Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I think she is about 2 yrs old and a lot smaller than my male.

Don G.

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Hi, my name is Don and I am a colubrid addict!
My posts are just my opinion or what works for me.
Thanks for letting me share.

We've been talking a lot about the obsoleta subspecies which I really appreciate, as I have learned a lot. The only thing I am a little confused about is the musking issue. I didn't realize rat snakes had a musk. I always thought this was a fox snake behavior (hence the name). Is this a major (and smelly problem) for the keeper? I am definitely picking up a bairds. I also want to get an everglades and a yellow or 2 to add to my collection. What's the deal? While we're talking, how big an enclosure should I get for the obsoleta?
-Mick

ALL snakes musk. Some are just more prone to it - I've only once been musked by a python (thank god, that was a quick shower/change after) but get rather frequently musked by my colubrids.
First of all, how musky they are and how prone they are to do it depends on species - personally, I can't stand how much musk my mex black king throws at me (note, they're supposed to be docile. Mine isn't) while my greenish rat may be still liquidy but I don't mind the smell, and my japanese rats have very little moisture and a nearly pleasant odour compared to the king.
My bairds never musks, he's a great snake to work with. My greenish rat (half yellow, half black ratsnake) is nasty as can be.
The size of the cage for the black rat depends on the black rat - not all attain legendary 8' lengths. Mine is about 4 1/2 feet right now at 5 or 6 years of age. Suit your cage to the snake you end up purchasing, just have it ready before the snake comes home with you

Hi Mick - I didn't mean to bring up any doubts on a snake by mentioning musking. Snakes do musk, but most don't with handling. Wild caughts will musk at first and then start to settle in and after handling will generally stop. It's not that bad. I was just bringing up the musking about Texas rat snakes because I have 6 wild caughts and they musk me when I pick them up for awhile. Almost all of them have stopped it now. They tend to do it when you surprise them or pick them up real sudden. Almost like a startled response. Its not something you should really think hard about. It's not a big deal. My bairds have never musked me. I have about 22 bairds.

Terry Parks

>>We've been talking a lot about the obsoleta subspecies which I really appreciate, as I have learned a lot. The only thing I am a little confused about is the musking issue. I didn't realize rat snakes had a musk. I always thought this was a fox snake behavior (hence the name). Is this a major (and smelly problem) for the keeper? I am definitely picking up a bairds. I also want to get an everglades and a yellow or 2 to add to my collection. What's the deal? While we're talking, how big an enclosure should I get for the obsoleta?
>>-Mick

Mick,

Musking is just another form of defence for the snake. All snakes can do it, including corns.

I have 3 corns, 5 Obsoleta, 1 Russian and 1 Korean... all captive bred... So far I have never been musked in 7 years.... Runs to touch the nearest piece of wood to hand... lol

I keep my large Obsoletas ( 6 feet ) in 48x24x24 inch vivariums. The smaller ones are in 36x18x18 inch vivariums.

Steve.

She does look like the one I posted earlier. Thanks for posting. Any future breeding plans for her?

Terry Parks

>>I think she is about 2 yrs old and a lot smaller than my male.
>>
>>Don G.
>>
>>-----
>>Hi, my name is Don and I am a colubrid addict!
>>My posts are just my opinion or what works for me.
>>Thanks for letting me share.