Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi folks!!

I am a boa/python guy who has had a long time "crush" on Taiwan Beauty Snakes. I have never kept any. So as expected I have some questions. And I come to you rat snake specialists for answers.

My only experience with keeping rat snakes has been with local field collected black ratsnakes (I live in central Oklahoma). I have been told that Taiwan Beauty husbandry is very similar to native US rat snakes, and have heard several different opinions on their attitudes. I have been told they are calm like cornsnakes and as mean as a cottonmouth.

SO whats the truth? Are they "tempermental" or calm? Do they have special husbandry requirements?

Thanks for any and all answers!!

Patrick Higdon
Tuttle, OK
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2.5 dumerils boas, 1.1 albino burmese python, 0.2 bearded dragons, 1.0 german giant bearded dragon & 0.0.1 sulcata tortoise

they grow up to 9 foot big cages eat alot crap alot and are ussually tame

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1.0.0 Taiwan Beauty Snake
2.1.0 Black Rat Snake
1.1.0 Corn Snake
1.0.0 Common Garter Snake
0.1.0 Northern Water Snake
0.1.0 Black Racer
0.1.0 Black Widow
0.1.0 Wolf Spider

Thanks for the reply.

I am looking for more specific answers, especially on the their attitudes. I am spoiled by the super calm attitudes of my Dumerils Boas. Are the TB's similar in attutide to, lets say tiger rat snakes or cornsnakes, or do they fall between those two. Attitude is more important to me than size. I don't want 7ft of good looks with the attitude of a wolverine. If you know what I mean.
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2.5 dumerils boas, 1.1 albino burmese python, 0.2 bearded dragons, 1.0 german giant bearded dragon & 0.0.1 sulcata tortoise

The taiwans are much clamer than the other subspecies of taeniura. The breeders I had and ones of friends of mine were calm in general and made great handling snakes. Just watch out when it's feeding time.

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Randy Whittington

Thanks Randy, the one in the pic is beautiful!! What type of cages did you keep yours in?
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2.5 dumerils boas, 1.1 albino burmese python, 0.2 bearded dragons, 1.0 german giant bearded dragon & 0.0.1 sulcata tortoise

I had mine in 3 by 2 ft BARRS cages at the time which were too small. Adults definatly need a larger cage which is one of the main reasons I got rid of mine. The bigger the cage the better. They tend to be fairly active (ALWAYS looking for food). I could open the cage and they would crawl right out onto me tasting as they went. Mine were very bold as adults, showing little fear.
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Randy Whittington