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Purple Rat Snake?

nlove_3000

nlove_3000

New member
I can't help but frequent the local exotic store. While there I always peek in at the corns they have available. In the same tank with them I noticed a larger guy. There were three adult corns (an albino and a snow, and what she said is an okeetee but looks more like a normal) and then this guy - completely purple. No, not lavender, not hinting purple hues....just plain PURPLE. He wasn't wuite "deep" purple but definitely bright purple. He's in blue right now and she said he's even brighter after shedding.

When I asked about him they said he was a 6 yr old rat snake, but don't know much more about him. I was curious about him so I tried to look up rat snakes or purple snakes (and even lavender and violet) and came up with nothing that looks remotely like him. I don't know if he's misclassified or what.

His head was slightly large in comparison to the adults I've seen and own, and his scales seemed a little rougher (almost ruffled slightly).

Anybody have a clue?
 
Corns are also known as Red Rat Snakes...maybe she got confused...thats what I'm telling myself anyway, bad enough this woman is co-habbing 3 adult corns, don't want to think a rat snake is in the mix as well
 
I completely agree...she was explaining that he was a bit "testy". I said, "well housed with three other adults in a 15 gal and no hide spot available while he's in blue will do it." She replied that they were looking for someone to help in reptiles. I don't know much about others, but I'll learn - apparently she greatly lacking now that the 'reptile boy' is gone. Maybe I should take it on.
 
I googled "rat snake" and then images, some of them actually had a dark purple color very dark purple. Too bad they won't let you take picures, it would be very interesting. By any chance is this shop on Aurora? thanks, susan
 
15 gallon tank??? wonderful




also ::sidenote:: as I wrote that I looked out the window and saw 2 squirrels attacking a cat. I was down when reading about this...but after seeing that I am now on a even keel
 
I googled rat snake and looked at the images too - but I didn't see anything that resembled him. I forgot to mention in addition that he's completely patternless. NO stripes, blotches, saddles or anything of the sort. Just plain purple with no variations.
 
This post is useless without pics :grin01:

Sorry, beat everyone else to it... :D
Can't really help you on the Purple, other than I'd check back after shed and get a pic...
 
well, the only PURPLE snake I found was the amazonian snail-eater snake, which has a pattern and is, well, not from around here, lol

sorry!
 
I know - I should have taken a camera. LOL I knew someone would say it :) I think I might pick him up today just for the novelty. He's only $60 and he's so pretty I really wouldn't mind having him around. Then I'll have pictures for sure --- and I'll REALLY want to know what he is ;)
 
You know it was so purple I almost would have thought he was a snow with a purple "night heat" light shining on him....but there was an actual snow with him who was completely white in the same light.
 
I went back to google and noticed all the snakes that have a purple look also have their mouth wide open.
Just because I'm curious I'll ask again is the store on Aurora????
 
Nope - it's up here in Washington near Seattle. I'm sorry I missed that you asked earlier. I don't know how I missed it! I'll take pics of him after I get him. I'm doubting myself so much now that I can't find anything that looks like him. I'll probably get back there this evening and he'll be a totally different color!
 
Yup, Seattle the street name I think is Aurora runs from at least Shoreline all the way to downtown. I can't think of cross street, but the one I'm thinking of is smallish with lots of animals stuffed in.
 
I'm in Kent and the actual store is in Puyallup so it's not the same one. Aside from this over-crowded tank all of the animals look well cared for aside in ideal (or at least close to ideal) living conditions.
 
Okay so....

Upon going back to the store I realized that the snakes are together in a 20 gallon...not a 15. Not too much better, but better nonetheless. The corns in there are more subadult than adult now that I've seen them out. So it's about half as bad as it originally seen.

I found out more about him. He's a Texas Rat Snake. Upon removing him from the tank he was in I could see faint saddling on him. I was told that after his shed he takes on more of a "salmony" purple tone. We'll see!

I took pictures but they don't show the tone as well as I'd like :( Just keep in mind he's more purply in person...lol. But not quite as patternless as he appeared under the tank lights. I still couldn't bear to leave him there.

I named him "Valor" -- after all -- he's a purple heart ;)
 

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tom e said:
If it was an MBK, wouldn't his tankmates have "disapeared"? Can't wait for those pics!
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Not yet, he's in blue... :grin01:


nlove_3000 said:
I took pictures but they don't show the tone as well as I'd like :( Just keep in mind he's more purply in person...lol. But not quite as patternless as he appeared under the tank lights. I still couldn't bear to leave him there.
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Lol, you need a black light for that empty socket... and a hybrid project for him. He's pretty cool, :cheers: Should have named him Gillan.... Damn, I think I just dated myself... I'll feel better when Mike and Dale come along... :sidestep:
 
CaptBogart said:
Should have named him Gillan.... Damn, I think I just dated myself... I'll feel better when Mike and Dale come along... :sidestep:
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Just because you brought it up, doesn't mean that some of us young whippersnappers didn't get the reference (or at least one of us). ;)

He's a good looking guy, Nlove. Hopefully he calms right down for you after some TLC.
 
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