Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just wondering if anyone has kept LTR's and can tell me about their behavioral change in captivity. I have a yearling female and she's quite shy and jumpy, much like the way my corn use to be. But my corn (who is also about a year) has grown to be quite confident. He'll bask in the sun and spend time out in the open. Will my LTR become the same after some time in captivity? At present she's always hiding and is very defensive when I try to pick her up. She coils with her mouth open and strikes often.

On a side note: I've been told that LTR's are not as aggressive, by nature, as regular TX rats. Can anyone verify this?

Thanks in advance,
Dimitri

You could be describing my LTR almost exactly...11 months ago.
She was an '02 baby and the only one of my ratsnakes that has ever bitten me. Now she is just as calm and gentle as my other ratsnakes (including the corns). I think that in general, you should expect her to improve with age. Of course, there are always a few snakes that don't. But I bet she will.
As for LTR's being any different from regular Tx rats behaviorally, I would doubt it. Unless you take into account the fact that LTR's are always from captive stock and factor WC tex rats in. I have heard (but do not have first hand experience) that wc tex rats deserve their reputation for being fierce. Good luck with yours. I just love mine...even more since I had to put in a little extra time "taming" her. Duffy