Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So, I've been maddly in love with Leucistic Ratsnakes for quite sometime now. A while back, I was looking to get one, but ended up getting talked out of it (was told repeatedly that they don't make good pets) and purchased an okeetee corn instead (a little girl named Pumpkin, who I love and adore). But, I still have the Leucistic bug in me. I still want one! To me, they are by far, one of the most beautiful snakes on the market.

Now, I know thier reputation. I know they can be nasty little suckers. Why, just last weeken at a Herp show, a yearling tagged my arm with 9 bites withing a 20 second time-frame!!! Of course, I've handled some others (both young and adult) who were mellow as can be.

So, I have a few questions!

- If I can find a hatchling that seems more docile, and handle it regularly, what are my chances of ending up with a calm adult?

- Is there any temperment difference between males and females?

- I have heard the bug-eyed trait is due to inbreeding. Is this true? Does the bug-eyed trait effect the overall temperment of the snake (the more bug-eyed, the more aggressive, or vice-versa?).

- Will feeding frozen/thawed food make a snake less agressive then feeding it live?

- Does ANYONE here own a leucistic rat that doesn't try to bite each time they handle it?

Sooorry for the billions of questions. I really, trully love these snakes, but don't want to end up with something I can't interact with in the long run. I know a bite from one of these guys isn't such a big deal...it's more of an annoyance then anything really. But even so....is there hope? Are there pleasant leucistics out there???

THANKS!!!!!

-Jenn Rose
www.jennrose.com

To sum up your inquiry: If you get a young leucistic texas ratsnake (especially one that seems fairly calm already) and handle it regularly...Your chances are excellent that you will end up with a snake that will seldom strike at you. Mine has the bugeyes, by the way, and from all I have researched the ONLY difference is the appearence. My snake started out as a nipper...of course as a baby he did not do much harm. I handle him all the time now and he's great. A couple of months ago he startled me with a little nip, but he backed off right away.

If you love the look of this snake, do not hesitate to get one. Some will tell you to get a leucistic black rat instead, but I really don't think you need to. Get a leucistic tx rat, work with it, and you will almost certainly end up with a great snake.

Mine eats f/t and I think it is best, when possible, for ALL snakes. I have a friend here in Ohio that usually breeds tx rats, and his seem to be especially mild-mannered. What reptile shows are you near? Good luck & keep us posted. Duffy

I've been around leuciistic and normal texas rats, and without regular handling they will be nippy...however, I do love them and think they make an excellent pet for somebody who doesn't mind putting in the work. I have a friend who has one, and when you originally try to pick it up it gets freaked, but once being handled it calms down...he got his as a yearling, and it wasn't handled much up until that point. But he also has 2 female hets that he got as yearlings, and 1 has calmed down tremendously. Get a hatchling, work with it, and enjoy

Chris

p.s., feeding f/t vs live isn't going to make a difference in aggression.
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0.2.0 Grey Rats-Lauren, Avril
1.2.0 Black Rats- Robert, Cady, Kylie
1.2.0 Albino FL Kings-Nick, Jessica, Ashley
1.1.0 Crimson Corns-Kane, Ruby
0.1.0 Het-Crimson Corns-Lola
0.1.0 White-Sided/Pos Het Albino Black Rat-Lita
1.0.0 Albino White-sided Black Rat-Rey
0.1.0 Albino/Het White-sided Black Rat-Stacey
1.2.0 Creamsicle Corns-Vince, Trish, Torrie
0.1.0 Fl King-Bonnie
1.0.1 Biak GTP-Brandon, Aru GTP-Orochimaru
1.0.0 Flame X Blood Bearded-Ruff
1.4.0 Ball Pythons-Kritsy, Gretchen, Alexis, 100% het for albino balls- Naruto, Hinata
0.1.0 Red-tail Boa-Xena
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor-Izzy

