Reptile & Amphibian Forums

How is the behavior for the average Tiger Rat snake? Are they known to be docile or nervous side? Do they musk much? I've have experience with ball pythons, and Rosy boa's but I was thinking of venturing our side of my usual choices of snakes for my next one, and after seeing a few Tiger Rats at the local store, I've been doing some thinking.

Although they certainly can be maintained well in captivity, I'm not so sure that would be such a good first choice with venturing into another type of snake. I've never personally owned one, but I know very experienced "snake friends" that have owned/bred them, and they can be VERY active, nervous animals, and also some individuals can be very defensive as well.

As long as you are aware of these possibilities, and read up well on their husbandry, I don't see that they will pose too much of a problem though, but DO try to get as much info on these before purchasing one.

I'm sure you can also get a bunch of info on these from a "google" search, and also from the "Indigos and Cribos" forum on K.S.

best regards, ~Doug

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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

From my small time working with a CB spilotes from tame adults I would have to say its a great snake. There are very few captive breedings every year, I would venture to guess you're local shop has WC. While I hear WC's arne't the hardest to aclimate but coming from Balls and sand boas I would suggest another ratsnake before picking up a wc spilotes.
Here's my female.


What local shop has Spilotes?
Nate

The Tigers where actually where born at the local shop. They even have a clutch of there babies for sale now! I just think it's awesome how the tigers hang out in a branch all day. I'm looking for an arboreal snake, not like a Green Tree Boa/Python but something that's not going to hide all day like my others. I've also been thinking about a Jungle Carpet Python. I've been building a big cage about 50 inches x 20 deep and 30 high, it's going to be a great display case center stage in my living room. So you can see why I have been thinking about a tiger rat, there just a great display animal, but I do want something that not nervous, angry, or musk all over me.

PM me who has cb babies, how much are they selling them for? I think most spilotes can get used to handling and mine only spazzes if I don't let her know I'm comming into her cage. I offer my female lots of hides in her cage and she seems to like staying in them, granted she would have no problem without the hides I think they work for her. JCP's are great snakes and are probably easier to care for. ie slower metabolism, can handle fluxuations in temps and humidity better. On the other hand spilotes tend to eat anything offered. be prepared for a snake that wants to eat every 4 or 5 days and poos 2 or 3 days later.

The cage sounds like a great size for a spilotes, I would make sure to seal all the wood very well as they like to be sprayed down on occasion and also tend to spray poo.

Again who has babies?
How long have you been keeping your other snakes?
Nate
Nate

I have about 3 years of snake keeping exp. After hearing from a few of you I'm think of going with a Jungle Carpet instead. I forgot about the whole musking thing with just keeping boa's and pythons. I used to catch Garter snakes all the time when I was a kid and would get musked a lot to! I forgot how bad that smelled. But on a positive note I order a Rat Snake book so I can read up on them and learn more about them. Thanks for everyone's input.

I would recomend the Jungle Carpet Python. I have one young one in my collection. He is really cool. They can be nippy as babies. But the Jungle Carpets stay smaller than other carpets. Around 5ft is the length. Tiger rats can attain almost double that and are quite active. Jungle Carpets are not quite as active. I have a friend that breeds awesome ones. Most other obsoleta are quite arboreal. My yellow rat is always up in her tree. Good Luck Greg