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Yellow Rat Snake - ok for a beginner?

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yellow rat snake
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Discussion starter · #22 ·
Zincubus said:
Wow !

Do they all turn out like that or are there loads of colour / shade variations ?
Click to expand...
As far as I can tell from reading up on them (but I may well be wrong!) there are only slight variations in the shade of yellow, and the prominence of their blotches.

Anyways, I think he's settling in ok.
I tried feeding him earlier on in the week, but he didn't seem interested.
I guess I'll give him a few more days and try again.
 
#24 ·
Congratulations on getting your new snake :no1:.

Really pleased he is settling in,he will feed when he is hungry and wants to feed.
With an awesome strike action :2thumb:.
 
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#25 ·
I rarely wait until I've got home before handling any of my snakes! Having said that, it's probably a good idea to give them a bit of peace and quiet before feeding them.

Ratsnakes are awesome, but another vote here for a burm!
 
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#28 ·
Yay,really pleased he's eating and settling in well :2thumb:.


The strike action I find,is scarier than being bitten. All my snakes except 2 will strike feed,but,I'm a meanie and drop feed most of them :whistling2:.
 
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Discussion starter · #29 ·
Really happy he's finally eaten something. I was starting to get worried!

He went a bit mental afterwards and started striking at me everytime I went near him! It was both terrifying and awsome!!
I think he was still hungry and in full on feeding frenzy mode!

He had been very calm and docile up until then and never showed any signs of aggression.
Had to leave him alone to calm down for a while before I could get him back to bed.
Can't wait till next feeding time :D

Our little king snake drop feeds, and it's not nearly as exciting.
 
#30 ·
i'm glad he's eating for you, sounds like he's getting on well.

make sure you keep us all updated on him, he's a handsome chap :2thumb:

p.s - you can always feed inside the viv so you dont need to worry about moving him afterwards :2thumb:
 
#31 ·
skov said:
Thanks guys. It's going to be a long few days waiting for him to settle!

Here's a couple of snaps I just took:

image

image

Better start thinking up a name for him!
Click to expand...
Ah, he's lovely. Good choice! Rats are a species I really want to get in to keeping, I love them.
Zincubus said:
Wow !

Do they all turn out like that or are there loads of colour / shade variations ?
Click to expand...
Rats have loads of different types. I just think they're amazing! I think first the OH wants to get a wee hoggie, then we're thinking of getting into rat snakes. Bamboo rats and rhino rats are my personal favourites, as well as the ones that look similar to some of the beauty snakes, can't remember that one's name though.


Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk
 
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#32 ·
BuckingFrill said:
Ah, he's lovely. Good choice! Rats are a species I really want to get in to keeping, I love them.

Rats have loads of different types. I just think they're amazing! I think first the OH wants to get a wee hoggie, then we're thinking of getting into rat snakes. Bamboo rats and rhino rats are my personal favourites, as well as the ones that look similar to some of the beauty snakes, can't remember that one's name though.


Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Hoogy's are adorable,and,if you chose a cute male,he will stay wee. The size difference between adult males and females is amazing. Not that the females are massive,they are still a nice small sized snake in length.....:flrt:.

I've only got 1 rat snake type,my Vietnamese/Taiwanese Blue Beauty,he is very fast. Bamboo and Rhino rats are awesome looking snakes,and, I really like Skov's yellow Rat. I think he's very lucky that Skov chose him and has him now.
 
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#33 ·
I have to feed my Ratsnake in its viv. There is no way to be able to get it into anything else at feeding time. It also goes mental after feeding. I guess it is still in feeding mode ! It just looks like it is in some psychotic trance. Striking and flying at anything. I do love my Ratsnake.
 
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Discussion starter · #34 ·
Lydia171 said:
I really like Skov's yellow Rat. I think he's very lucky that Skov chose him and has him now.
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Aww, thanks Lydia :blush:

He is a cool snake. He might not be the most interesting when he's in his viv (he spends most of his time hidden away), but once he gets out he's really curious and seems to like exploring. Not a snake you can sit and watch the telly with - he's always on the move and got somewhere to go!

