Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I live in Coatesville PA which is about an hour ride west of Philly. The back of my house is a wooded area but I have NEVER seen a snake around here before..not even a garter snake.Not around my house anyway. I have seen box turtles and salamanders but never a snake. He was on my front porch this morning and I decided to keep him. He is about 19-21 inches in length,solid black on top,white under belly with black speckles.I think he is a black rat snake,but I am new to herps and really can't tell if he is a black rat or black racer..lol any info will help! Right now I have him in a 10 gallon tank with a climbing tree,water bowl and paper towel roll for a hide box. Im gonna move him into a larger tank next week.I have a 50 watt basking light for him also(I have a yellow rat snake so I know how 2 take care of him)

Another picture.

Here is another picture.

Also,if he is a black racer what kind of care do I give him? Same as a rat snake? This is a picture of his underbelly,it gets rather darker the farther down the belly.

Actually, that might be a melanistic hognose.
Racers have smooth (not keeled) scales.

Tim

I can tell by the white going past the chin that it is not a black racer. Need better photos to tell if it is a black rat. Since you have a yellow rat, you should compare them. They should only differ in color. The head (shape and scaling), body (shape), and scales should look the same.
Black Rat Snakes

None of the pics are very good (fuzzy out of focus) but looking at the with eyes I would say racer. Also the belly would be checker borded in a rat snake. That said the snakes in your hand look in the forum for black rat pics and compare. If it is a racer you need a big cage with lots of cover in a quiet area. I never tried to keep one but when I use them for talks I try to black out or cover three sides of the cage. If you want to keep a snake (black rat) you can buy one for about 20-25 dollars at the Hamburg show I am sure and you would have a better pet with a captive born animal. Less blood shed too

Thanks for the replies guys! I have concluded what I have is a Northern Black Racer and have decided to let him go. Right now I have him in a 10 gallon tank and he is VERY ACTIVE,far more then what my Yellow Rat. He has calmed down a lot though since the first 24 hours and doesn't get all nervous when ever I get near his tank. He looks a little dehydrated to me so I decided to keep him the rest of the week and let him go in 2-3 days. He is actually in pretty good health.I actually went out and bought all kinda stuff for the cage like an extra lamp,heat bulbs,a climbing tree,a lid for the top and some vines. I checked him for ticks/mites and haven't seen any but I used some reptile mite/tick killer on him just 2 be safe if there are any.

I bought all that stuff thinking he was a black rat. My mother in law woke me up and had the snake in my face and he looked JUST LIKE a black rat. Then when I got home after buying all that stuff I looked at him a little closer and thats when I kind of thought he was a racer. I compared some pics and info and he definately is a racer judging from the eyes. I'm gonna take him over to a local snake breeder I know and get his opinion before I go.... I have also decided to buy a new snake,most likely a king snake...will actually put him in a 20 gallon tank,something else to buy..lol