Pantherophis obsoletus (Western rat snake)

Origin: parts of North America and Southern Canada
Length: up to 2 meters
Lifespan: 15 years
Original color is: The body is yellow or tan in color, with a brown or olive-green pattern that extends from the head to the tail. Individuals in the south are yellower in color, while individuals in the north are darker. The characteristic that distinguishes it from other rat snakes is the completely gray head. Additionally, variations with red or orange spots occur in the wild.

We have a collection of leucistic animals (white with blue eyes)

Care
Experience: Average snake keeper
Food: Live or dead prey animals. The main prey animals given are mice and rats.

Feeding adults: every 14 days
Feeding young: Every 7 days
Water bowl: Yes
Water change: 3 times a week
Feeding:
There is a choice to offer the prey animals live or dead. It is recommended to offer dead food. This is more practical and prevents the prey animal from injuring your snake. Additionally, it is advised to offer the prey animal using feeding tongs and to feed your snake outside the enclosure. This ensures that your hand is not associated with food and prevents your snake from grabbing your hand during feeding. If you do choose live food, you must supervise during feeding. The prey animal can also injure the snake. Feed the rat snake separately, because when two snakes grab the same prey, they can injure each other and sometimes even eat each other. The ideal prey animal is approximately as wide as the widest part of the snake.

Water
Black rat snakes are true swimmers, so the opportunity to swim or bathe is highly appreciated. To achieve this, a water bowl large enough for the snake to lie in with its entire body is required; they will actually appreciate something slightly larger. Because the snake lies in it, the water can become dirty more quickly, so ensure that the water is changed when it is dirty. After all, they drink that water too.

Cleaning
To keep your black rat snake healthy, a hygienic living environment is important. To achieve this, the enclosure must be cleaned regularly. Cleaning once a week is sufficient. Additionally, to prevent the buildup of bacteria, the entire enclosure must be cleaned and disinfected a few times a year.

Handling
From time to time, you will need to handle your black rat snake. When handling a snake, it is advisable to use a snake hook; if not, ensure that you handle your snake gently. Young snakes or snakes that have not been handled before may be defensive and may attack. The snake is not venomous, but it is best to avoid bite wounds. After being handled several times, the snake will naturally get used to it and become less defensive.

Never squeeze your snake while handling it, as their vertebrae are fragile and can break easily. Also, ensure that your hands are washed and do not smell of food. Finally, do not handle your snake when it is shedding, and do not handle it in the dark.

Housing

Minimum enclosure size for 1 pair: 150 x 50 x 50
Lying surface area: 0.5 m² and 1 raised platform per snake where the snake can lie with its entire body.
Daytime temperature on the warm side: 29-32°C
Daytime temperature on the cooler side: 22-25°C
Nighttime temperature: 18-22°C
Hours of light: 12 hours
Humidity: 40%-60%
Substrate: Bark or beech chips
Setup:

The rat snake is a snake found in a variety of regions and therefore requires a varied terrarium in captivity. They love to climb and need climbing opportunities. Therefore, it is advised to choose a terrarium that is higher than 60 cm so that the snake can actually climb. Climbing opportunities can be provided in the form of climbing branches. In addition to climbing, they also enjoy bathing. You can facilitate this by providing a water bowl large enough for the snake to lie in with its entire body. However, ensure that the bowl is heavy enough so that the snake does not tip it over. The rat snake can be very shy and therefore needs plenty of hiding places. You can offer this in the form of a plastic cave or a piece of cork; ensure that these are large enough for all the rat snakes in the enclosure to shelter underneath. The black rat snake also enjoys burrowing; you can offer this by providing thicker bedding or a sand bath.

There are a few additional things to keep in mind regarding the enclosure. The black rat snake is capable of squeezing through small cracks. Keep this in mind and ensure there are no small cracks in the enclosure that it can fit through. Additionally, ventilation is necessary to keep the air fresh, and it is advisable to place the enclosure out of direct sunlight and as vibration-free as possible.

Behavior
Hunting method: Constriction.
Lifestyle: Semi-arboreal & diurnal
Character:

The black rat snake is an active snake and adapts easily to its environment. They are good climbers and swimmers. They make interesting and lively pets in captivity.
Points of attention:

Black rat snakes can be defensive, especially in their enclosure. Be mindful of this when handling your snake to prevent unnecessary injuries. Regular handling will eventually ensure that the snake becomes tamer and calmer.

Costs and Purchase

Legislation: No documentation is required to keep the black rat snake.

One-time costs: These include the costs for the enclosure, lighting, heating, water bowl, and decoration. Altogether, this can cost anywhere from a few hundred euros to a few thousand euros. The final amount depends on the quality and size of the products.

Fixed costs: Fixed costs include the cost of food, which is a few tens of euros per year.

Unexpected costs: Costs are incurred if your snake happens to get sick or your equipment breaks down.