I am seriously thinking about getting one of these critters. Can anyone point the way to a good care sheet for me?

I have a pair of Leucistic Texas Rats, about 3 years old, quite reclusive but good snakes, they've been mating and I may have some eggs later this year (btw - my boy who is much larger than the girl eats rats)

A few sites I have looked at:

http://coloherp.org/cb-news/archive/careshts/ratsnake.php
http://www.kingsnake.com/ratsnake/index.html

Neither are really good care sheets - but googling will give you lots of links

I've googled. Are they handleable?

I find the female really affectionate and she loves coming out, often a biut of a struggle to get her back in, but the male a little less so, he will rattle his tail and is less happy getting out of the viv, but once out is great, they are cold snakes, mine live on the cool side and rarely go to the warmer end, their poo [really] stinks and daily tidying is essential, here is Sprite - she is loverly:

Beautiful, just beautiful. The one I am thinking about getting is a female.

my calis are very similar, the female loves coming out but the male is a bit more retiscent. mind you they've both been with me now about nine months and were not handled up until me acquiring them. they are now 5 yrs old

stevetims: How is your northern pine? What is she like?

Ash19, My pine is almost a year and doing good, she is just about to move to medium mice, she is an agressive eater, a little twitchy when being handled, but calms after a few minutes handling, she seems to like here viv setup, lots of hides and she uses them all, she often sits peering out of one and the kids love her. she's almost 3 feet long and will grow to 8-10 feet, I am looking for a mate for her for next autumn. All I see is 8 foot males or babies but I have time. She sheds in 1 piece and there is a kink in her tail but it doesn't seem to trouble her. She gets freaked if she sees one of my bigger snakes so I try not to let them see each other. Is that what you mean?

Yes perfect! She sounds lovely. I have an interest in Pines and Gophers so I'm trying to find out as much as possible. What size tank can adults be kept in, how hard are they to obtain as pets, how handeable. That sort of stuff.

Tanks as always are best with a base perimiter twice the length of your snake - so an 8 foot snake in a 6 foot by 2 foot tank. For height 2 foot would be Ok, with a log / branch for some upwards movement / variety - mine likes to climb. I read heaps - a great book on pine snakes by W P Mara is essential, and some info / care sheets I have in my favourites:

http://lllreptile.com/info/library/animal-...ern-pine-snake/
http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/pinesnak.htm
http://www.ncherps.org/pdf_forms/NorthernPineSnake.pdf
http://www.lihs.org/files/caresheets/sheet9.htm
http://www.kingsnake.com/pituophis/p_m_melanoleucus.html

In the UK they are readily available as hatchlings, I have never seen WC specimins for sale, some people sell adults, I would think in the states they are more readily available being native to your country

Handleable - not as slow and plodding as balls, some say they can be mean and aggressive but that is true for some individuals in all snake types, they are good stable and easy to care for pets - go get some.

Good luck - ask away of you have any specific questions and I have a small pile of pics I can put up for you if you want, vivs, hides and snakes.

Gophers I think eat fish (as well as rodents - I can only imagine how bad their poo must smell....)

Steve

Lol ok thx! They sound like a good type of snake to have. So if they're not slow like ball pythons, would you say they are more so like corns? Some pics would be great actually! Thx!

I think corns are quite slow too, all except the baby I have here (a month old) who is a fast mover, but I expect with handling and time (and adding some weight) she'll slow down too.

Some pics of my Pine

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Wow she's definitely beautiful! I'm looking forward to getting one in the future. Thx again, and if I have more questions, I'll ask.

what a cool looking snake