His conditions sound mostly okay to me, but I'd probably feed him a bit more - maybe 2 - 3 adult mice per week. I've had lots of black rats and other obsoletus, and a 5 year old black rat should be longer than 4 feet IMO...

Black rats don't need very high humidity either, and he should be fine without misting if he has a good moist hide which stays moist. You could mist him a little, if he is in a shed - although he would probably already be in his moist hide. If he is hiding in his dry hide, he may be tired of being wet...

On the subject of him being jumpy - sounds like he may be tired of being bothered. Let him be for a few days between handling - not every day. Completely leave his cage alone during this time - water doesn't have to be changed every day, unless fouled. I change my snakes' water once a week, and they are all fine. Also, snakes can become nervous when kept in clear, glass tanks as they are always in view if they are not in their hides. I have kept snakes in glass tanks before, but mostly keep them in tubs in racks or plastic cages with solid colored walls - only the front is clear. You might try blocking three of the tank's walls - back and both sides. Also, if the cage is in a high traffic area - where lots of people are walking by or looking at him, it can also be stressful to the snake. They are by nature very secretive creatures...
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-Toby Brock
Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research

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