Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It has been an interesting day here in WI. My local animal control had a variety of animals for me to deal with and they werent the usual pythons!

So I am shooting to get species confirmation. I just want people confirm that this is a black rat, since well it isnt a ball, burm, ball, boa or ball. Rescue work can be fun but repetitive.

This snake apparently came in on a wood transport that originated in Utah. It spent 7 days at animal control and did feed readily on f/t small mice.

Since my experience lies with pythons, I am trusting you folks!

And yeah he is the smallest snake in my house right now and the meanest. And I keep bloods which are notorious for their attitudes! Sorry the pics are not the greatest, but it is hard to get a clear shot when they are striking at ya!

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Cindy
PHFaust

Email Cindy

Land of the Outcasts!

doesnt look like a black rat i think its a racer of some sort. if its from utah it could be a melanistic coachwhip.
but i dont see a black rat.
adam
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" a.k.a. farfrumugen "
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.

ya i'd have to agree it looks like a racer.

It's not a ratsnake, it's a racer. In all likelihood, it isn't foxi or mormon, so it probably did arrive with a batch of wood, but not from Utah.

Shane
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Lifelist

100% black racer. Nice looking little monster!

>>100% black racer. Nice looking little monster!

definitely black racer.
little monster is right....evil spawn....LOL
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

_____

Definitely black racer. Good looking snake!

>>100% black racer. Nice looking little monster!

Thanks everyone, that though briefly passed through my head, and then I looked at rat snakes pics on the internet. It is fast and angry. Definately a BIG switch from the ball pythons I usually get.
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Cindy
PHFaust

Email Cindy

Land of the Outcasts!

As everyone said, it's a black racer. They are great handling snakes....when the temperature is around 55 degrees, LOL
Steve

Man!,...ain't it the truth!..LOL!

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

Quite a few years back I caught a 4 foot Black Racer, tamed him down etc...he was as calm as could be.

I then took him outside and into direct sunlight.

It must have brought back some memories, cause he attached himself to my chin. LOL!!!

Black racers are my favorite snake native to NJ.
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=========================================================
Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
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Thanks,

I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.

LOL!!,....that's funny!

I've also noticed over several decades, that when certain snakes are outside,...I think the "natural" scent of the outdoors triggers them to want to BOLT as well!

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

>>Quite a few years back I caught a 4 foot Black Racer, tamed him down etc...he was as calm as could be.
>>
>>I then took him outside and into direct sunlight.
>>
>>It must have brought back some memories, cause he attached himself to my chin. LOL!!!
>>
>>Black racers are my favorite snake native to NJ.

They're evil
he lulled you to sleep and then BAM he got you.
Never trust a black racer...LOL
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

_____

>>>>Quite a few years back I caught a 4 foot Black Racer, tamed him down etc...he was as calm as could be.
>>>>
>>>>I then took him outside and into direct sunlight.
>>>>
>>>>It must have brought back some memories, cause he attached himself to my chin. LOL!!!
>>>>
>>>>Black racers are my favorite snake native to NJ.
>>
>>
>>
>>They're evil
>>he lulled you to sleep and then BAM he got you.
>>Never trust a black racer...LOL
>>-----
>>Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
>>"Resistance is futile"
>>Jimmy Johnson
>>(Draybar)
>> Draybars Snakes
>>
>>_____
-----
=========================================================
Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
=========================================================
Thanks,

I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.

You mean about 45F, right? LOL

Yeah that is a racer for sure!! So much for finding a home for a black rat. That would have been simple by comparission. I am amazed that someone buying wood was able to catch it.

Jason

>>Yeah that is a racer for sure!! So much for finding a home for a black rat. That would have been simple by comparission. I am amazed that someone buying wood was able to catch it.
>>
>>Jason

Yeah well, it will be a good training tool for my class at animal control. Lets see what topics it can hit.

