Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have 2 corns but have been thinking on expanding to the ratsnake world and got a few questions:

1. what is the average size? I was told their a bit longer and thicker then corns.

2. temperment? for the most part I am under the assumption about the same as corns

3. care? again I assuming(I know that i shouldn't but thats why I'm asking) not much different then corns

Thanx in advance for any replys

Eric

As far as temperament, generally the corns are by far more docile. Most ratsnakes can be calmed/tamed somewhat thru much gentle handling.
Cb animals, of course, tend to be more docile.
Exceptions to this rule are TX rats (they have a rep-some say undeserved- for being notoriously bitey) and some species of asian ratsnakes, which, BTW, can also get quite large.
Some NA ratsnakes do tend to be a bit longer (@ 6 feet) and a bit heavier than the typical cornsnake.
Bairdi seem smaller than obsoleta for the most part. Subocs usually dont get the size that some black rats and 'glades rats can acheive.
Hope this post was helpful.
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...and I think to myself, "What a wonderful world."

I have 2 corns but have been thinking on expanding to the ratsnake world and got a few questions:

Yes the care is the same for rats and corns. Of course the ratsnakes I have named are all north american rats, and the foreign rats are different. I have never owned any of the "old world" rats, so I cant relate any experience.
Hope this helps.
Brian

And if you like your cornsnakes, you most likely will enjoy other members of the North American Ratsnake family. Plenty to choose from. I started with black rats because I wanted a good starter snake, and I am looking forward to their reaching large sizes someday.
It is my understanding that on average AND in terms of maximum size, the yellow, grey, and greenish (black X yellow intergrade)
rats will be somewhat larger than corns. The black rat, as Brian mentioned, being the largest NA rat on record.
As for Texas...I have seen the debate: Some specimens seem to grow up to be sweethearts, others...well, they do have a reputation. My yearling leucistic texas started out pretty pissy. She's the only one of my ratsnakes who has EVER bitten me (yet?). Now she's pretty mellow. Hardly even gives me the open mouth when I pick her up anymore. I think I appreciate her more, since I had to "work with her" a little to get her to calm down.
Good luck whatever you choose. Again, if you like corns, another NA rat would be a great next choice. Duffy

Actually, grey, yellow, and greenish (which is what I assumed you meant, and is not its own ssb., unless you were speaking about triapsis, the green ratsnake) are all known to get 6 feet or better, subocs can get quite large as well. Corns snakes, which you correctly stated are ratsnakes Elaphe (or if you like Pantherophis), are the shortest of the bunch you named and probably a bit stockier. Rosy rats or Keys corns, are probably the smallest NA ratsnakes, technically just a range variation of the corn snake.
You guys need to stop spreading the bad rumors about Tx ratsnakes In all seriousness I REALLY dont notice a difference in their temperment and all the other ratsnakes, including corns. I believe there is more variation of temperment within a ssb. of ratsnake than between ssb.

TravisG

out of 3 female and 1 male w/c I got last year. That shouldn't classify them as mean. I think it comes from the fact that a nasty one is nastier than other species. They aren't the meanest as a whole species. Some Asians and racers can be nasty overall. Of course, I just ruffled the racer herpers feathers. How about coachwhips? They bite everything. If you want to give Texas rat snakes a title, they outmusk any snake alive. The 4 Texas rats I have can musk more than the rest of my collection. LOL. I don't hink that's a bad rap Tavis. Nice informative post Travis.

I absolutely have to agree with Travis, the Texas rat does not deserve the reputation it has been stuck with! He has a cb female that layed this spring, I previously owned it, and it has never bitten even once. The snake is heavy bodied and probably over 4'. One thing I have noticed about TX rats in relation to their biting. If they get tired of being handled, they may calmly turn and deliberately bite your hand to get you to release them. I don't mean strike but slowly, calmly turn and bite. It gives me the impression of intelligence?

You want to be scared by a snake should have seen my red bull female last night. Boy can they put on a show LOL.

I used to keep posting their nastiness to jab with Travis. I live in Bakersfield, CA. and have heard about the Texas rat snake beng mean and/or belligerant. I posted I got 4 w/c Tx rat snakes last year and one is belligerant and the others surprisingly aren't anywhere near what I've heard and read. I would focus on their musking. Man, the ones I have lay out some musk. LOL. The one old female that acts up was a rescue. She was pretty shabby looking. She cleaned up O.K., but she still doesn't like anybody. I think it comes from the farmers chasing after her all these years when she raided the hen house.

Travis
Yep I was talking about the E.Triaspis. I thought they only got up to 4' or 5'. I havent had any experience with them, only what I have read. Very nice looking snakes!!
Brian