Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi guys!
I was in the reptile store, browsing around, not really looking for any new additions - until I came across the red tailed green rat snake. Most beautiful snake I have ever seen for under a thousand dollars! I've never seen these guys before, so I went home and did some research....
Does anyone have any experience with these guys? Everything says only for ADVANCED (big flashing red letters) keepers, but as far as I can tell, it's only because of the unpredictable nature, ie: I might (read: will) get bitten. I've got a ball python right now, have owned a corn in the past, and have worked w other larger snakes professionally (including a large albino rat snake). I've got a good deal of experience, and have read body language well enough in the past that I've only been tagged by the little whippy baby corns.
So, is this a good snake at my level of experience, or am I missing some critical info which might make me change my mind?
Thanks for any help!
Amanda

Hi Amanda. You won't need to read any body language with these snakes. And it is good to have experience but I do not think it will be of much use with these snakes. I love them, but have never owned one and it is because many people used to dealing with these types of rats have lousy luck. If it is an import forget about it. I have seen them for 50 bucks, yet they're almost definitely going to do lousy and perish. Captive born may cost over 500 for a hatchling but your chances of keeping it alive are increased ten fold. If I am not mistaken a large arboreal cage is mandatory. And as far as being aggressive....they are off the charts. I am sure some patient keepers may have a different view. But to score a docile one would be like finding a needle in a haystack. I do not mind aggressive snakes, and as display animals aggressive snakes that are always ready for a fight are interesting to say the least. However you really have to ask yourself if you want to deal with a snake ready to bite your face off everytime you approach its cage. I would like to know, what size and type of cage is this snake in at the pet store? I was in a crummy shop in Florida eyeing a Tiger Rat. 6 foot wild caught. A kid no older than 10 asked if I wanted to hold it. It was in a small vision cage,,,angry as can be. I HATE to see that,,,,and told the kid I admired his bravery but if he was going to handle it to move it to a larger cage and leave him be. I think what I had to say is fairly accurate, but.......I have never kept one. I just see no one else had replied to your post so I figured I'd let you know what I think, as I love these snakes too Tom Stevens

Hi have a CB adult pair, female currently gravid !!!
Neither of them are very aggressive. just the odd nip.
As mentioned above, Do not go for WC, these are very bad news,
Angry and loaded with parasites, Avoid.
I gad a cb trio a few years back, and they had the same temperament.

Wow, major congrats and good luck with that female. I would love to see some baby pics in the future. Do yours puff up their throats and flip out once in a while? Many pics I have seen of these snakes seem to show them all riled up. Tom Stevens

The male can get a bit puffy at times, but its mainly all bluff.
I have some yearling Prasina that are very snappy, but i'm sure they will calm down with time.
Will post pics of the eggs when she lays.

As the others have said if your looking for a nice snake your looking in the wrong place. The only nice Oxycephala I have is not well, and I found out last week that if she's pressed she'll bite like the others do. That said, to keep a wild caught alive you'll need to put them on Baytril for 3-4 weeks if their not showing any particular signs of trouble, as well as treatments with both Panacur and Flagyl 2 times each at least. Soaking for hydration is imperative in the beginning, and an arboreal enclosure once their acclimated with lots of vines and climbing would be best, along with a daily spraying and both moist and dry hides. If the snake looks good and is wild caught it can be kept alive and brought to a healthy state, but it could cost you if you do not have easy access to the meds and are paying a vet for all the treatments.

If you do decide to go with this snake let me know and I'll give you all the details on how to treat for the best results. If the snake has any red zit looking bumps do your self a favor and walk away. It's some sort of a bacterial infection that can be extremely difficult to treat. Check for respiratory illness as well.

Freight

Wow, thanks guys!
I actually handled the snake today at the store, and he had quite an awesome display, neck puffed out, swaying like a cobra, looking like he was going to strike, but never did. I thought he was gonna explode though, I've never seen such a strung out snake, just from being gently handled... definitly only a display animal!
I'm not sure what to do about it.... I'm pretty sure they're WC, he couldn't guarentee me otherwise, and one of the females is gravid, so I'm assuming that they likely are WC.
Such a beauty of a snake, and I certainly don't care if it's ever handleable - I have my ball python for that - but I just don't know....
All the info from people who know them/keep them is appreciated... I'll likely pass, just beause they seem to be a lot of hassle, for not much outcome.
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Proud caretaker to:
1.0.0. African grey parrot
1.0.0. Ball Python
0.2.0. doggies