Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been settling into my new apartment and waiting to make sure my housing situation was permament before getting anymore animals and it looks like it is, so im looking into getting a couple mroe animals. One snake i have fallen in love with (thanks to you guys) is the Bairds Rat snake. I have been doing some reading on them and have kept many corn and kingsnakes in the past so i think i can do it. I had a few questions for you guys though....

Which should i go with, the Mexican or the Eastern? From what i hear their temperments are very similar if not the same and only the colors are different. Could someone maybe post a pic of both (adults)?

From what I have read their temps should be between 78-85degrees, is this correct? If so, how do they do best heated? Are they like corns who seem to do better with an UTH, or does over head heat work better?

As far as over all care I have heard them often compared closely to the cornsnake, is it true that their care is as similar as everyone says?

Thanks!
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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican kingsnake
1.0.2 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Rose Hair Tarantula
1.0 BTS
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

Regarding temperature, mine has thrived with an UTH on one end at around 85-90. My room temp is adequate so I don't need to heat the other side. Really, the care is no different than that of a corn snake. They're just different to handle, a little larger and quicker.

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- John

1.0 Baird's Rat (Milton)
1.0 Okeetee Corn (Edgar)
0.1 Ball Python (Agatha)
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Rudyard)

Bairdi can be a bit more frenetic than cornsnakes, and are rarely as placid in your hands. However, they tend to roam the cage a bit more making for a better display.
Some are quick to musk, and it smells a lot like burnt metal.
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...and I think to myself, "What a wonderful world."

awesome. My apt stays around 75-80 in the summer anyway, so i think having an UTH should be suitable. Anyone have any input on wether to get a Mexican or an Eastern? I think it was Draybar who had the most goregous metallic gray specimen with really spectacular underlying colors, which one of them tend to have that display?

And also, are there any online breeders you would recomened? I should be ready to order one within the week, i just have to set up the tank...

thanks so much!
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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican kingsnake
1.0.2 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Rose Hair Tarantula
1.0 BTS
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

Draybar (like most of us) has easterns. The mexican bairdi are more yellow/brown on the body with silvery heads.

Thanks! Looks like an eastern it is then. Is there anything particular to look for in babies that will point to good coloration as adults? I know the babies look very different, but i didn't know if there was a way to tell. Im not that worried about it, because i am more looking for a good natured snake to add to my collection, but i would love it if the colors were stunning as well
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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican kingsnake
1.0.2 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Rose Hair Tarantula
1.0 BTS
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

>>First let me say that Bairdis are excellent additions to any snake lovers collection.
They tend to be a bit more hyper and willing to musk when younger but with regular handling, as they grow, they tame just as well as corn snakes. At least mine did.
Mine are Texas bairdis. The Texas bairdis tend towards the metalic look with the underlying colors while the Mexicans tend towards more yellow.
I got mine from Renegarde reptiles.
I have seen some beauties advertised at Vivid Reptiles.
I saw some advertised on the classifieds.
It is hard to tell what a hatchling will grow up to look like. Seeing the parents would help.
I guess more color in a hatchling would mean more color as an adult.

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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes

Welcome to the Bairdi club. As you can tell there is quite a few of us that have these wonderful ratsnakes in our collection. I have an 04 male from Vivid Reptiles, and mine is a Texas Bairdi. I think most of the forum posters have the Texas variety.
Hard to tell how they will turn out as hatchlings, as they give no indication of what they will or will not develope into. Someone once told me that if the bellie area is showing some type of color, at a very early age, that may be a hint of good things to come. Take care,

Steve