Black Rat Snake
From The Reptile File Wiki
(Difference between revisions)
(→Websites) |
Current revision (16:52, 24 December 2008) (view source) (→Difficulty) |
||
== Difficulty == | == Difficulty == | ||
| - | + | Beginner. Once the captive bred black rat snakes are past the nippy neonate stage, they tend to be extremely docile animals with the proper handling. Much of their behavior is like their cousin the cornsnake. Even wild black rat snakes are capable of being handled by experienced herpers. | |
== Basic Info == | == Basic Info == | ||
=== Humidity === | === Humidity === | ||
| - | + | A simple humid hide filled with sphagnum moss is an ideal way to provide some form of humidity. Occasional misting in the cage will also help. Setting a UTH under the water dish will also add humidity to the air. | |
=== Lighting === | === Lighting === | ||
=== Hydration === | === Hydration === | ||
| - | + | A heavy water dish should always be made available with fresh water. The snake will drink from it when needed. | |
== Advanced == | == Advanced == | ||
=== Sexing === | === Sexing === | ||
| - | + | Sexing these snakes is extremely difficult visually. They look exactly alike. An experienced vet or breeder can sex the snake by ''probing'' an older snake or ''popping'' a young snake. Neither of these options should ever be done if you have never had experience. ''Probing'' is sticking a special instrument in through the cloaca using the depth the tool goes in for sex determination. ''Popping'' a young snake requires gently pressing on the cloacal area until the male's hemipenes "pop" out. You can see the obvious potential for serious harm in both of these procedures and why it needs to be done by an experienced professional. | |
== Conclusion == | == Conclusion == | ||
*[http://webspinners.com/coloherp/cb-news/archive/careshts/ratsnake.php Care and Captive Breeding of North American Ratsnakes - by Bill Griswold V] | *[http://webspinners.com/coloherp/cb-news/archive/careshts/ratsnake.php Care and Captive Breeding of North American Ratsnakes - by Bill Griswold V] | ||
*[http://www.grare.org/animal_resources/caresheets/blackratsnakebasiccare.pdf Black Rat Snake Care by GRARE] | *[http://www.grare.org/animal_resources/caresheets/blackratsnakebasiccare.pdf Black Rat Snake Care by GRARE] | ||
| + | *[http://www.reptileallsorts.com/blkratcareguide.htm General Care Guide for the Black Rat Snake - Written by Robert Gilbert] | ||
=== Books === | === Books === | ||
