Re: How's the disposition of Everglades ratsnakes?

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Posted by Mick on August 20, 1999 at 20:19:09:

In Reply to: How's the disposition of Everglades ratsnakes? posted by mmg on August 19, 1999 at 11:13:23:

: Saw some beautiful albino Everglades ratsnakes. I heard somewhere that Everglades rats are 'meaner' than the other common North American ratsnakes. Is this true?

Hey mmg, didn't you just help me over on the Rosy forum? Time for payback I guess...
In my experience, 'glades are (on average) the meanest of the lot. I've known many specimens (my own and others') that never, ever calmed down, regardless of the amount of handling and TLC. I won't even pick one of these buggers up without gloves (so I'm a wuss). Seriously though, I would handle any prospective 'glades before buying it. If you luck out and it doesn't bite the bejesus out of you, you'll have a beautiful snake.
Others may disagree, but I think that as a rule of thumb, the various subspecies of Elaphe obsoleta get more agressive the further south you go. Along the east coast, the blacks are reasonably nice, the yellows start to get a bit nippy, and the 'glades are holy terrors! Sure there are individuals that don't fit the mold, but on average I think it holds true.
---Mick

Elaphe and Close Relatives

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Re: How's the disposition of Everglades ratsnakes? Pelle 9/05/99 (0)
I agree Tom L 8/22/99 (0)

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: : Saw some beautiful albino Everglades ratsnakes. I heard somewhere that Everglades rats are 'meaner' than the other common North American ratsnakes. Is this true? : Hey mmg, didn't you just help me over on the Rosy forum? Time for payback I guess... : In my experience, 'glades are (on average) the meanest of the lot. I've known many specimens (my own and others') that never, ever calmed down, regardless of the amount of handling and TLC. I won't even pick one of these buggers up without gloves (so I'm a wuss). Seriously though, I would handle any prospective 'glades before buying it. If you luck out and it doesn't bite the bejesus out of you, you'll have a beautiful snake. : Others may disagree, but I think that as a rule of thumb, the various subspecies of Elaphe obsoleta get more agressive the further south you go. Along the east coast, the blacks are reasonably nice, the yellows start to get a bit nippy, and the 'glades are holy terrors! Sure there are individuals that don't fit the mold, but on average I think it holds true. : ---Mick

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