You should limit yourself to no more than two or three of the same sex because of how sociable they are. The vast majority of Black Rat Snakes are loving and lively pets, as well as robust creatures who are able to thrive on almost any food as long as it is nutritionally enough.
On the other hand, their lifespan is often just two to three years. They also need enough ventilation, since the common house rat that we keep as a pet does not perform very well when the temperature is quite high. They do not produce venom, are simple to handle, and do not exhibit aggressive behavior.
I always handle them carefully, and unless they are pregnant, they just sort of go with the flow of whatever I do. Both of them are rescues, and I presently have two of them. They have also been seen in a number of outbuildings, as well as in my own attic. The fact that they are free of rodent control makes them popular with farmers.
Their demeanor is comparable to that of a Brown Rat Snake and that of a Black Rat Snake, and they do not show any bias towards other species. This implies that they are willing to make friends with members of any species, but more dominant bucks may also confront larger males of other species if they feel threatened.
A minimum enclosure size of at least 6 feet by 2 feet is required for housing a snake that is 8 feet long. Since Brown Rat snakes tend to be quite active, having a larger body size is an advantage when dealing with them. The very basic minimum for housing a snake is an enclosure that is one length and one breadth in size, and the tank has to be longer than the snake.
In my opinion, feeding a snake is simpler than feeding other pets since all you have to do is offer it frozen or thawed mice; this eliminates the need to worry about providing it with a nutritionally adequate diet.
When trapped or attacked, black rat snakes may often coil themselves into a protective position, hiss, and strike many times. In addition to this, they quickly shake or rattle the tail. Because of this, many people, owing to the strong activity and color pattern of the snake, think it is a rattlesnake or even a copperhead.
This is because of the snake’s appearance and behavior. Late in April or early in May is the time of year when black rat snakes emerge from their refuge in rocky crevices. They may hibernate with other species of rat snakes or with many other species of snakes, the most notable of which are timber rattlesnakes, racers, and bull snakes.
Even when the temperature is quite high, they are diurnal, meaning that they are active during the day. However, they do wander about at night on occasion. Most of the time, when they are approached, black rats will not move. They are able to go unnoticed because of their stealthy black coloring, which allows them to blend in with the bark or the dark forest floor.
The fact that black rat snakes consume such vast numbers of rats, mice, and other unwanted creatures makes them exceptionally helpful species. Because of this benefit, people are glad to have snakes in their communities.
