Hi. I'm a Texas Rat Snake, and I'd like to tell you an amazing story. I'll try to be brief; you have no idea the effort it requires to type on a keyboard using your nose!
My "owner" shuns that term, preferring to be called my "human companion". He's a short, slim, fit man who lives in Vancouver, WA. An avid Outdoorsman & Naturalist, he knows much about snakes, and about the reputation that Texas Rat Snakes have for being mean & nasty.
He also knows about bias, and pre-conceived notions. He understands that most creatures will only act defensively if they sense danger to themselves.
My human companion wanted another snake that was less burrowing and more active & curious than the Kingsnakes he had kept, so he researched many Internet sources, including comments from this forum. General consensus was that a Baird's Rat Snake was his best option, and to avoid Texas Rat Snakes.
"But wait!", he thought. "Texas Rat Snakes are better climbers and more habitat generalists. What if they are even more active than a Baird's, are even more inquisitive, and are very overlooked because of a bad reputation not always deserved?"
He was intrigued by Lindheimers, and something intuitive told him to investigate further. He chose to think not in terms of narrow absolutes, but rather in terms of broad possibilities.
Realizing that risk surrounds everything worth having, he took a chance. He chose the species with the reputation of being the meanest snake in North America. So much so that even my Breeder in Las Vegas stated this about us on his website:
"Nasty foul tempered beasts for sure. These are large enough to breed, and will make you bleed."
Undaunted, Ameron purchased me. I spent the next 24 hours flying across the continent to meet my new "owner". (Why must Fed Ex ship east to Memphis prior to shipping west to Washington??) It was a harrowing trip guaranteed to either humble, or enrage, the traveling snake.
When Ameron opened my transit box, he was wearing gloves and a jacket - just to be sure! He was ready for anything, even a musk-flinging terror with snapping jaws. He peered down into the bag to see me at my most humbled & scared moment.
With confidence & love, he slowly reached down and retrieved me. I came out smoothly, without a whimper. He held me in his arms for a few moments, gently speaking to me as he caressed, giving me the secret "Marge Sway" learned from his mother. He told me that he appreciated every second of good behavior, and that he knew it would take time to earn two-way trust.
This man is good, too. He knows the little tricks that make snake-human interaction so much easier:
1) He reaches down first, then across to me, gently touching, then picks me up (not with hands spread open, lunging down, like a raptor).
2) He holds my body with both hands, yet allowing my head to remain free.
3) He talks to me slowly & gently as he caresses me.
4) He takes the time to earn two-way trust.
I was a little smelly from the trip, so he rinsed he in the sink while he held me. I momentarily lunged at the stream of water, never having seen one, but I handled well despite the surprise.
As he placed me into my new home for the first time, he lowered one hand near my face. I gaped my mouth open briefly when his hand passed by, indicating that I needed a rest. He then placed me into my new home.
At no time had I hissed, musked (not even slightly) nor bitten. The only time I've ever gaped was my first hour home, just after a rinse in the sink.
And why not behave well? You should see my new "pad"! It's a thick, 55-gallon, glass vivarium with a wire screen. Naturalistic, it has 9 species of real & fake plants present. I have my choice of three hide spots: under the cypress tree roots, in the oak stump den or in the juniper tree cavity. I even have a large granite boulder, several rocks, and four climbing branches!
I've felt so safe in my new home that I've spent hours out basking under the broad-spectrum basking lamp, and spent one night out in the open.
This is Day 5 now. He and I have had handling sessions every day. He took off his gloves on Day 2 - they were no longer needed. I not only handle quite well, when he places me in his closet or on his bed for a few minutes while he cleans my biome, I STAY in the same place - waiting for his return! When he picks me up from any surface, I am compliant and don't even jerk.
I've fed twice on live food (my first time), and I enjoy watching him type at his computer a few feet away as I bask in my biome.
He noticed that my eyes are larger than those of a Kingsnake. I see better, and I'm more active & curious than a Kingsnake, too. There is a new favorite snake in Hazel Dell.
Although he bought me entirely for my active, inquisitive, hearty traits, the surprise bonus was my combination of colors & patterns. My ancestors are from the Austin-San Antonio region, where the Hill Country meets the southern-most prairies. Yellows & oranges are more pronounced in this locale.
My body has five primary colors. Top scales are grayish brown with darker oak brown saddle blotches; between the dark blotches on sides are light areas of pale yellow; along bottom sides are light blue gray. Tips of scales in many areas are burnt orange, and along my sides some areas have burnt orange blotches or tiny spots.
My back has a tall, thin ridge and my sides look somewhat flattened like a Vine Snake. From a distance, I resemble a Diamondback Rattlesnake with a Cobra head! Closer examination reveals a kaleidoscope of harmonized colors.
The camouflaged, well matched blend of colors make me one of the most stunning, beautiful snakes in the world.
Head is long & large, like that of a boa, larger than that of a kingsnake. It's color is more grayish-brown than brownish-gray. There are several signature burnt orange spots: one above my left eye, several at the end of my snout and one at the base of my head behind my right eye.
Eyes have a thin, caramel brown outer layer and a black pupil. They are larger than those of a kingsnake, and resemble a bird's eye. My sight is better than that of a kingsnake; I often watch Ameron and respond to his movements.
I handle well while being held, and enjoy being caressed all over most of my body (you know how we snakes feel about anything getting near our heads). I even let Ameron treat a small bump on my tail with a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol, while half of my body dangled from his arm.
And this is just my first week! We can hardly wait until warmer weather and outdoor excursions where I can crawl to my delight on shrubs and low trees. I might even catch a squirrel or two; they are so numerous in the yard.
To hell with that boring, small cage in Las Vegas with only the water dish and a single hide spot. I've found a much better home where I can exercise & explore outside of my room, while interacting with a Human and learning new things. Sometimes you win. Some things just keep getting better…
Ameron took a chance and found that I'm the ideal snake, his most treasured ever. He's not only pleasantly surprised, he's astonished & amazed. He contemplated for days thinking of possible names for me. He considered many, such as: Danger, Chance, Magic, Trophy, Wonder. Finally, he decided.
One day, more persons will decide to not judge based on image or reputation, but rather to evaluate & assess based on content & behavior. When they do, they will find hidden gems waiting for them - sparkling with their unique color, marvel & wonder.
"Treasure"
Texas Rat Snake (4-foot male)
Pantherophis obsoletus lindheimeri
(Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri)
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“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
Mark Twain
(date unknown)
