Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was thinking of getting a trans-pecos ratsnake and I had a few questions. How is their temperment? Are they easily handled or are they nippy? How large do they get? I assume I can maintain them in the same conditions as I do my graybanded king and thayeri king.

They have a wonderful calm personality but are a bit hard to care for. They do not like humidity and some people have a tough time keeping them alive. They are usually good feeders and will accept pink mice when young and mice and rat pups as adults. They are late breeders and do not like a real cold hibernation. They grow around five feet long as adults and are mostly nocturnal. Morphs avalable are albino, axanthic, snow,patternless (in europe)and blonde. Combinations of the for mentioned also. They range in color from white to yellow and orange.

-----
"Life without risk is to merely exist."

>>I was thinking of getting a trans-pecos ratsnake and I had a few questions. How is their temperment? Are they easily handled or are they nippy? How large do they get? I assume I can maintain them in the same conditions as I do my graybanded king and thayeri king.
>>

Collectively speaking, they're probably the most docile-natured "ratsnake" in North America, even right when you pick one up in the wild. Probably less than 1 in 50 will s-coil and strike. Record length is 66". Same conditions as alterna, accept you want to ventilate well. They can get sick quicker from stagnant air than other snakes. There's a good book coming out in the next two or three months about them, and it will cover everything suboc-related.

DR

Suboc.com

Let us know when that book is available and how to get it.
I took yours and a few others advise this year about keeping my male a bit cooler and both of them are feeding like pigs.
Last year she totally slugged out (11),fingers are crossed for some good eggs this year.The female is in prime condition.
I also picked up a new girl at a show here in Pa.She was originally one of Mark Bells snakes.She has yet to take thawed for me.I'll try a live fuzzy this weekend.Here's a pic of the new girl.

Shot with E2200. at 1969-12-31
-----
"Upon Thy Belly Thou Shalt Go"

>>Let us know when that book is available and how to get it.
>>I took yours and a few others advise this year about keeping my male a bit cooler and both of them are feeding like pigs.
>>Last year she totally slugged out (11),fingers are crossed for some good eggs this year.The female is in prime condition.
>>I also picked up a new girl at a show here in Pa.She was originally one of Mark Bells snakes.She has yet to take thawed for me.I'll try a live fuzzy this weekend.Here's a pic of the new girl.
>>
>>Shot with E2200. at 1969-12-31
>>-----
>>"Upon Thy Belly Thou Shalt Go"

Hey man,

Nice looking Bogey there! Best of luck with your animals this year. I'll definitely make it known when the book is available. I'll be speaking at the NARBC in Arlington (February show), and they may have another Trans-Pecos person there too. I'll have books at my table there, but our (Bob Ashley's and mine) goal is to have the book out by the September show. Crunch time, baby! I'm working hard to get it finished without leaving anything out. (It should be about 225 pages!)

DR
Suboc.com

What kind of cage would they need for sufficient ventilation? Would they need a screen cage, or is a tank with a screen top sufficient?

>>What kind of cage would they need for sufficient ventilation? Would they need a screen cage, or is a tank with a screen top sufficient?
>>

A tank w/ screen top would work fine. A/C and fans in the snake room also help.

I would not house them with other snakes there is always a chance one will eat the other.

-----
"Life without risk is to merely exist."

Hey Bill,

How are your coachwhips? I might be looking to get a pair of red screamers.

DR

You can E-mail me at sighthunter@yahoo.com
-----
"Life without risk is to merely exist."

I am not going to house them with the other snakes, I just figured they could be kept in the same conditions as alterna becuase they inhabit the same area.

Thanks to everyone for the replies!

Keep in mind that while all those morphs are in existance per se the only readily available morphs are blonde and silver(axanthic blonde) and to a lesser degree ablino's.

There is only, as far as I know, a few albino blondes and only a single snow(axanthic albino) in existance currently.

You can get much more detailed info on them from Dusty's sight which is linked in his signature in his post above.

PS: as far as handling they are great, just remember to not react if they tag you and to not put them down until they calm down in your hand. After a single session(about 10 min) each doing this my trans peco's settled right down. Now as long as I only handle them passively and calmly they are completely comfortable lounging on my hands for as long as I let them. Although you do want to be careful not to stress them out so depending on the snake might want to minimize handling as babies.

Sean.

How bad is their bite?

>>How bad is their bite?

Not at all. Out of my more than 50 subocs, I've only had like two or three bite me, and it isn't at all bad.

Yeah you don't even really feel em other then barely feeling pressure. Hella fast though, the one that tagged me hit me three times in a couple of seconds.

Keep in mind though that only the one has bit me and that was before a started handling them and was also while I was checking some discoloration on her so she was none to happy with me.

Since that one time she's never tried to bite again. The most she did was open her mouth threateningly the first time I started handling her but after that first session she even stopped that.

Hope this clears it up for you a bit.

Sean.