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Eastern (Black) rat snake -- suitable pet?

S

Shaggy

New member
Yesterday I came across a really nice Eastern Rat Snake, specifically: Pantherophis alleghaniensis. I was recently thinking of looking to add a snake, and look what shows up in my driveway!
The snake looks healthy and mild mannered, and with my son, who loves this stuff, we took it in - which is our policy for cool animals (a day or two for observation and learning, then release).
Thing is, this looks like a really cool snake. According to what I read, this common snake may make for a decent pet. Does anyone have additional advice concerning it's suitability as a pet?
I presume we could make suitable housing - although these are the largest native snakes - and follow general cornsnake care and feeding with good results.
Any experience?
Thanks in advance.
 
Black rats make excellent pets. Three things to take into consideration when removing a snake from the wild: you're taking a potential or actual breeder out of a population. People feel less "guilty" when removing a hatchling, since they have a low chance of survival to adulthood. So- if taking an adult- it has to be a common species, you have to remember you can't just release it after you've had it a year, and you have to be aware that you are removing a snake out of its breeding territory, and cutting him off from reproducing ever again. Secondly, a wild-caught snake _will_ have parasites. So you will need to start right off with a vet visit to get him de-wormed. The third thing is make sure you are familiar with laws concerning the taking of native reptiles. many states prohibit you from collecting natives.

If you _do_ decide to keep him, I would start him right off with thawed frozen mice of the appropriate size. He should be an excellent feeder who will not need to be tempted with live(dangerous, parasite-ridden) mice.
 
Good points. Thanks.
In my neck of the woods, we're always seeing snakes of one variety or another. I would prefer to remove a hatchling too, but this is an immature snake at least I suspect. I think there have been plenty of Eastern Rat snakes around, so, I think the wild population won't be harmed (but I hope they keep up with - or overtake - the garter snakes, which seem the snarkiest snakes around). We are "pro-snake in the wild" because they help with pest control in and around the garden. I must admit that I have been debating with a guilty conscience for taking in a wild animal (maybe the inner free spirit??). But, the possible gains for the kids' education and development are greater.
The legal issues are fine, I can keep up to 5 individuals of any species (!) for personal use, even without a fishing license (which is a requirement in some places).
I am concerned with feeding. I thought I'd have a hard time introducing f/t mice instead of live / wild prey. Seems to me, it would be hard for a snake to switch from hunting and foraging to limp, thawed food. I offered a f/t mouse last night to no avail - but that was more as a curiosity, rather than counting on the snake feeding. The kids are aching to see a proper strike / coiling / constriction / consumption. Our pet corn half-heartedly strikes the thawed mouse, but then leisurely pokes around until it's lined up right to swallow.
 
For feeding, you may want to try heating the mouse up really hot and leaving it with him overnight in a small container in a dark, quiet place. He may feel shy to eat with people watching him.

I'd love to see some picture of him, even if you decide to release him!

Also, if that's a species you're interested in, but you don't want to take one out of the wild, I bet you could find a breeder of captive hatched babies over on faunaclassifieds.com.
 
That's an awesome video. A video of our corn feeding wouldn't get any hits ;)
Although not dramatic, she's a reliable eater, however, even in blue she'll eat on schedule.
Our Eastern Rat Snake guest is intriguing. I haven't handled him yet, but I've made a few contacts. He's definitely got personality. He's plenty curious and active, and like hanging out in his water bowl. In a few days I'll try again to offer another f/t mouse and hope for the best. Meanwhile, I'm planning permanent housing - maybe I'll build a viv big enough because the commercially available large vivs are really costly.
I haven't posted a picture online in about ten years. I'll see if I've still got my photobucket account. Maybe I should stay up to date!
 
If you have a smart phone, there is an app called Tapatalk. It makes posting photos to here very easy.
 
Nanci said:
If you have a smart phone, there is an app called Tapatalk. It makes posting photos to here very easy.
Click to expand...

You're making me really have to say it - I've only got a phone that makes calls ;)
I should be able to dust off some old knowledge and get pix up.
 
Well, what do you know!

Just an update. It turns out, "Black Jack" was in fact "Black Jackie." Last night I discovered our guest Black Rat surrounding a clutch of ten eggs that look viable. This morning, I got the eggs moved to an incubation tray (moss and a lid). Then I fed her two f/t mice and released her right where we found her. Soon she headed up a tree and was last seen happily up in the wooded heights of our front lot.
A lot can change in a day. I went from planning a custom-made big enclosure, to looking for a place to incubate eggs, and thinking about hatchlings later this summer. Funny how things change around here.
This has been quite an education for my kids too.
We'll see who hatches and what comes of it!
 
How exciting! I hope to be in the same boat as you in about a week--the black rat snake who we took in just shed, and we count lumps in her. We agree, we don't really want to remove an adult from the wild, but if we hatch our own babies, we're more than happy to keep them. (That being said, my roommate wants to keep her anyways.)

I've never had a black rat snake refuse a meal--must have been because she was about to lay her eggs. Good luck with the incubation!
 
good luck!

We are pretty excited. We got the chance to meet a pretty cool snake, and then return her to the native breeding population. Plus, even though I know little about incubation, I am sure the eggs will fare better in my care than the wild. If we get hatchlings, I'm sure odds of survival are better too.
 
Cool! I'd just keep the eggs around 80-82- you can just use a cupboard or closet shelf. The moss should be barely damp. The container doesn't need holes. I'd guess they hatch somewhere in the 55-70 day range. Around 55, start checking daily. You can feel the eggs, when they start to thin, and you know they will hatch in about a week.
 
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