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I would like to get a Lucistic Rat Snake, should I get a Black or Texas? Which in general will have a better dispositon? All feed back appreciated.

Thanks,
Miller
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1.1 Florida King ('02 Pit & '00 Pearl)
1.1 Eastern Kings (2004 Orca & Sugar Pie)
1.0 Black Milksnake (2005 Bubba)
1.0 Chow Chow (2003 Papi)
0.2 Cats (Stella and Shug)

It is not the subspecies that makes one obsoletus a better pet, it is the snake itself. It is a myth that all Texas Rats are biters. I have one that I can hand feed. It is not the breed; it is the snake itself. Some calm down a lot while others will stay agressive. Also some Lucistic Rats will have "bug eyes". Good luck with finding yourself new P. obsoletus.

Heres Ojo:

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"Brains for dinner, brains for lunch. Brains for breakfast, brains for brunch. Brains for every single meal; why can't we have some GUTS?"-Misfits

1.0 ball python- Azazel
0.1 creamsicle corn- Pandora
0.1 partial stripe ghost corn- Raven
1.0 Sunglow motley corn-Ernie
0.2 leos- Boji and Kodama
0.1 beardie- Indie
1.0 BTS- Griffon
0.1 Iggy- Sunny
0.0.1 crested gecko- Jubeh
0.1 leucistic texas ratsnake-Ojo
1.0 mentally retarted whites tree frog- Sifaka
0.1 pacific parrolet- Mishka
1.1 cats- Cairo and Oberon
2.0 bettas
0.0.2 goldfish-fishwad and The Don
1.0 Husband (hes my favorite, but i dont let the 'kids' know that. )

You must have gotten one from a breeder who bred for this trait as I have never seen bug eyes THAT big. I love the lucy's though! I have a male albino leucistic black rat and a female leucistic black rat and they are by far my favorites! They are both wild when you first pick them up but calm down immediately.

When I was looking to buy a Leucy, I had been told the Black rats tended to be less agressive than the Texas rats. But you know, I think it really just comes down to the snake, which you like more, and which you're into working with. I personally like how the Texas Leucys look over the Black Leucys...something about the headshape and eyes. I think they're beautiful. So, I knew what I wanted, was patient, and found a texas rat hatchling who allthough gives some tail rattling when in his tank, is calm as can be when handled and has yet to strike at me. So, I say pick the one you like more, and take it from there.
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- JENN ROSE -
www.jennrose.com

0.1.0 classic corn~ "Pumpkin"
1.0.0 leucistic texas ratsnake~ "Worm"

i have a female leucistic texas rat. she's got a great temperment. i never had a problem with her, no matter how many times i've picked her up. the guy i bought her from told me to try and handle her 10 minutes a day so she's gets used to being handled. Also, the texas rats are a bigger than the black rats and their heads are shaped a little different too. I would highly recommend a leucistic texas rat.

I raised and bred a pair of lucy Texas rats and all they did was try to bite, despite frequent handling. They came from different breeders. Once they got to 4 feet, there were somewhat better as far as temperment, but I sold them because I was sick of them striking at me.

I have also raised and bred albino black rats. They were great snakes. They would sometimes go into "strike position" when I reached into their cage, but once picked up, they were fine. I think black rats may be my favorite snakes, but I no longer keep them due to a retarded ODNR ruling that requires they be PIT tagging, inspections, and annual fees being paid (I live in Ohio and even captive bred color morphs fall under this regulation).

I also disagree with the post that Texas rat snakes get bigger than black rats - the record size for a black rat is 101 inches - that's over eight feet long.

Tim

Check out this link (see comments for black rat and leucistic) and make your choice.

http://www.cornsnakes.net/otherprice.php3

>>Check out this link (see comments for black rat and leucistic) and make your choice.
>>
>>http://www.cornsnakes.net/otherprice.php3

They describe the leucistic texas rat as "One of the most striking snakes bred in captivity." Guess they mean visually, but you gotta wonder if they didn't intend the double meaning.

deg

too funny, thanks for the link!

Miller
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1.1 Florida King ('02 Pit & '00 Pearl)
1.1 Eastern Kings (2004 Orca & Sugar Pie)
1.0 Black Milksnake (2005 Bubba)
1.0 Chow Chow (2003 Papi)
0.2 Cats (Stella and Shug)

OK...I read all the responses and they were pretty good. Gives you the range of thinking on this one. My thoughts: The Texas ratsnake is a better value for your dollar given the difference in cost. That does not matter to everyone...It matters to ME. The Texas rat ON AVERAGE is a little more aggressive. But, as noted above, individual differences are more pronounced. So....Unless you like the LOOK of one over the other...I would go with the Texas (Also with the Texas you have a better idea what you are getting, as at least SOME of the leucy black rats out there have tx genes).