Here's another pic of him looking a bit peeved about having to go back in his viv (he's never keen on going back in there bless him):

Image



Taiwanese Blue Beauty's look awesome by the way :2thumb:
 
Discussion starter · #35 ·
Gazb123 said:
I have to feed my Ratsnake in its viv. There is no way to be able to get it into anything else at feeding time. It also goes mental after feeding. I guess it is still in feeding mode ! It just looks like it is in some psychotic trance. Striking and flying at anything. I do love my Ratsnake.
Click to expand...
lol, that sounds exactly like how mine was last night :2thumb:
 
#37 ·
skov said:
Thanks for the replies all.
As it happens I popped back to the shop this afternoon and he's now settling into his new home :blush:
He's certainly a feisty fella, but hopefully won't be too bitey!

Should I let him settle in for a while before I try to handle him?
Click to expand...
He should be OK if you let him settle in for a couple of weeks before handling him.

I have always found with North American rat snakes it's usually about a few things...

1) They HATE being cast into shadow. Their instinct is probably telling them that they are being attacked by a bird and will bite out at whatever is between them and the light ... IE You :)

2) Don't approach them from above, for pretty much the same reason. Make sure the snake is awake and knows you are there then move your hand in to pick him up along the floor of the viv. He will probably come to investigate your hand ( they are damned inquisitive, much more so than corns IMHO ) but will be very unlikely to bite you if he does this. If he is unsure, he will retreat and get defensive.

3) Rat snakes are VERY good at detecting fear. If the snake knows you are scared of it, you will have problems. Always be confident around them.

4) Show them some respect :) These snakes can easily get to seven feet long and are damned strong to go with it. When you are handling, let the snake run through your hands, do not try and restrict it's movement just move away from where you don't want it to go. You will find that the snake will try and 'latch on' to whatever it can in an effort to give it some leverage to stop you doing this... wires, chair legs, etc... whatever it can find to stop you moving it away from where it wants to go :)

5) Enjoy them !!! They are fantastic snakes and are very inquisitive and very active. I cannot stress the respect and confidence enough though. Be confident with them but they are not dumb and they have a lot of power to back them up :)
 
#40 ·
ratboy said:
He should be OK if you let him settle in for a couple of weeks before handling him.

I have always found with North American rat snakes it's usually about a few things...

1) They HATE being cast into shadow. Their instinct is probably telling them that they are being attacked by a bird and will bite out at whatever is between them and the light ... IE You :)

2) Don't approach them from above, for pretty much the same reason. Make sure the snake is awake and knows you are there then move your hand in to pick him up along the floor of the viv. He will probably come to investigate your hand ( they are damned inquisitive, much more so than corns IMHO ) but will be very unlikely to bite you if he does this. If he is unsure, he will retreat and get defensive.

3) Rat snakes are VERY good at detecting fear. If the snake knows you are scared of it, you will have problems. Always be confident around them.

4) Show them some respect :) These snakes can easily get to seven feet long and are damned strong to go with it. When you are handling, let the snake run through your hands, do not try and restrict it's movement just move away from where you don't want it to go. You will find that the snake will try and 'latch on' to whatever it can in an effort to give it some leverage to stop you doing this... wires, chair legs, etc... whatever it can find to stop you moving it away from where it wants to go :)

5) Enjoy them !!! They are fantastic snakes and are very inquisitive and very active. I cannot stress the respect and confidence enough though. Be confident with them but they are not dumb and they have a lot of power to back them up :)
Click to expand...
Thanks for these tips,very useful for a lot of snakes as well as Rat's :2thumb:.

Will try them out with my VBB, he does quickly get scared,so nips,but,he wants to be out exploring lol.


Love your pic Skov,guess we all know that look so well. Yours is a very beautiful yellow colour.

The range of colours available with all the rat snake family is amazing,not 1 I don't like.
 
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