Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A friend just picked up a pair of White Oaks (very nice BTW) but is all fired up because he thinks they can get to be 7 feet, give or take. I just don't see it, but field guides and specie pages show 101 inches max for obsoleta. What! Where is this monster? I could see an E.o.o. at maybe 7 to 7-1/2, but even that would seem to be the upper end, and the rest are generally smaller. So, what's the largest (captive or wild) anyone has kept or seen? Note: this isn't a contest or such, just want correct info. I'm a Lamp and Pit guy, so please excuse my Elaphe/Pantherophis ignorance.

Thanks,
Eimon

these can get quite large, some approaching 7 or 8' in the wild. in captivity it's not unrealistic for obsoleta to attain 84''...........

Dan I saw some Gray Ratsnakes years ago that were somewhere between 7 to 8 feet and I have field guide that groups all the North American ratsnakes together in a general size from 34" to
101". So since the Black Ratsnakes seem to be the largest they would only have to be about 12" longer than the snakes I saw
Which seems reasonable to me. What is your opinion or anyone else have a take on this matter.

Here is my LTC Lycoming Co. Pa. Black Rat.He was about 6' when I cought him 4 years ago.He is closing in on the 7' mark now.
I bred him to an albino female this year and the babies were nice and chunky hatchlings.

A Monster Ibrat !
I caught some 6 foots too here in MD ..I found a shed skin two yrs ago that was over 7 foot and it was still damp too .how many eggs did you get ?
later

I got 9 eggs.All 9 hatched.Freinds of mine got all the 1.1 pairs.I have 1 male left.These little guys eat anything put in front of them.Take care.
Mike M.

The late Sandy Vervrka (spelling?) had a long-term captive grey ratsnake pet that was huge - she held it about 5ft up and there was still some snake on the floor. Had to be at least 6ft plus. Huge head. I never knew they got that big.

I found in central Georgia, a near death (car struck)Black rat that was(estimated) about 16-18" longer than I was tall (I'm 6'4". I also owned a yellow that was 7'10" and measured another at 7'11 1/2".
Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

and I swear I've seen bigger.