| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
LarkaDawg
Hatchling
442 Posts |
 Posted - 06/01/2013 : 11:15:28
|
I was on my way back from collecting a new boa, and we had to stop off at a reptile shop we passed.
Now, my wish list consists of King Rat snakes, Tiger Rat snakes, Taiwanese Beauty snakes and Eastern Indigo snakes and guess what we found. We peeked into the largest viv, it was heavily decorated and the resident was no where to be found. So we checked the tag and for £250 you could own a male CB10 King Rat snake. Of course I had to ask to see and handle it, and I completely fell in love! He was a little bit huffy and snapped at me once, but there were quite a few people around. Aparently they had a lot of interest when he first came and his price tag was £350 but the interest dropped and so did the price. He has been in there quite a while, ohhh I wanted to take him then and there! If I do well in my GCSEs then I am given some money from my parents..... I know what I'm going to do with it!!
There is very little information out there on them, just wondering whether anyone keeps/has kept them or knows any decent care information? |
|
|
Moppet
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3315 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2013 : 14:23:42
|
Haha, reptile shops are dangerous places...my wish list always seems to get longer after visiting 
From research I did during a herpetology module in my degree...
King rat snakes (Elaphe carinata), commonly known as 'stinking goddess' are non-venemous snakes that originate from Taiwan, China or Japan (depending on subspecies). They are called stinking goddess because they have highly developed post-anal glands which they empty when they feel threatened, producing a very bad smell. They have a habit of eating other snakes (hence the name king rat snake).
They grow between 4-6ft long (can reach 8 ft!) and are quite a thick bodied asian rat snake. They are mostly terrestrial and like to dig so they should have lots of loose substrate in their viv. They will also eat rodents, birds and bird eggs (or even other king rat snakes) and are well known to have a strong feeding response. Temperatures should be between 27 and 30 degrees (some sources say a hot spot of 31 degrees) in the warm end and 22-24 degrees cool end. They need a moderate humidty (varies according to sources, some say 50%, some say a bit higher).
King rat snakes are often volatile to handle and prefer to musk on you than bite but will do both if provoked. With regular handling they can become much calmer and less likely to feel threatened (and therefore musk/bite).
Hope this helped  |
2.4.0 Corn snakes
1.0.0 horse
0.1.0 Golden retriever
1.4.0 Guinea pigs |
Edited by - Moppet on 06/01/2013 14:24:18 |
 |
|
|
scottishbluebird
it is all my fault
United Kingdom
8403 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2013 : 17:19:12
|
| lol hope you get him! |
     
0.1.0 Corn - Kellogs
1.0.0 Hognose - Storm
0.1.0 Staffy - Lyla
1.0.0 Spaffy(staffy x springer)-Spyro
1.0.0 Ferret - Peanut R.I.P
0.1.0 Crestie - Fudge. Wish List - Pygmy hedgehog. Tropiocolotes |
|
|
|
LarkaDawg
Hatchling
442 Posts |
Posted - 07/01/2013 : 20:12:47
|
Thanks for the info. And I wish, but I'd prefer a baby if possible, the colour difference between young and adult is stunning. Also I'd like a big viv with lots of decor and as naturalistic as possible. With my new boa rack it just isn't possible. Something for when I move out I think :/ At least if I do well, then I'll have the money to do all this  |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
King Rat snake
