Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a beautiful little leucistic Texas rat snake that's totally pyscho. I can't handle him without gloves because he bites...hard! Even walking past his cage he strikes at the glass. I'm super gentle with him and I'm trying to take him out at least once a day in hopes that he'll calm down eventually.

Will he grow out of this behavior, get worse, or stay the same? Has anyone else had this experience? Are Texas rat snakes mean by nature? I'm at my wits end with this guy.

how long have you had him? What temps are you running? Any other husbandry facts that might help, such as type of cage, level of activity, other snakes or animals around?
-----
phflame
kingsnake.com host

He's no more than 5-6 months old. He's in a 20 gallon tank with locking screen lid. He has one hide, water dish big enough for soaking, indoor/outdoor carpet substrate, and a branch for climbing. Long full spectrum light and ceramic heat lamp at one end for basking. I have several other reptiles but not near his cage. I've got him in a corner so there isn't much traffic to disturb him. He's eating FT mice.

What about the 2nd half of the ????? How long have YOU had him?
Also, what kind of gloves? I heard they don't like the "taste" of latex, and that worked pretty good when my LTR was little. The disposable kind that you find in medical settings or on a janitor's cart. Pretty good dexterity. Mine would nip when I first picked him up, then be OK after that, so I only used one glove, then took it off. Sounds like yours is a bit snappier. Good luck, and keep workin' it. Duffy

You are claiming he is 5-6 months old and eating a small mouse. If he is eating a small mouse he is a lot older than 5-6 months. unless your referring to pinkies or maybe a fuzzy.
-----
0.0.3 Green Tree Pythons
3.4 Ball Pythons
...(2 pied, 1 Albino, 2 Het Albino, 2 Normals)
1.0 Leucistic Texas rat
1.0 Albino Corn

Yup, those first two questions are the biggies. Little LTR's are often biters. Most will grow out of it. If he's a baby and you've only had him a week or so, I bet he's much better behaved in a few months. Mine was a biter when little, and now I can pick him up and hand him to my 11-year old without hesitation.
Duffy

texas rats are known for being the most aggressive of all ratsnakes.

the leucictics seem to be the exception though... most i've owned have been pretty calm - not like a Bairds or Glades, but not nearly as blood thirty as normal TX rats.

if your snake is young. just keep taking it out and working with it.
there's a chance that will calm down and become a great snake or he may never calm down.
it really depends on the animal...

good luck.

byron.d

I've never heard people refer to Glades and Bairds as feisty. Mine are puppies. Texas Rats are generally regarded as the most aggressive Obsoleta but regular handling makes a big difference.

np
-----
Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

"most i've owned have been pretty calm - not like a Bairds or Glades..."
No worries Frank

ok the meaning of that statement "most i've owned have been pretty calm - not like a Bairds or Glades..."

he means this, as if they (lucy texas rats) are much calmer snakes ( then regular texas rats ), however, not to the extreme calmness associated with Bairds or Glades rats.

I could very well have a problem interpreting the meaning of other people's banter. Probably not though. No worries.
-----
Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

when compared to the blood thirsty texas rat.
-----
Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

Working at NATO, I'm consistently surprised by different interpretations of words I think I understand clearly. Fair point.

lol

I am not "too" smart, unless you mean smartarse lol .
-----
Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

Not the, " The National Association of Theatre Owners" correct ?

http://www.natoonline.org/

Just checking, I wouldn't want to misunderstand the meaning of the acronym you used. That is how this discussion got started in the first place.

Other Nato Acronyms

this nato no ?

-----
Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

Yes indeed., I meant NATO/OTAN.

ok thanks n/p
-----
Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

You pegged it exactly!! I was referring to the extreme calmness of Bairds and Glades.

Thanks again man.

byron.d

I do not own a camera ( I have to get one someday, I have 50 plus snakes, mostly boas and pythons). But I was wondering any intel you could give me on that male lavender texas rat I got from you. If I remember Mark Bell bred it originally. Any info on the line and why I can not find any more like it around ? It is getting quite large and is an agro ( doesn't bother me, I actually study behavior in snakes, so it interests me )little bugger. Did he bred luecism into that line ? ( that is what I will breed him to anyway, was wondering if I will get double het's or possibly some lucy's first time around, I am more interested in getting more lavenders actually eventually ). I did notice the snake has red pupils so it is some form of albinism. I also heard he breeds albinos that look very similar but yet are a different anomaly, Mark Lucas was selling the albino form, I could not tell them apart to be honest. Any and all info on them would be appreciated. I still am posting your original photo, he is over twice as big and more colorful now, same attitude problem though lol.

You may have answered some of these questions but I can not remember for sure.

thanks for your time.

-----
Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

I'm really glad to hear that he's doing well for you. I also have to admit that I'll looking for a pair of them for myself this season... Even with the bad attitude, I love that morph of TX Rat!!