Your best bet if you can: Go to a show where you can look at and handle several leucistic ratsnakes. Choose the individual animal that you like, be it tx or "black" rat. If you can buy one that you can handle without too much trouble as a juvie...You'll be in good shape later. MY leucistic texas rat did actually start out as my meanest snake (the only one that ever really struck at me on a regular basis). With handling, he quickly grew out of that stage, and I think I enjoyed and appreciated him more for the little extra work I had to put in. He's about 4 feet long now and only bit me once this year! It had been so long since he had bitten me that I was no longer being careful where I put my hand when I went to pick him up. I put it right in front of his face and he nipped...and then backed off right away. It was actually kinda funny.

Good luck with your purchase. Let us know how it turns out. Duffy

Thanks for all the replies! I will take my time and find one that "speaks to me" . I do think I like the look of the Texas Rat better.

Thanks again,
Miller
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1.1 Florida King ('02 Pit & '00 Pearl)
1.1 Eastern Kings (2004 Orca & Sugar Pie)
1.0 Black Milksnake (2005 Bubba)
1.0 Chow Chow (2003 Papi)
0.2 Cats (Stella and Shug)

I will agree with anyone who said some are nice and some will never be nice.I had a pair of blacks and the female was nice and the male had to be restrained like a hot.lol.Normally aggressive snakes make good feeders but he was sporadic at best.I ended up trading them at a reptile show for quite a loss.
If I had it to do all over I would have went with a texan.There just better looking in my opinion than a black...Murphy.

As you know they dont both look the same . Similiar yes but to me the Texas looks much nicer.

That is a matter of opinion
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0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1.0 Ball Python "Wilson" (Castaway)
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
0.0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Onyx"

I said TO ME the albino Texas looks nicer . Thats not a matter of opinion as thats my opinion lol.
However in fairness the top pics you posted of your snakes parents the lower pic the one with mostly white but some orange is amazing looking but you have to admit thats not to common.
Now BOTH type rats being solid white I myself prefer the Texas.

I can tell you one thing for sure, the Leucistic gets the most oohs and ahhs out of all my snakes. People just flip out when they see her. I guess maybe i'm biased because i own one, but believe me to see a 6ft bright white adult in person is something you just gotta see.

Thats a spectacular snake. I saw a display of a large F and M all white like yours in a 10 foot high think like 7 feet wide enclosure with black background all the shelves,climbing wood inside was black. They were climbing and the contrast was great.
It was amazing . Thats what got me into them. The pic the other person posted of the albino with orange I also find amazing different look but both great.
Problem with snakes is after you get one you than look at another than another.

What a beauty, and 6 feet ... my Texas male is five feet, and has been gentle all of his life with me, as is his mate, a slightly smaller female I found at a reptile show ... both neither strike not bite, and they also make it a point to always be together, even in the huge tank of theirs. They look for each other when one is out with me. The male has a slightly longer and more tapered head than the female, and is an amazing bright pearly white all over, while the female still has a few spots and a snubbier nose.

They definitely attract attention wherever they go, and like nothing more than being out with the people.

I agree, I would much rather have the subtle coloration and mostly white than an all white but both are great imo. I REALLY wish someone could tell me what the dame to mine was. But I do hope that when bred mine produce a few of those! The breeder was no help but that is ok since I got the pair for free!
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0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1.0 Ball Python "Wilson" (Castaway)
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
0.0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Onyx"

I actually MADE that choice from the link previously posted. I chose the Texas Rat... mostly because that's my home state, although the head shape and the idea of having an aggressive snake was intriguing. I'm glad I did. When I first received my Texas Leucy, it came out of the deli-cup with its mouth open... at my WIFE. LOL. Needless to say, SHE doesn't like that snake. However, in dealing with him, he has only struck at me a few times - mostly because I think he's afraid of the tongs I use to hold the mice I feed him. He did bite me once but I got careless and just grabbed him... I think he was asleep when I did because he let go as quickly as he bit (it didn't hurt, he's only 20 inches long). Today, he opened his mouth at me, but didn't strike. Most of the time, he simply lets me pick him up. I hold him for about 20 minutes a day and he's usually as mellow as a corn.

I have heard and read that it is best to give NO REACTION when a pet snake bites, strikes at, or threatens you. Otherwise, they'll know what it takes to make you go away.

Wait until it gets fully grown. Mine is 2 years old and just under 4ft. She's tame as can be, never had a problem with her. Her mother is about 5 1/2ft and absolutely stunning. So you know i'm feeding her well, hoping she gets nice and big like mom.

But...when all is said and done...

Who could resist this face?

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- JENN ROSE -
www.jennrose.com

0.1.0 classic corn~ "Pumpkin"
1.0.0 leucistic texas ratsnake~ "Worm"