1: ID is important - Cindy is so used to seeing ball pythons here she cant ID much at all.
2: How not to get bit. If you can remove this snake from the cage, you get a cookie.
3: How to handle an aggressive snake (actually I am really thinking of using this bad boy for my class because well it cant bite through my gloves).
4: Creative swearing 101
5: The need to improve lighting in the reptile room of Animal control. Looked black rat there, got it home and had other ideas.

I do need to rename him something more, ummm, friendly. Just not quite sure what I plan to do with him at this point, but I am impressed that they managed to pull him from a wood pile and I am further impressed that they didnt get bit. He did have a BIG orange caution tag on his cage at animal control that they reserve for the bite case dogs.
-----
Cindy
PHFaust

Email Cindy

Land of the Outcasts!

>>>>Yeah that is a racer for sure!! So much for finding a home for a black rat. That would have been simple by comparission. I am amazed that someone buying wood was able to catch it.
>>>>
>>>>Jason
>>
>>Yeah well, it will be a good training tool for my class at animal control. Lets see what topics it can hit.
>>
>>1: ID is important - Cindy is so used to seeing ball pythons here she cant ID much at all.
>>2: How not to get bit. If you can remove this snake from the cage, you get a cookie.
>>3: How to handle an aggressive snake (actually I am really thinking of using this bad boy for my class because well it cant bite through my gloves).
>>4: Creative swearing 101
>>5: The need to improve lighting in the reptile room of Animal control. Looked black rat there, got it home and had other ideas.
>>
>>I do need to rename him something more, ummm, friendly. Just not quite sure what I plan to do with him at this point, but I am impressed that they managed to pull him from a wood pile and I am further impressed that they didnt get bit. He did have a BIG orange caution tag on his cage at animal control that they reserve for the bite case dogs.
>>-----
>>Cindy
>>PHFaust
>>
>>Email Cindy
>>
>>Land of the Outcasts!
-----
=========================================================
Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
=========================================================
Thanks,

I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.

hahahahhaa!,.....woooo!!,...yes, now that is REALLY comical!!!

That could actually be used as a comedy skit on TV,.....if it weren't for the fact that most of the general public would really think it WAS dangerous!,....most people wouldn't know a truly dangerous snake from a Ringneck if it bit them right between the eyes!

I'm trying to think what they actually would have done with something that WAS dangerous!..LOL!!!

A venomous, or even a brute-sized python...possibly, yes,.....but a dinky little Black Racer?...c'mon!..HAHAHAHAHA!

I just LOVE a good laugh once in a while!!..hhehehe!!

I wonder what tag they would put on the front of this snakes enclosure?........"deadly venomous albino Taipan!"

~Doug

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

>>hahahahhaa!,.....woooo!!,...yes, now that is REALLY comical!!!
>>
>> That could actually be used as a comedy skit on TV,.....if it weren't for the fact that most of the general public would really think it WAS dangerous!,....most people wouldn't know a truly dangerous snake from a Ringneck if it bit them right between the eyes!
>>
>> I'm trying to think what they actually would have done with something that WAS dangerous!..LOL!!!
>>
>> A venomous, or even a brute-sized python...possibly, yes,.....but a dinky little Black Racer?...c'mon!..HAHAHAHAHA!
>>
>> I just LOVE a good laugh once in a while!!..hhehehe!!
>>
>> I wonder what tag they would put on the front of this snakes enclosure?........"deadly venomous albino Taipan!"
>>
>>
>> ~Doug
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>-----
>>"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"
-----
=========================================================
Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
=========================================================
Thanks,

I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.

A venomous, or even a brute-sized python...possibly, yes,.....but a dinky little Black Racer?...c'mon!..HAHAHAHAHA!
>>
>> I just LOVE a good laugh once in a while!!..hhehehe!!
>>
>> I wonder what tag they would put on the front of this snakes enclosure?........"deadly venomous albino Taipan!"
>>

Dinky yes, but it is an angry little cuss. It basically tried to attack everything that came near them. But then again it is a racer. This poor shelter has had a bad month. 2 4 foot gators, 3 snapping turtles, 3 RES/paints, 1 stray boa hit by a car, 1 stray tarantula, 1 abandoned fox snake and the racer. I think they are just so over reptiles at this point.

