Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a kingsnake but i was thiking about getting a Rat snake. I have a couple questions

1: What do they eat
2: Are they aggressive
3: How big do they get
4: General info

Thanks

Very much like your kings:

They eat rodents.
They can be nippy at first, but usually calm down with frequent, gentle handling.
Depends on the species: Anywhere from 4-5 foot to over 8.
Scan this forum, and you'll find lots of general info.
If you are left with other specific questions, ask.
Finally...Ratsnakes are awesome!!!

I have a wild caught rat and I thank the Maker it was my first. From day one I could pick it up without it even acting like it wanted to bite, eats every time I put a mouse in, and is getting ready to shed. I've heard corns are real nervy and can't settle while being handled, but if mine is any indication other rats settle rite down. He she it usuall hugs up on my wrist and we can go about anywhere (inside, outside it wants to explore)

My response to your off-list message bounced back. Yahoo (GRRR!!!) tells me that your mailbox is overflowing with spam. Here's what I wrote to you:

At this point, I'd say that definitive identification is improbable.
At 20", your baby is probably between age six months and a year. I'd
tend towards pegging it as being a yearling, since it's wild caught,
and they usually grow more slowly than captives. Also, the time of
year suggests it would be a yearling, since no baby hatched this
summer would have attained 20 inches by now. It could be a very small
two-yr-old, but I'd say that's unlikely.

By 12 months old, colours are becoming fairly set, but still nowhere
near the final colour. Another thing to keep in mind, depending on
where you are located, is the possibility of it being an intergrade.

Generally speaking, the grey rats have a comparatively "clean" grey or
silvery background shade, with blotches shaded black or dark grey.
The blotches of the grey rat are usually quite well-defined throughout
its life. Black rats, as juvies, tend to have a background shade that
is more "dirty," sandy, khaki, light tan, sometimes a tannish grey,
the blotches may be black, or possibly a dark brownish shade,
uncommonly a dark khaki colour. As they age, the blotches of black
rats tend to merge into each other.

Also, by the time they're yearlings, some black rats exhibit yellow
along the sides of the throat, and it may continue as a thin lateral
stripe along the outer sides of the neck and belly. This yellow isn't
present on pure greys. The bellies of some black rats may have a
creamy yellowish or peachy tone, greys always have blueish-grey
bellies.

Let me know if that helps you.

tricia
-----
tricia

I have loved every minute with my Rats. I have mine set up in larger cages and they love to climb. They eat regularly and are very docile. As an added plus, they are active during hours when you can see them. If you combine that with some pretty color choices, what more do you need? My personal favorites are Everglades. I love watching them change from that drab brown juvenile to a beautiful orange adult.
Good luck!