black rat?

[Stefan-A]

Originally Posted by flakgunner

hey,
I believe it's still Elaphe,I was reading some info on the net on Rat Snakes,it's been suggested that the name be changed to Pantherophis,but the high up powers to be,haven't approved it yet,unless i was reading a old article.

Joe

Last time I heard, somebody suggested moving the Pantherophis species to Pituophis.

[flakgunner]

hey,
Nice looking snake!IN my 35+ years of collecting,I've never had a Racer.always heard that their quite skittish,poor eaters in captivity,closest I've come to these was a Coachwhip,way back in my much younger days,didn't do good at all,but these was when all snakes being sold at shops where wild caught,and I know that one was,whew!it was one mean,grumpy snake.

Joe

[GarterGuy]

Hmmm interesting.......when I managed the pet store we got in a racer, not sure of the subspecies, and it was mellow, well tempered and hell ate everything! We even kind of experimented with it to see what it would eat! Mice, rats, hamsters, anoles, fish, frogs, even ate crickets.....and it was over 3ft. long!

[Deadlyvenom]

I bought a 2 months old black rat female few weeks ago. She is my first snake and absolutely fantastic. Not aggressive but has some temperament, eats well and is very active. I just can't wait her to grow up and change the colour, her parents are very deep black with very little pattern (at least according to the pictures I've seen, I never saw them live because they were sold just before I bought mine) Here is one little bit fuzzy picture, I tried to shot better one but it is quite difficult since she is always moving and both the camera and the person behind it are quite crappy too...

[Thamnophis]

We kept a pair of Coluber constrictor constrictor in the early eighties.To our surprise the mice they grabbed died within 15 to 45 seconds just by biting them.Is this also the experience of you?

[GarterGuy]

Originally Posted by Thamnophis

We kept a pair of Coluber constrictor constrictor in the early eighties.To our surprise the mice they grabbed died within 15 to 45 seconds just by biting them.Is this also the experience of you?

Yes, I was amazed at how quickly they killed them with just jaw pressure and smashing them into the ground and walls. The mice looked just like they had been constricted, eyes all bugging out and all. I think they take them out by putting a HUGE bite on them and the critter going into shock or something. Awesome snakes!

[Thamnophis]

Like a lot of other colubridae Coluber constrictor has an active Duvernoy´s gland. This produces (mild) venemous mucus. Duvernoy's Glands and "Warm" Herping This is the reason why the mice die that quick.You would aspect something else from a snake which second name is "constrictor".