnake. I was curious if anyone on here has any experience with these guys and can tell me a bit about them. Thanks!
>>Kevin

Bit of natural history:

The Korean Ratsnake is native to Northeast China and Korea where it is found in regions up to 2000m in altitude, it is semi-aboreal and lives in a variety of biotopes: grasslands, dry scrub, rocky areas and on the banks of rivers and lakes. E. anomala is primarily a diurnal snake and also a nest raider, showing a preference of small rodents, birds and their eggs.

Random Notes:

In captivity they require a thermal gradient of between 70F cool end and 80F hot end. A medium sized ratsnake they grow to approx 5-6 foot but larger specimens have been known. Quiet a shy snake and unlike the Russian ratsnake which they were once thought to be a sub species of, does not appear to like being handled, it will usually flee. They are a very nervous species and will readily bite in my experience. There personality seems to be the exact opposite to that reported for russian Ratsnakes, they are not inquizative and friendly, but will tolerate moderate handling. Individuals raised from hatchlings can calm down considerably and make a wonderful vivarium subject but not a 'pet' in my experience.

Feeding wise they usually have a preference for several smaller food items rather than one large one. Will take adult mice, day old chicks and quail eggs in their diet in captivity. They have a fast metablism and eat rather alot.

A viv with some climbing branches, lots of hidey places in all areas of its cage and perhaps the addition of a moist hide. A large water bowl will also be used by them for bathing which they do seem to enjoy.

They usually need a brumation period of around 3 months at temps of 50-55F, often going off there food in late September time. Like most ratsnakes they will breed after they emerge from there winters rest and after the female has sloughed. mating can be quiet aggresive and the male can bite the female on the back of her neck to restrain her. Egg wise they lay between 6-14 which hatch in approx 45-54 days at 82F .. babies measure approx 12-14 inches and look almost identical to russian ratsnakes, although side by side there is a difference with anomala being somewhat lighter in colour overall. They keep there juvenile pattern into adulthood it is only the colour that changes, some have lots of yellow pigment, mine where dark green and quiet drab looking and I've seen others that were grey.

Hope this helps some as there's little info out there on this species.

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That helps out a ton, thank you!
Kevin