Re: My First rat Snake

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Posted by j deryke on March 06, 2001 at 14:34:41:

In Reply to: My First rat Snake posted by Patrick on March 05, 2001 at 19:18:16:

: Well, I seem to be doing this kind of backwards. most people start with the ratsnakes but I've been keeping herps for about 10-11 years and I'm off to get my first ratsnake tomorrow. I just couldn't resist the E.t. Freisi's. So I guess as soon as I have him and have pics I'll have to start posting more in here.

: patrick

Words of advice on Taiwan Beauties: handle him EVERY DAY, especially if he decides to be nippy. The biting behavior (if he has it) will go away after a while. If you don't, you'll wind up with a nervous, very large snake that cannot be handled without armor. Mine is 3-1/2 yrs old, 9 ft 2" long and 7-1/2 lbs, and handling him is like handling a 3" fire hose under 100psi pressure. He's very strong, jerky when first picked up and big & fast enough to cause some real damage if he misunderstands your intentions. These things are not your normal US-type ratsnake- Asian ratsnakes behave more like giant racers than sedate corn snakes. and take special care. Except for feeding: they eat anything, anytime, any place. When he was little, I fed him daily. Now that he's mature, he gets a stunned half-pound rat once a week. He will eat frozen-thawed, but he hits prey so violently, a frozen & thawed rat's stomach ruptures during strike or constriction and clean-up afterwards is unpleasant. They grown unusually fast if fed as they much as they prefer. He's one of my and my wife's favorite animals, though. Spectacular as an adult! Good luck.

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: : Well, I seem to be doing this kind of backwards. most people start with the ratsnakes but I've been keeping herps for about 10-11 years and I'm off to get my first ratsnake tomorrow. I just couldn't resist the E.t. Freisi's. So I guess as soon as I have him and have pics I'll have to start posting more in here. : : patrick : Words of advice on Taiwan Beauties: handle him EVERY DAY, especially if he decides to be nippy. The biting behavior (if he has it) will go away after a while. If you don't, you'll wind up with a nervous, very large snake that cannot be handled without armor. Mine is 3-1/2 yrs old, 9 ft 2" long and 7-1/2 lbs, and handling him is like handling a 3" fire hose under 100psi pressure. He's very strong, jerky when first picked up and big & fast enough to cause some real damage if he misunderstands your intentions. These things are not your normal US-type ratsnake- Asian ratsnakes behave more like giant racers than sedate corn snakes. and take special care. Except for feeding: they eat anything, anytime, any place. When he was little, I fed him daily. Now that he's mature, he gets a stunned half-pound rat once a week. He will eat frozen-thawed, but he hits prey so violently, a frozen & thawed rat's stomach ruptures during strike or constriction and clean-up afterwards is unpleasant. They grown unusually fast if fed as they much as they prefer. He's one of my and my wife's favorite animals, though. Spectacular as an adult! Good luck.

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