Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well this summer I got so into my colubrids, that I looked around and thought to expand to black rat snakes. (Have kings and corns).

I started by ordering 1.1 black rats possibly het for brindle, whitesided, and albino. Then I decided if I got two females, it would increase the odds of getting something interesting in the future. Before I knew it I'd ordered up 2.3, which was later changed to 1.4.

SO, with the seller being the most patient man in all of creation (can't have shipments sent to work, too hot to have a shipment remain on the porch), I'm finally going to get these guys in two weeks.

I've thought to set up the four females in one 40 gallon aquarium with numerous hiding spots (at least two at the hot spot, two to three on both cold sides of the aquarium), branches to climb on, seperate containers to feed in, etc, and put the male by his lonesome in a 10 gallon to begin with. I know that housing snakes together is controversial, but I've heard it discussed in relation to rat snakes as a lot more common than with kingsnakes (who WILL eat each other!) I know that eventually the rats will need their own homes but I was hoping to keep them together at least until they got to be a year old (they are hatchlings now).

Comments on my proposed setup? Some of them are already eating rat pinks, and I have had rats in my breeding setup for six weeks, but darnitall they STILL haven't had any babies. Will it be a problem to switch them back to appropriate sized mice until I get some rat production going?

~Sasheena
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~Sasheena

to work on. I don't recommend housing snakes together, although it probalby will be O.K. for awhile. If you need to, then they will be alright for awhile. The thing I see is that something that works for a short time can end up being that way permanently. I keep my snakes in their own separate enlcosures. It is stressful (a little) on a snake to be in it's own captive environment let alone adding the stress with being housed together with other snakes that may be dominant. You probably don't see it, but they are competing for areas of the tank (warm and cool spots), water, etc. If one snake occupies the least stressful spot, the other snakes are in stressful spots. Stress isn't good for reptiles over even short periods of time. It can break down their immune system and disease and parasites can have an easier target. They don't eat and/or digest real well. Isolating disease and parasites is clouded when snakes are housed together becasue you where to it originate. It is easier to spread to a bigger portion of your collection when they are hosed together. I would rather one of my females come down with something than all 4 of my females which probably would happen if they are housed together. I used to say O.K. to house together for awhile, but I've seen too many times where it became a permanent situation so I don't recommend it. You are correct that it will probably be O.K. for awhile so I'm not in total disagreement with that.
Black ratsnakes, I know the ones I have, are generally great eaters. There shouldn't be a problem switching them back and forth between mice and rats or even baby chicks (which I feed my snakes once a month). Good luck with your black ratsnake project and other snakes.

Terry Parks

Thank you for the level-headed response. My guess as to what will happen in the future, is I will get them, have them in their communal tank, and within a few months decide it's better to keep them separate. At the most they would remain together until yearlings, but by the time they are a year old, I would want to be a lot more specific on my records. If the time they are together is different from my prediction, I'm almost certain it will be LESS time. I'm looking forward to the project. Thanks again for your input. I'm sure you'll see me around a bit!

>>to work on. I don't recommend housing snakes together, although it probalby will be O.K. for awhile. If you need to, then they will be alright for awhile. The thing I see is that something that works for a short time can end up being that way permanently. I keep my snakes in their own separate enlcosures. It is stressful (a little) on a snake to be in it's own captive environment let alone adding the stress with being housed together with other snakes that may be dominant. You probably don't see it, but they are competing for areas of the tank (warm and cool spots), water, etc. If one snake occupies the least stressful spot, the other snakes are in stressful spots. Stress isn't good for reptiles over even short periods of time. It can break down their immune system and disease and parasites can have an easier target. They don't eat and/or digest real well. Isolating disease and parasites is clouded when snakes are housed together becasue you where to it originate. It is easier to spread to a bigger portion of your collection when they are hosed together. I would rather one of my females come down with something than all 4 of my females which probably would happen if they are housed together. I used to say O.K. to house together for awhile, but I've seen too many times where it became a permanent situation so I don't recommend it. You are correct that it will probably be O.K. for awhile so I'm not in total disagreement with that.
>> Black ratsnakes, I know the ones I have, are generally great eaters. There shouldn't be a problem switching them back and forth between mice and rats or even baby chicks (which I feed my snakes once a month). Good luck with your black ratsnake project and other snakes.
>>
>>Terry Parks
>>
>>
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~Sasheena

then you and the snakes will be O.K. Don't hesitate to post or email me through this forum if you have any questions or concerns. Black rat snakes are a favorite of mine and I hope you do real well with them and this project.

Terry Parks

>>Thank you for the level-headed response. My guess as to what will happen in the future, is I will get them, have them in their communal tank, and within a few months decide it's better to keep them separate. At the most they would remain together until yearlings, but by the time they are a year old, I would want to be a lot more specific on my records. If the time they are together is different from my prediction, I'm almost certain it will be LESS time. I'm looking forward to the project. Thanks again for your input. I'm sure you'll see me around a bit!
>>
>>>>to work on. I don't recommend housing snakes together, although it probalby will be O.K. for awhile. If you need to, then they will be alright for awhile. The thing I see is that something that works for a short time can end up being that way permanently. I keep my snakes in their own separate enlcosures. It is stressful (a little) on a snake to be in it's own captive environment let alone adding the stress with being housed together with other snakes that may be dominant. You probably don't see it, but they are competing for areas of the tank (warm and cool spots), water, etc. If one snake occupies the least stressful spot, the other snakes are in stressful spots. Stress isn't good for reptiles over even short periods of time. It can break down their immune system and disease and parasites can have an easier target. They don't eat and/or digest real well. Isolating disease and parasites is clouded when snakes are housed together becasue you where to it originate. It is easier to spread to a bigger portion of your collection when they are hosed together. I would rather one of my females come down with something than all 4 of my females which probably would happen if they are housed together. I used to say O.K. to house together for awhile, but I've seen too many times where it became a permanent situation so I don't recommend it. You are correct that it will probably be O.K. for awhile so I'm not in total disagreement with that.
>>>> Black ratsnakes, I know the ones I have, are generally great eaters. There shouldn't be a problem switching them back and forth between mice and rats or even baby chicks (which I feed my snakes once a month). Good luck with your black ratsnake project and other snakes.
>>>>
>>>>Terry Parks
>>>>
>>>>
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>>~Sasheena