I do really hope for a period of time they do not get something like that. Because right now, they have no staff left trained in reptiles, and a venomous bust right now would give me a heart attack as I have basically no venomous experience and well I am their crutch right now. I do know in the past when they did have venomous, the cages were locked, the room was locked and only trained staff was allowed to enter.
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Cindy
PHFaust

Email Cindy

Land of the Outcasts!

Yes,..I fully understand, I was just having some fun with my silly comments.

I'm glad they DID take all those precautions with the venomous snakes,......one mistake, and BIG problems!..LOL!

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

>>Yes,..I fully understand, I was just having some fun with my silly comments.
>>
>> I'm glad they DID take all those precautions with the venomous snakes,......one mistake, and BIG problems!..LOL!
>>
>>
>> take care!, Doug
>>-----
>>"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

This has been a fun thread! I find it absolutely hysterical that currently the most "dangerous" snake so to speak (or the one that will get you every time) is also the smallest. The only snake gloves come out for is the smallest. This coming from someone with several burmese and a personal collection of blood pythons.

This guy is def going to be used in my training class coming up. I think it is a great time to teach how to deal with an aggressive snake with minimal damage to the person handling. I do hope everyone takes my advice on clothing to heart. I have a feeling this one will musk or have projectile poo.
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Cindy
PHFaust

Email Cindy

Land of the Outcasts!

racers can also help you to demonstrate assorted first aid techniques. They're very educational animals. And if they had hands they could teach you how to handle a knife.
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1.0.0 Great Plains Ratsnake
1.0.0 Corn, Lavender Aztec het for Amel
0.1.0 Black Ratsnake
0.0.1 Texas Rat (tame)
1.0.0 Broad Banded Water Snake, Hypo
1.0.0 Black Bassador Retriever
2.1.0 Godchildren, 1 Evil, 2 possible hets

>>racers can also help you to demonstrate assorted first aid techniques. They're very educational animals. And if they had hands they could teach you how to handle a knife.
>>-----
>>

very funny!!!
I about spit my beer all over the computer !!!!!!!!!!
-----
Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

_____

>>>>Yeah that is a racer for sure!! So much for finding a home for a black rat. That would have been simple by comparission. I am amazed that someone buying wood was able to catch it.
>>>>
>>>>Jason
>>
>>Yeah well, it will be a good training tool for my class at animal control. Lets see what topics it can hit.
>>
>>1: ID is important - Cindy is so used to seeing ball pythons here she cant ID much at all.
>>2: How not to get bit. If you can remove this snake from the cage, you get a cookie.
>>3: How to handle an aggressive snake (actually I am really thinking of using this bad boy for my class because well it cant bite through my gloves).
>>4: Creative swearing 101
>>5: The need to improve lighting in the reptile room of Animal control. Looked black rat there, got it home and had other ideas.
>>
>>I do need to rename him something more, ummm, friendly. Just not quite sure what I plan to do with him at this point, but I am impressed that they managed to pull him from a wood pile and I am further impressed that they didnt get bit. He did have a BIG orange caution tag on his cage at animal control that they reserve for the bite case dogs.
>>-----

big orange caution tag
LOL I love it...how appropriate...ROFL
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

_____

Cindy,

Looks like a Racer, which explains the attitude!

Matthew

Just wanted to give everyone a follow up.

What would be the EASIEST way to sex a black racer?

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Walk in and find 10 eggs. This girl didnt look gravid before she laid and didnt look like she laid afterwards.

Oh yeah and she still wants to kill me.
-----
Cindy
PHFaust

Email Cindy

Land of the Outcasts!