Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, it's nearly official. I've got a pair of CB Leopard rat snakes coming next month. Any information about their care would be really appreciated.

Temperature range? I've read conflicting information about them. Some say cool and some say normal rat snake temps (85 hot 70 cool). Humidity requirements? Do they require a damp hide box? Brumation temps? Drop to the 50s approximately 6-8 weeks?

Thanks for any and all help!
Lora

I saw gorgeous pair of hatchlings this morning at the Birmingham Show. I was shocked at how good they looked after just 10 feedings. They had color that would have made me happy on an adult. If only I had the cash... I sure hated to pass those up.

>>Ok, it's nearly official. I've got a pair of CB Leopard rat snakes coming next month. Any information about their care would be really appreciated.
>>
>>Temperature range? I've read conflicting information about them. Some say cool and some say normal rat snake temps (85 hot 70 cool). Humidity requirements? Do they require a damp hide box? Brumation temps? Drop to the 50s approximately 6-8 weeks?
>>
>>Thanks for any and all help!
>>Lora

Are yours 2003 babies? Mine are. I cooled them for five weeks, warmed them for about a week, and started feeding a pinky a week. Now they are taking two at a time. My room temps are about 70-78*F. right now because it's still winter. The humidity is barely 30%, and they are still doing pretty good. I spray the cage at times. I think they're quite hardy. They are a little finicky at feeding sometimes though, so you might have to work on that a little. I have two out of five that aren't good feeders, so I put them in individual gallon jars with paper towels and a water jar and they are doing fine now. The others are together in a ten gallon tank. I think they sometimes prefer to be solitary.

Terry

They are adults but haven't been bred yet. The female is 5 years and the male nearly 3 years old. The male is still feeding on live hoppers but I'll work on getting him switched over to frozen thawed. I plan to house them seperately till after brumation next winter and then introduce them. I'm thinking I'll keep them more like Mandarins but with out the humid hide box. Since it's winter, my humidity is running about 35-40% but in the summer it's more like 45-50%.
Thanks,
Lora