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Texas Ratsnake

texastailfeathers

texastailfeathers

New member
I got a call from one of my bird breeder friends today. She was soooo excited and told me she had a "present" for me. So I went to pick up said "present" and got this MEAN Texas Ratsnake. It was a lovely gift, but it's going back to its natural home tomorrow. It is going to take weeks to get the musk smell out of my house. To call this snake grumpy would be a sad understatement. :grin01:

It is amazing what weird stuff people will give you when you tell them you "like reptiles". :rolleyes:
 

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And here are the better photos. Beautiful snake, but grouchy as hell. I believe the Texas Herp site description said Texas Rats are "ill-tempered". And yes, I did put on the big baggy gardening gloves for this little dude. When I join the bite club, it's not gonna be from a wild ratsnake. :grin01:
 

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Maize411 said:
He is a beauty..but it's good he's going back home :0) :grin01: :grin01:
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Yes it is. I really don't feel like dealing with everything that comes with a wild-caught snake. So I will humor my friend by keeping him overnight and taking some photos, then send him packing.

I don't want a grouchy snake I can't handle.

Besides, my husband is afraid of him. :grin01:
 
texastailfeathers said:
Yes it is. I really don't feel like dealing with everything that comes with a wild-caught snake. So I will humor my friend by keeping him overnight and taking some photos, then send him packing.

I don't want a grouchy snake I can't handle.

Besides, my husband is afraid of him. :grin01:
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hahhaha and you want a gopher/Bull/Pine and yet, you can not handle this little itty bitty rat snake. :poke:
 
tricksterpup said:
hahhaha and you want a gopher/Bull/Pine and yet, you can not handle this little itty bitty rat snake. :poke:
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I want a captive bred gopher that I can handle from hatchling stage, not some mean wild snake that an old farmer found in his haybarn. :rolleyes:

Baby steps, dear. :)
 
texastailfeathers said:
I want a captive bred gopher that I can handle from hatchling stage, not some mean wild snake that an old farmer found in his haybarn. :rolleyes:

Baby steps, dear. :)
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Haha.. my girlfriend would have been bitten at least 10 times and then asked if we could keep it.
 
Since the ratsnake was striking everything in sight last night, I figured I might as well see if he'd strike at some food. I thawed a hopper for him at bedtime and he grabbed the mouse before I could even finish opening the tub. I peeked in there ten minutes later and there was no sign of the mouse.

Is that pretty normal for rats? Are they garbage disposals like the kings? My corns have a quick feeding response, but not violent like the rat.
 
My black rats are definitely garbage disposals and violently grab the food from me quite often, my leuc texas rats are quite subdued eaters though...
 
texastailfeathers said:
Since the ratsnake was striking everything in sight last night, I figured I might as well see if he'd strike at some food. I thawed a hopper for him at bedtime and he grabbed the mouse before I could even finish opening the tub. I peeked in there ten minutes later and there was no sign of the mouse.

Is that pretty normal for rats? Are they garbage disposals like the kings? My corns have a quick feeding response, but not violent like the rat.
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I don't own this type of Rat, I own Bairds and Corns but I think what happened is this guy since being wild caught hasn't eaten in awhile and was just hungry. This is a good sign of a good eater. So he musked a little. Nature's Cologne is all I can say. Given time, he will not musk so much and if you are ever interested in doing herp talks to boy scouts they come in handy talking about local animals.
 
dawnrenee2000 said:
My black rats are definitely garbage disposals and violently grab the food from me quite often, my leuc texas rats are quite subdued eaters though...
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My Leucy is a rather "dainty" eater as well. He's gotten a touch more spunk the past few feedings, but usually, he gently takes the thawed mouse out of the tongs. It's really funny, actually. Oddly, it's my Ball Python who practically does backflips trying to get to his food. He doesn't even let it touch the bottom of the tub!
 
I LOVE the garden gloves...:D.

I have a Cali King that swears I'm a mouse. He's an awesome animal, he just likes to bite me. I wouldn't trade him for the world, however. I just wear an old pair of paintball gloves whenever I handle him, and I ain't afraid to admit it.

The funny thing about agressive snakes is that they are the most entertaining ones to have in a display viv. They are cocky and confident enough to be visible, to be active when people are around, and they are the ones that will provide entertainment while watching them.

I would hold onto him for a few days. Check for mites and parasites. Take a fecal sample to the vet for testing. What's the worst thing that could happen? You release him because of something you've learned? If you want to let him go, anyhow, why not check him out, see if he settles down, and give both of you a chance to get to know each other?

Just a suggestion...Good Luck whatever you decide to do... :cool:
 
tyflier said:
I LOVE the garden gloves...:D.

I have a Cali King that swears I'm a mouse. He's an awesome animal, he just likes to bite me. I wouldn't trade him for the world, however. I just wear an old pair of paintball gloves whenever I handle him, and I ain't afraid to admit it.

The funny thing about agressive snakes is that they are the most entertaining ones to have in a display viv. They are cocky and confident enough to be visible, to be active when people are around, and they are the ones that will provide entertainment while watching them.

I would hold onto him for a few days. Check for mites and parasites. Take a fecal sample to the vet for testing. What's the worst thing that could happen? You release him because of something you've learned? If you want to let him go, anyhow, why not check him out, see if he settles down, and give both of you a chance to get to know each other?

Just a suggestion...Good Luck whatever you decide to do... :cool:
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I use those gardening gloves for nippy hookbills. They work great for bitey snakes too. I'm not ashamed. Although I find it odd that parrot bites don't bother me but I'm still nervous about getting tagged by a toothless snake. :shrugs:

I still plan to release the ratsnake, but that could change by 6:30 p.m. :) I dunno...he's just so defensive. It's not the aggression that bothers me. He (she?) obviously feels threatened (understandable!), and while I'm not one of those naturalist "poor snakey is scared and must be returned to the wild immediately" people, it just seems pointless to keep him. After all, he is a Texas rat...I am in Texas...it's not like they're scarce around here. :rolleyes: He serves no purpose to me (other being than a cool photo subject :cool: ). I can't really handle him and I don't want to breed him, so it seems more practical to let him go.
 
texastailfeathers said:
I use those gardening gloves for nippy hookbills. They work great for bitey snakes too. I'm not ashamed. Although I find it odd that parrot bites don't bother me but I'm still nervous about getting tagged by a toothless snake. :shrugs:

I still plan to release the ratsnake, but that could change by 6:30 p.m. :) I dunno...he's just so defensive. It's not the aggression that bothers me. He (she?) obviously feels threatened (understandable!), and while I'm not one of those naturalist "poor snakey is scared and must be returned to the wild immediately" people, it just seems pointless to keep him. After all, he is a Texas rat...I am in Texas...it's not like they're scarce around here. :rolleyes: He serves no purpose to me (other being than a cool photo subject :cool: ). I can't really handle him and I don't want to breed him, so it seems more practical to let him go.
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I would swap.. lol
this is a nice gentle Water Snake. Hasn't struck at me or anything, musked just the first time we got it. Has already eaten fish for us as well.
Watersnake3.jpg
 
tricksterpup said:
I would swap.. lol
this is a nice gentle Water Snake. Hasn't struck at me or anything, musked just the first time we got it. Has already eaten fish for us as well.
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Water snakes look creepy to me...
 
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