Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Since these are my first texas Rat snakes and I've had norml Black rat snakes before... Are Texas ratsnakes in general supposed to be a bit slimmer and sleeker bodied than black rats? I know, sort of a newb question but thats what seems to be with my 3 and some of the pictures I've seen of other Leucy Texas Ratsnakes.. They're slimmer with a sleeker build than Black Rats. It could just be me I guess.. but my sub-adults took a while to lose that really skinny hatchling body shape though they've all lengthened quite a lot.. Like I said, just sort of a curious question about the 2 subspecies and how dis-similar in body type they seem at times.
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Mel Goodrich
RavenCrest Reptiles: Sale and Rescue
drune@charter.net

~Updated animal list coming soon~

I too have noticed texas rats having a slightly slimmer body than black rats. They seem to have huge heads and it takes them a while to grow into them.
As long as your snake isn't skinny, you shouldn't have anything to worry about, except that you have Texas Rats and they are probably going to bite... often.
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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

Nope.. No Skininess here. These guys eat like the rats they feed on. A lot and often when given the chance. All 3 are hovering at about 4.5 ft give or take right now.

As for the biting. My largest female is pure EVIL! She's bad enough that if I don't want my hands tore up I have to use hooks with her to deal with cage maintenance. My male is mellow but the 2nd female is a mix between the 2. Bitey when first reached for.. but alright after being in hand for a minute or 2. The only true oddity I've noticed with mine is they refuse to switch onto rats.. alive, fresh killed or frozen thawed. They'll only eat mice. Not a big deal since I breed all my own food but still.. a little odd for all 3 of them to have no interest in rats.
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Mel Goodrich
RavenCrest Reptiles: Sale and Rescue
drune@charter.net

~Updated animal list coming soon~

your rats might smell funny. Rats and mice have different smells. Wash off a F/T rat with bar soap and warm water. Be sure to get all the soap off. Then rub mice all over it to transfer the smell. Then offer the mouse-scented rat to the snake and see if it takes it. You could also try putting the snake in a small container with a live lg. rat pinky and put it in a dark, warm space, like a closet. Do NOT do this with an adult rat as it can harm the snake. Leave it overnight and see if it eats the rat.
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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