Black Rat Snake
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(New page: == Taxonomy == '''Common Name:''' Black Rat Snake, Mountain Black Snake, Pilot Snake <br /> '''Scientific Name:''' Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta == Introduction == The BRS is a large snake fro...) |
Current revision (16:52, 24 December 2008) (view source) (→Difficulty) |
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| - | == | + | == Taxomony == |
| - | ''' | + | '''Order:''' Squamata <br /> |
| - | ''' | + | '''Family:''' Colubridae <br /> |
| + | '''Genus:''' Elaphe <br /> | ||
| + | '''Species:''' obsoleta obsoleta | ||
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| + | '''Common Names:''' Black Rat Snake, Mountain Black Snake, Pilot Snake | ||
== Introduction == | == Introduction == | ||
| - | The BRS is a large snake from North America. | + | [[Image:Black_coils_of_fast.jpg|thumb|left|Photo by Main Author]]The BRS is a large snake from North America. They have a wide range leading from Central New York all the way down into NE Texas and Georgia. They have footholds as far north as Wisconsin and Ontario. They have just as wide a range of habitats. From farmlands to rocky plains, mountain hillsides to preferring trees and shrubs. |
| - | + | As neonates these snakes have distinct gray patterns witch turn to the typical black as they mature. The adults have a white or yellowish belly with a white/cream throat making for a rich contrast. | |
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| - | == | + | == 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 == |
| - | + | === Size === | |
| + | 5 to 6 feet on a rare occasion they may reach up to 8 feet | ||
| - | == Housing | + | === Lifespan === |
| + | 15 to 20 years | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Handling === | ||
| + | When you handle any snake make sure you always support the whole body. let them wrap around your arm, so that their back halves are not hanging loose in the air. Black rats are a medium sized snake, most are pretty calm. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Housing == | ||
Babies can be kept in 10 gallon tanks. Adult black rats need to be housed in at least a 30 gallon tank or Rubbermaid container of similar size. Bigger is always better though. Make sure to have a secure tight fitting lid because BRs are notorious escape artists. | Babies can be kept in 10 gallon tanks. Adult black rats need to be housed in at least a 30 gallon tank or Rubbermaid container of similar size. Bigger is always better though. Make sure to have a secure tight fitting lid because BRs are notorious escape artists. | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Substrate === | ||
For substrates you can use aspen shavings, newspaper or care fresh. NEVER use pine or cedar shavings because the oils in them are toxic to reptiles. | For substrates you can use aspen shavings, newspaper or care fresh. NEVER use pine or cedar shavings because the oils in them are toxic to reptiles. | ||
| - | == | + | === Temperature === |
| + | You need to set up a temperature gradient for the snake to thermoregulate. Place a UTH, heat tape or heat cable under one side of the container to create a warm side. This area should be between 80 to 85 degrees. The cool side should be around 75 degrees. | ||
| + | |||
| + | === 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 === | ||
| + | No special lighting need. You can use regular house hold bulbs to give extra heat and light need. You can also use a fluorescent light stripe if you want extra lighting for viewing. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Feeding == | ||
| + | === Diet === | ||
Black rat snakes will eat mice and rats. Baby black rats should be fed pinkie mice once every 5 to 7 days. Move the prey item up the more they grow. Adult black rat snakes can easily handle small rats, feed once every 7 days. Don't be surprised to see how aggressive they eat sometimes. | Black rat snakes will eat mice and rats. Baby black rats should be fed pinkie mice once every 5 to 7 days. Move the prey item up the more they grow. Adult black rat snakes can easily handle small rats, feed once every 7 days. Don't be surprised to see how aggressive they eat sometimes. | ||
| - | == | + | === Supplements === |
| - | + | No supplements are needed for this snake. | |
| + | |||
| + | === Hydration === | ||
| + | A heavy water dish should always be made available with fresh water. The snake will drink from it when needed. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Advanced == | ||
| + | === 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 == | ||
Black rat snakes are mostly pretty calm, you may end up with a nippy one every once in a while. They should all become pretty tame after some handling though. These snakes are great for the novice and experienced alike. I would have to put these snakes on the same aspects of corns. | Black rat snakes are mostly pretty calm, you may end up with a nippy one every once in a while. They should all become pretty tame after some handling though. These snakes are great for the novice and experienced alike. I would have to put these snakes on the same aspects of corns. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == References == | ||
| + | === Websites === | ||
| + | *[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.reptileallsorts.com/blkratcareguide.htm General Care Guide for the Black Rat Snake - Written by Robert Gilbert] | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Books === | ||
| + | *Care and Captive Breeding of North American Ratsnakes. - Griswold, B. V. | ||
| + | *Keeping and Breeding Corn Snakes. Advanced Vivarium Systems, Lakeside C.A. - McEachern, M.J. | ||
| + | *Black Rat Snake - Riggs, D. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Author == | ||
| + | This article was originally written by | ||
| + | [http://www.thereptilefile.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=242 stone]. | ||
| + | View other articles by | ||
| + | [http://www.thereptilefile.com/wiki/index.php?title=Category:stone stone]. | ||
| + | Please note that others may have contributed to this article. | ||
[[Category:Care Guides]] | [[Category:Care Guides]] | ||
| + | [[Category:stone]] | ||
