New to snakes

[SpiderFood]

Hey guys, just droppin in to ask a couple of questions.
First here is some background info, I just got a baby red rat snake yesterday. Its probably about 8 inches to 10 inches long right now. I was wondering what are the optimum conditions to keep it at, substrate, heat range, food etc. so as to keep it healthy for a good long time. Also will they eat crickets? I have no problem feeding it pinkys or other baby rodents but for now all I have is crickets. I plan to use a stick on undertank heater for it when I set it up a tank. Thanks in advance for the help.

later

dale

 

[MrT]

Dale,
I don't know anything about Red Rat Snakes, but if your go to Kingsnake.com I bet you'll find all the info. you'll need.

Hope that helps,

Ernie

 

[MrT]

Dale,
I did a search on Kingsnake and found, Redheaded Rat Snake, Redback Rat Snake, Redtail Rat Snake, ect., But no Red Rat Snake.

Anyways, Click on caresheets, theres lot of pictures.

Ernie

 

[SpiderFood]

I found some similar pics to mine that refer to the name of....
Elaphe guttata guttata
Its also calling it a cornsnake. The photos are very similar in some with the more reddish coloration. I am gonna post a pic as soon as my camera charges up a bit.

later

dale

 

[Phillip]

Red rat is another name for a corn snake. Super easy to keep and tons of caresheets can be found. Pretty much mid 80s temp wise clean water always available feed weekly. And no they don't eat crickets rodents only. They will take the occasional lizard but this is not a good idea as they can get to where they prefer them over the easier to find rodents as well as being more loaded with parasites.

Phil

 

[SpiderFood]

First off, thanks Phil for the info. Do you recommend any certain substrate and heating setup? Here are a couple of pics of the little beauty. Are they difficult to sex/breed?

later

dale

pic #1

 

[SpiderFood]

Pic #2

The color is beautiful.

 

[Ravnos]

I keep my babies on paper towel with heat tape underneath one end of the cage. Corns are among the most common captives, there is no end of information out there. Just plug 'corn snake care' into Google.

Rav

 

[SpiderFood]

Rav,

I will welcome as much info as I can get. This little guy is already under my skin.

later

dale

 

[Phillip]

Newspaper and aspen are my faves for substrate. Plenty of other stuff works well also. Sexing and breeding are very easy.

Phil

 

[MrT]

Originally posted by Phillip
Sexing and breeding are very easy.

Phil

What method do you use for sexing Phil?

I had to take some of my snakes to a reptile show for sexing.
Some folks use a probe, others bend the snake to Pop its stuff out. Both ways look scary to me.

Ern

 

[Ravnos]

Probing is the most sure-fire and easiest method - it isn't difficult, but you do have to be careful because it is possible to injure the snake, afterall you are sticking a metal prod into them. They sell metal probe kits (with instructions), most now have a ball or rounded tip to them which makes them a little safer.

Popping, or basically trying to make the males expose their hemipenes which are inverted into the tail, is generally only recommended for baby snakes. It is risky simply because you can bend the spine in that area - but with experience it becomes pretty easy. I've found its not always accurate either, sometimes the little guys just don't pop - but it works in a pinch if you don' t have any probes handy.

Rav

 

[Phillip]

I prefer probing over popping as i feel it is safer if done correctly. Still probing is not something you want to try without being shown how by someone experienced at it. With corns it is fairly easy to get the sex right simply by comparing tail shape and length of both sexes. Once you have looked at a few it becomes easy at any rate. I always probe them before marking the sex and selling them but have yet to be fooled by one from looking at the tail so far. With some colubrids it is tougher to do but corns are among the easiest.

Phil

 

[Bry]

Originally posted by Phillip
I always probe them before marking the sex and selling them but have yet to be fooled by one from looking at the tail so far. With some colubrids it is tougher to do but corns are among the easiest.

I have an adult female corn that has fooled a few knowledgeable people who have been herpers for many years. She is rather large, and has a somewhat thick tail base which is more typical in males. Every single time she is probed, the result is always the same - female. I guess I just have a bull dyke corn.

Bry

 

[Phillip]

They can be tough to spot if you are looking from the top down as a lot of folks do. Looking at the tail from the side is the easiest way to spot the difference since the dramatic thinning is far easier to see from the side view.

Phil