Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have some cornsnakes that are just fantastic captives. Recently saw a baby black rat at a local reptile store. People there tell me that black rats can be bitey as adults. Can you black rat keepers give me some advice - are black rats more unpredictable as adults?

Black rats can vary greatly in temperament. Most of the ones I've handled have been docile, even wild caught adults. If a hatchling is docile, it should be docile as an adult.

>>Black rats can vary greatly in temperament. Most of the ones I've handled have been docile, even wild caught adults. If a hatchling is docile, it should be docile as an adult.

That should read All snakes can vary greatly in temperament. Also keep in mind that you might want to know there the parents are from. Black Rat Snakes can be both Pantherophis alleghaniensis and Pantherophis spiloides. From the photos I have seen over the years, western Black rats seem to be less black and show much more pattern.

I have Black, Gray, Texas, and Yellow Rat Snakes. All are CB animals. None of them act the same. My tamest animals are Texas Rats. I have a female Gray Rat that will strike at me at the drop0 of a hat. I also have CB and WC Emoryi Snakes. The wild ones are much more tame.

Since the animal is in the store, see if they will let you reach into the cage and pick the animal up. You will quickly get a feel for how tame it is or is not.

Your words are so wise & insightful regarding this topic that I copied them to keep in a document.

It is particularly interesting that your Calmest & Wildest snake examples contradict official literature - and the experience of most others. I was flabbergasted by your exceptions to the rule.

We can think categorically all we want. The INDIVIDUAL matters, and usually carries the new day (as all the categorical thinkers look on in bewilderment). History is replete with examples.

Don (Ameron)
Portland/Vancouver

1.0 Elaphe schrencki (Anerythristic)
1.0 Pantherophis guttatus (Miami phase)