Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello everyone,
What can I be told about an Everglades Rat Snake and there care? I've order a book about rat snakes, but it's still on the way in the mail. I would like to hear about some of your tails and info. How big do they get? What are proper temps and humidity? Does anyone recommend any good websites for them (besides this one). I've heard they can be kept socially, do they like to share there tank with anther? And my last question how is their disposition?

Thanks in advance,
Stuntman Mike

I love mine. The ones I have are about a year and a half old. My yellow rats are much older and bigger. My yellows are more calm when holding them. But that can be because of their age. I would start off with young ones. They can get big 6ft plus. That depends on how much and what you feed them. I prefer not to over feed. I keep my room temp 75 day and 72 night. With heat tape under one part of the enclosure at 85. They love to climb. Also you maywant to consider a nice yelow rat. They seem to like being with other rat snakes. I never have problems. I just feed them seperate. They like humidity. I give mine a bathe when they shed becase my humidity is a little low. If you use cypress and spray 2 times a week, the snakes will love it.Cheers Greg

About feeding:

What do you feed them and how often?

Thanks,
Stuntman Mike

I'm not trying to steal the thread, but hatchlings, and young subadults do well being fed two medium sized meals every week or so. And adults will do fine if fed a decent sized meal once a week or so. No real definitive answer, but this is generally considered a "standard" feeding regimen for most North American Ratsnakes in general.

I think he'll probably agree with this too.

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

That is exactly how I feed all my ratsnakes too. Cheers Greg.

What would you say a decent size meal is for a yellow/ everglades rat? I've heard they eat more because they are more active then boas/pythons. I mostly owned boas/pythons but I'm trying to branch out. Got my first kingsnake the other day and I'm looking to include a ratsnake to the mix.

Thanks,
Stuntman Mike

A four foot Elaphe obsoleta can eat a medium size rat.

The only snake I have ever kept that had the run of my room- no cage- was a big Everglades rat that was a wild caught adult. It started out pretty mean, and quickly became tame. We had an “understanding” for awhile! It was very cool. It was always lounging up on top of the curtain rod, which he could only get to by getting some sort of hold on the window crank to boost that far up the wall. They will take rats but will prefer eating about ten mice. They will take more if you an afford it. I think if you feed them like that they never stop growing and get thick and muscular, not fat. I believe if you let them observe you enough, they sort of tame themselves. Just figure you out and lose the fear. They have personality and the real nice orange ones are very beautiful snakes.

I agree. They are real smart and somewhat form an understanding with their keeper. Like I said in another post they are real similar to the behavior of a captive raised cobra, only MUCH safer, and more forgiving. I have a few tiger carpet pythons, and as pretty as they are; they are not too smart. I like them alot. But to me the ratsnakes are the Bomb! They actually recognize their keeper and if you work with them enough you can read the "mood" they are in. Just go for it and get one you will love them. And you will be able to gauge how much food it eats. If you have other snakes it will be no problem.

I believe the same thing in regards to fear and aggression in snakes. I have had some pretty mean reticulated pythons become tame due to my presence in the snake room on a more then average basis (no wife/kids etc..spells mega time in room). I could be wrong but I don't ever handle them but for cage maintenance so what was it ?

>>The only snake I have ever kept that had the run of my room- no cage- was a big Everglades rat that was a wild caught adult. It started out pretty mean, and quickly became tame. We had an “understanding” for awhile! It was very cool. It was always lounging up on top of the curtain rod, which he could only get to by getting some sort of hold on the window crank to boost that far up the wall. They will take rats but will prefer eating about ten mice. They will take more if you an afford it. I think if you feed them like that they never stop growing and get thick and muscular, not fat. I believe if you let them observe you enough, they sort of tame themselves. Just figure you out and lose the fear. They have personality and the real nice orange ones are very beautiful snakes.
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Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
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Thanks,

I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.

That room I described was my bed room when I still lived with the parents. I had my cages in there and did spend a lot of time in there with all the heads looking at me all the time. The rat was very observant, which I think they are in nature too. Don’t you usually find them right out in the open and not under a tin? I’d like to hear anybody that “flipped” an everglades rat! I never had the pleasure (!) to work with a coachwhip, but I suspect they would have that same ability to tame themselves with observation. Sort of like an Indigo too, except they figure it out in about ten minutes. Maybe that’s how you rate the intelligence of a snake- how long does it take for the snake to figure things out. If you have not had the experience of spending hours with your snakes like this, you are really missing out on learning their true habits and personalities. Now married with children and using the racks, a lot of that is lost or never fully appreciated any more.

I had an eastern coachwhip when I was younger, he tamed down, as do black racers. The thing these snakes have in common id they are highly active and usually diurnal. I think rat snakes are both depending on the conditions and time of the year. My eastern kingsnake hunts day and night. Round pupils most times indicate diurnal habits. They like rat snakes in my opinion and my observations are also both.

>>That room I described was my bed room when I still lived with the parents. I had my cages in there and did spend a lot of time in there with all the heads looking at me all the time. The rat was very observant, which I think they are in nature too. Don’t you usually find them right out in the open and not under a tin? I’d like to hear anybody that “flipped” an everglades rat! I never had the pleasure (!) to work with a coachwhip, but I suspect they would have that same ability to tame themselves with observation. Sort of like an Indigo too, except they figure it out in about ten minutes. Maybe that’s how you rate the intelligence of a snake- how long does it take for the snake to figure things out. If you have not had the experience of spending hours with your snakes like this, you are really missing out on learning their true habits and personalities. Now married with children and using the racks, a lot of that is lost or never fully appreciated any more.
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Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
=========================================================
Thanks,

I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.

First pic is an adult male captive bred everglades ratsnake. I hatched him about 10 years ago. He sired exactly 100 offspring last year. Second pic is a juvenile female. She had a bit of yellowing on her head but a nice orange body.

If you can can you PM me about your everglades rat snakes.

Thanks

>>First pic is an adult male captive bred everglades ratsnake. I hatched him about 10 years ago. He sired exactly 100 offspring last year. Second pic is a juvenile female. She had a bit of yellowing on her head but a nice orange body.
>>
>>
>>
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=========================================================
Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
=========================================================
Thanks,

I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.

FR, you can reach me at erc561@hotmail.com to talk. Thanks, Eric.

>>FR, you can reach me at erc561@hotmail.com to talk. Thanks, Eric.
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=========================================================
Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
=========================================================
Thanks,

I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.