>>I've been around leuciistic and normal texas rats, and without regular handling they will be nippy...however, I do love them and think they make an excellent pet for somebody who doesn't mind putting in the work. I have a friend who has one, and when you originally try to pick it up it gets freaked, but once being handled it calms down...he got his as a yearling, and it wasn't handled much up until that point. But he also has 2 female hets that he got as yearlings, and 1 has calmed down tremendously. Get a hatchling, work with it, and enjoy
>>
>>Chris
>>
>>p.s., feeding f/t vs live isn't going to make a difference in aggression.
>>-----
>>0.2.0 Grey Rats-Lauren, Avril
>>1.2.0 Black Rats- Robert, Cady, Kylie
>>1.2.0 Albino FL Kings-Nick, Jessica, Ashley
>>1.1.0 Crimson Corns-Kane, Ruby
>>0.1.0 Het-Crimson Corns-Lola
>>0.1.0 White-Sided/Pos Het Albino Black Rat-Lita
>>1.0.0 Albino White-sided Black Rat-Rey
>>0.1.0 Albino/Het White-sided Black Rat-Stacey
>>1.2.0 Creamsicle Corns-Vince, Trish, Torrie
>>0.1.0 Fl King-Bonnie
>>1.0.1 Biak GTP-Brandon, Aru GTP-Orochimaru
>>1.0.0 Flame X Blood Bearded-Ruff
>>1.4.0 Ball Pythons-Kritsy, Gretchen, Alexis, 100% het for albino balls- Naruto, Hinata
>>0.1.0 Red-tail Boa-Xena
>>0.0.1 Savannah Monitor-Izzy

I own two year old TLR and he has not bit me since he was under a year old. They are a little more nippy when they are young but through regular handling they can cam down quite nicely.

Shop around IMHO is a key. Don`t grab the first one you see. Handle as many young ones as you can and see which snake gives you the best reaction. Now I do not believe they ever quite reach being as docile as a black rat but still close enough to make great pets. By all means tickle that TLR fancy and enjoy.
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Like I said; I`m Gonna Getcha Good!

I live in Southern California...so we just had the North American Reptile Breeders Conference and Tradeshow, and next month there's the West Coast Reptile Show. I've seen the black rats, but I still like the shape of the Texas rats the best...their heads are shaped a touch differently. I guess in the long run, the most important thing is to get a snake you're in love with, because then it won't feel like a chore working with it every day. I really think these are great little snakes. I dunno...Maybe I'll see what the next Herp show has to offer. If not, there's a store called Prehistoric Pets not too far from me, and last time I was there, they had about 8 or 9 leucistics. I could try my luck there. I guess I'll just have to be picky and patient with this. I'm hesitant to have one shipped from a breeder though, because I really want to be able to handle the thing in person, and make sure I'm not getting a scaley little hell-spawn. LOL.

Thanks!

Just keep in mind that most hatchlings do get freaked and bite...even bubblegums and black rats. It just takes working with the animal often, and getting it used to handling. Even if you tame it, leaving it be for too long can ruin everything permanately. They are great snakes though, so just make sure you handle it often and you'll love having it.

chris
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0.2.0 Grey Rats-Lauren, Avril
1.2.0 Black Rats- Robert, Cady, Kylie
1.2.0 Albino FL Kings-Nick, Jessica, Ashley
1.1.0 Crimson Corns-Kane, Ruby
0.1.0 Het-Crimson Corns-Lola
0.1.0 White-Sided/Pos Het Albino Black Rat-Lita
1.0.0 Albino White-sided Black Rat-Rey
0.1.0 Albino/Het White-sided Black Rat-Stacey
1.2.0 Creamsicle Corns-Vince, Trish, Torrie
0.1.0 Fl King-Bonnie
1.0.1 Biak GTP-Brandon, Aru GTP-Orochimaru
1.0.0 Flame X Blood Bearded-Ruff
1.4.0 Ball Pythons-Kritsy, Gretchen, Alexis, 100% het for albino balls- Naruto, Hinata
0.1.0 Red-tail Boa-Xena
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor-Izzy

I bought my Leucistic black rat (arguably, leucistic black rats are really hybrids with TX rats) from Michael Joliff as a yearling, and although he was flighty and nervous when I first brought him home, today he makes an excellent pet. He's a sweetheart, willingly climbs onto my hand when I offer it to him in the cage, and has never bitten despite his very alert attitude. He seems to be a very aware, intelligent, and curious little guy. I'd highly recommend them.
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::i believe in joy > http://www.winds.org/nekomi/hope.html

::my homepage > http://www.winds.org/nekomi

My Growing Zoo:

1.0 Husband (Byron) ^_^
0.1 black cat (Shade)
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Zia)
1.0 Leucistic Ratsnake (Houdini)
1.2 Cockatoo cichlids (A. cacatuoides yellow-gold)
1.2 Panduro cichlids (A. panduro)

I have two adult leucistics (one bug eyed and one normal) I do not have any problems with either. But when I take the (non bug eyed) out I have to move slowly cause she always thinks I am feeding. But once out, she is an angel. Now I do have yearling that is the exception. I swear she is the spawn of satan. She just will not give up, but all in all if you get a mild tempered baby and handle it you should get a very nice snake.

Good Luck
-Daniel Jarvis