breeding question

[awesome17]

Would it be possible to breed my gray rat snake and my uncle's black rat snake, and have it be successful?

Thanks,
Cameron

 

[pitbulllady]

Would it be possible to breed my gray rat snake and my uncle's black rat snake, and have it be successful?

Thanks,
Cameron

Grey and Black Rats are now considered to be just subspecies of the same species, and in the wild where their ranges overlap, like here in the Midlands of South Carolina, they commonly mate and produce "intergrade" snakes. I often catch Rat Snakes that display characteristics of Black, Grey and Yellow Rats at the same time. Thing is, this intergrade is common as dirt. I can't see the point in deliberately breeding them given that unless there's some odd-ball morph involved, there's not going to be a demand for them at all. Since they aren't native to California, you don't even have the option of releasing unwanted offspring, so what are you going to do if you're stuck with a dozen or more hungry snakes? Most Pantherophis enthusiasts want a jet-black true Black Rat or a "White Oak" phase Grey, with crisp, clean markings, while an intergrade snake usually falls somewhere in between, too light to be considered black and too "muddy" to be a White Oak. 99% of all the Rat Snakes caught around here fit that latter description, and if you want a cross/intergrade, pretty much any snake catcher here in SC would be happy to send you a few. They sell for like, $10.00 for really large adults at reptile shows around here, and babies usually go for a couple of bucks at the most, often to breeders of ophiophagous snakes like Cobras or Mussuranas who use them as feeders. It sounds cold, but it's the truth.

pitbulllady

 

[awesome17]

Thanks for all the info, I just have never bred snakes and thought it would be neat to breed them. I most likely would sell them pretty cheap like you said or keep a few and give the rest away.

Cameron