Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was out fishing today and enjoyed watching what I believe is a Texas Rat Snake. There were several water snakes out today too, but they were skittish just poking their head up and then diving away.

This Rat Snake was very docile and let me come right up to it for pics. Also interesting that it swims with most of its body above water. I bet the Rat Snake gets killed unnecessarily down here because everyone says Water Moccasins swim on top of the water where harmless water snakes just stick their front up.

He was nice sized, 5 feet.

n/p
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See all my snakes at SerpenTrack.com

Yep, that's a Texas Rat, and those are nice pics. I see them swimming pretty often, in the Nueces River. They get killed unnecessarily here all the time - for lots of ignorant reasons...
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-Toby Brock
Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research

right time....right place....just right...

great pics! Nice looking ratsnake as well.

Dude funny you mentioned it. But every snake found near water is called a Water Moccasin, lol. I saw a show called "Billy the Exterminator", I was scratching my head trying to figure out if this show is a joke or if it's serious? They went to some ones Duck Blind to clear it of snakes and were wrestling with regular water snakes and acting like they were Moccasins. He said you can tell if a snake is venomous if it has slit pupils. I was laughing my ass off. They finally abondoned the job cause his brother was bit by a wasp, and he is allergic to wasps. Too funny!
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

Cool pics.
I turned one loose near my creek & watched as it went into & under the water, & swam away staying under the water.
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"There's a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line."
Oscar Levant