Why do we keep ratsnakes (question revisited)???

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Posted by Terry Cox on May 13, 2000 at 06:43:58:

This question has been troubling me again recently, as this is that awkward time of year when we start feeling we have too many snakes, and we start looking for some that we don't really need, so we can unload them and get back to more manageable numbers. When you have a lot of snakes, especially when they are breeders, you know you have a lot of work to do in the spring. Not only is this the busiest time of the year for feeding and cleaning, but the breeders need lots of extra attention. This can be a real problem for some people, especially if your not at it full time as a business. I have to do this, as well as my full time job, and all the other things in my life that interrupt animal caretaking. Not only is the question, "Why do you keep all these snakes?", but also, "Where do we draw the line."

I'm into ratsnakes because I'm studying the genus, and because I think ratsnakes are some of the best snakes going to keep as pets, and also because some are exotic enough to challenge the best of herpetoculturists. When I draw the line I have to ask myself, "Am I keeping this species for a good enough reason?" After all, Elaphe has close to 40 species. Which ones do you keep?

Many of the animals I've been keeping for a long time, like the Russian rats since 1988. Not only are the Russians a key link in understanding the connections in the genus, but they make fabulous pets. I couldn't bear to part with all my Russians. But then, how many do I need to have. When there are breeding projects, all of a sudden a couple can turn into quite a few. My motto is to keep the species to a minimum.

There are also some very exotic ones that don't make very good pets, but are rewarding for their own reasons. The M & M'ers are a good example (moellendorffi and mandarina). I could give you lots of reasons for not keeping these, but here are some that make them great for me. They have fabulous colors and patterns. They are key links to understanding the genus. Their ecologies and behaviors are challenging and interesting to understand, making their care challenging and unique. To do well you really need to also study the Far East, so this becomes another part of the hobby.

To sum up, I would like to say that it would be interesting to me to find out how many people out there are really interested in studying this genus, or managing some species for any reason. As we talked about before, in the last couple months, it would help if there were some kind or coordination and cooperation between the snake keepers and breeders. And this is for too many reasons to delve into here. The genus Elaphe is just too big for any one person to handle. I think the serious keepers of Elaphe should get together and discuss who's going to keep what species, and who's breeding what, so that we can manage the dispersal of the genetic pool for the best interests of preserving the various species and making the gene pool the best we can. Of course, this all takes a lot of cooperation.

I have a stock list which I can provide anyone who asks for it. I would also like a list from anyone who considers himself a partner in this effort. On my list I also have a spot for some animals that are looking for a new home.

Good luck on your choices, and hopefully there will be lots of input about these questions. If you don't like to post, don't fret it, just e-mail your info to me, and I'll keep a file for these records. Eventually, I believe there will be some organized system for keeping these type of records, and I may want to turn over any info to the system keeper. But I will keep any info I get confidential at your request.

Thanks,
T. Cox

Follow Ups:

Elaphe breeders cooperation......Thank You very much. It is needed. Pedersen,S�e 05/13/00 (1)
- Keeping records.....and a look at the diones........ Terry 05/14/00 (0)
Re: Why do we keep ratsnakes (question revisited)??? kris 05/13/00 (1)
- Keeping ratsnakes....beauties...... Terry 05/14/00 (0)

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: This question has been troubling me again recently, as this is that awkward time of year when we start feeling we have too many snakes, and we start looking for some that we don't really need, so we can unload them and get back to more manageable numbers. When you have a lot of snakes, especially when they are breeders, you know you have a lot of work to do in the spring. Not only is this the busiest time of the year for feeding and cleaning, but the breeders need lots of extra attention. This can be a real problem for some people, especially if your not at it full time as a business. I have to do this, as well as my full time job, and all the other things in my life that interrupt animal caretaking. Not only is the question, "Why do you keep all these snakes?", but also, "Where do we draw the line." : I'm into ratsnakes because I'm studying the genus, and because I think ratsnakes are some of the best snakes going to keep as pets, and also because some are exotic enough to challenge the best of herpetoculturists. When I draw the line I have to ask myself, "Am I keeping this species for a good enough reason?" After all, Elaphe has close to 40 species. Which ones do you keep? : Many of the animals I've been keeping for a long time, like the Russian rats since 1988. Not only are the Russians a key link in understanding the connections in the genus, but they make fabulous pets. I couldn't bear to part with all my Russians. But then, how many do I need to have. When there are breeding projects, all of a sudden a couple can turn into quite a few. My motto is to keep the species to a minimum. : There are also some very exotic ones that don't make very good pets, but are rewarding for their own reasons. The M & M'ers are a good example (moellendorffi and mandarina). I could give you lots of reasons for not keeping these, but here are some that make them great for me. They have fabulous colors and patterns. They are key links to understanding the genus. Their ecologies and behaviors are challenging and interesting to understand, making their care challenging and unique. To do well you really need to also study the Far East, so this becomes another part of the hobby. : To sum up, I would like to say that it would be interesting to me to find out how many people out there are really interested in studying this genus, or managing some species for any reason. As we talked about before, in the last couple months, it would help if there were some kind or coordination and cooperation between the snake keepers and breeders. And this is for too many reasons to delve into here. The genus Elaphe is just too big for any one person to handle. I think the serious keepers of Elaphe should get together and discuss who's going to keep what species, and who's breeding what, so that we can manage the dispersal of the genetic pool for the best interests of preserving the various species and making the gene pool the best we can. Of course, this all takes a lot of cooperation. : I have a stock list which I can provide anyone who asks for it. I would also like a list from anyone who considers himself a partner in this effort. On my list I also have a spot for some animals that are looking for a new home. : Good luck on your choices, and hopefully there will be lots of input about these questions. If you don't like to post, don't fret it, just e-mail your info to me, and I'll keep a file for these records. Eventually, I believe there will be some organized system for keeping these type of records, and I may want to turn over any info to the system keeper. But I will keep any info I get confidential at your request. : Thanks, : T. Cox

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