That male was purchased from M.Bell as a plain old amel TX Rat. There is still some question as to whether they're amel or true lavenders.... Regardless of what they are they do breed true.

There seems to be very, very few of them around.. The ones that M. Lucas had for sale awhile back were I believe from M. Bell as well.

I do wish you the best in finding a mate for him - and sure hope I can find some myself!!!

byron.d

byron,

First off thanks for the rat snake, he is my favorite rat snake I own. I will just breed it to a unrelated Leucistic Texas Rat. Then line breed to get the lavender pattern/coloration.
-----
Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

>>I have a beautiful little leucistic Texas rat snake that's totally pyscho. I can't handle him without gloves because he bites...hard! Even walking past his cage he strikes at the glass. I'm super gentle with him and I'm trying to take him out at least once a day in hopes that he'll calm down eventually.
>>
>>Will he grow out of this behavior, get worse, or stay the same? Has anyone else had this experience? Are Texas rat snakes mean by nature? I'm at my wits end with this guy.

Even a small ceramic heat emitter throws out an insane amount of heat.Double check your temps.How many times a week are you feeding the little guy and what size prey?
Have you tried taking him out of the cage with something besides your hand?If you dont have a hook bend a coat hanger and try taking him out like that.Ive found with my pits that a hook traumatises(sp)them less and I can free hand them once I get them out.If you can hook him out just use one hand to hold to start with.
Another option is just to let your tex bite the crap out of you until it realizes it's doing no good.Good luck

-----
If lead paint is so deadly why do they make it so delicious?

"Another option is just to let your tex bite the crap out of you until it realizes it's doing no good.Good luck"

this seemed to work for me pretty good with some various rats and florida kings along with taking them out and handling them evry so often
-----
1.0 Amelanistic greatplains ratsnake
0.1 Greatplains ratsnake
0.1 Amelanistic Cornsnake
0.1 Virginia cornsnake
1.1 Everglades Ratsnake
0.1 Greenish ratsnake
1.1 Texas Ratsnake
0.1 Black ratsnake
1.1 Speckled kingsnake
1.0 abberant northwestern garter
0.1 Oregon Red sided gartersnake
1.0 Leopard Gecko
1.0 green iguana
and a bangin @ss drumset

I have had good luck with my rat wearing thick leather gloves when I pick him up. He bites (or at least bluff bites) the gloves several times, then pretty much gives up, though he remains squirmy. For me, he's basically a pretty and active display snake. I don't need to cuddle him. Can do that with the corn snake in the next cage.

I agree that he needs to check the temps with an accurate thermometer or temp gun. Check them down on the bottom of your cage. Overheating makes snakes aggressive.
-----
phflame
kingsnake.com host

I live in the high desert so I don't use the heaters during the summer unless it's unseasonably cool and the animal has just eaten. They're all much happier without the heaters. I found that out on my own from observing them and where they move in the enclosure when the heater is on.

His diet consists of F/T small adult mice and I'll be moving up to the next size when this batch is gone. He's fed twice a week and sometimes more if he seems to be particularly hungry.

I guess I'll just keep working with him. I'll try the hook to get him out and then let him bite away...

>>I live in the high desert so I don't use the heaters during the summer unless it's unseasonably cool and the animal has just eaten. They're all much happier without the heaters. I found that out on my own from observing them and where they move in the enclosure when the heater is on.
>>
>>His diet consists of F/T small adult mice and I'll be moving up to the next size when this batch is gone. He's fed twice a week and sometimes more if he seems to be particularly hungry.
>>
>>I guess I'll just keep working with him. I'll try the hook to get him out and then let him bite away...

Some will never mellow out.If your not ready for that post a add for him here and tell people it's a feeding, healthy display snake.
-----
If lead paint is so deadly why do they make it so delicious?

I just want to reiterate the others' point -

It isn't good enough to say it is "warm enough" or they don't need extra heat because you live in the desert. You should know the precise temperature in your snake room and in each tank. Get a digital thermometer with a remote probe (indoor/outdoor type) and put the probe in the bottom of the tank and monitor temps. If the ambient temp is too high, that will make the snake aggressive.

Also, make sure it has a secure hidebox that is big enough but not too big. Make sure the hidebox isn't at the hot end of the cage, either.

That all said, some Leucistic Texas Rats have "personality". But having it coiling up and striking at the glass indicates the snake is in someway uncomfortable in its surroundings.
-----
Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

>>
>>I guess I'll just keep working with him. I'll try the hook to get him out and then let him bite away...

If you use a hook to get him out of the cage and slowly lower him onto your other hand, you may find he settles down fairly quickly. That way you aren't coming at him with your hand from above which is threatening and you don't need to "hold" him, just redirect his movements. That technique that works with my Texas Rat and I wouldn't dare reach into his cage.

deg