My Wife found this guy slithering along a pipe in our Cow Pen about 2 weeks ago. She then came running back into the house at about 11:30 yelling at me to come look. So I went out there and saw this beautiful snake. I walked up to him, and gently placed one hand on his lower back, and the other a little closer to the head, and he just stayed there. So I picked him up and examined him closely under the lights out there. didn't' see any mites or other bad things on the outside. so I brought him in the house and set up a temporary enclosure for him. I have had him for about 2 weeks, and haven't totally decided if I am going to keep him yet. Will know more after I offer him food. If he eats, I will be more inclined to keeping him, and start looking for a mate. I will be offering him his first food this week, so wish me luck.

And now for the pics...Enjoy





PS, the last picture is of my wife holding him for pictures. Even though I was able to hold him bare handed, she didn't want to take the chance.

Also, if you will notice in the first picture, there is a bit of orange just below the head. This is rare from what I have been told as adult West Texas Rats are usually always Tan/Brown. So that makes this guy even more interesting.

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Paul

Everything is do-able in life, you just need to know how to do them to get them done.

PCar's Reptiles

I love the color of his head. Beautiful catch Paul.

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MARSHA

:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!

That's one nice lookin snake Rats are some of my favorite colubrids, but that one's got some really nice colors.

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+5 bonus points to whoever finds me a job!

"Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines." - John Benfield

Sweet, it looks like the juvi Black Rat snakes we have here in Jersey, but they lose their colors as they get older.

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Answers are great. But I prefer questions!

Visit me at www.jaysreptiles.com

i was just getting ready to ask if YOU were affraid of him...lol...

Great find, hope ya keep it, and are able to find a mate...

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Jayr & Mandy Robinson
J&M Herp Shack
"Are you watching closely?"

me afraid to hold a snake????? I am the crazy guy that will grab just about any snake out in the wild whether I am gloved or not. And, lucky for me, I was taught at a very early age how to tell hots from nots by the shape of the head...so, I know about 95% of the time whether the snake is hot or not before I even attempt to grab it.

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Paul

Everything is do-able in life, you just need to know how to do them to get them done.

PCar's Reptiles

Beautiful snake! Is he still as calm as he was when you first picked him up? Does he seem to mind his new captivity?

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~Juliane~

Hmmm interesting....we just adopted a Texas Ratsnake from Sean Casey Rescue and he is very red compared to your guy...we are waiting for him to shed so we can see his true colors....markings are the same tho....Lyn

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Warmest Regards from Lyn

He is still just as calm as far as the striking and nipping goes. I haven't been struck at by this guy at all. But he is a squirmy thing. Doesn't want to sit still at all. I am surprised that I was able to get the pictures that I did.

As for minding his new captivity...he doesn't seem to be showing any eill effects to it. Will be able to know for sure after he is fed. If he eats for me, then he has taken to it a whole lot better.


That must be something to see. I have never seen a West Texas Rat with any red or Orange on them at all. I know that there are multiple species of Rat snakes here in Texas. There is a locality Texas Bairds here, and a few others. But I don't know much about them. This one is the main one that can be found fairly easily in my area.

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Paul

Everything is do-able in life, you just need to know how to do them to get them done.

PCar's Reptiles

Very nice snake! But are you allowed to keep animals from the wild? I don't want to spoil it for you,but I read other threads on this forum from people who wanted to keep found snakes,and they were advised not to keep it.I would let him go if I were you.Imagine how many people find snakes and keep them! You sure are not the only one,and if only ten people in your area keep a snake from the wild that would mean too many rats are running around which are meant for your snake!Think about it!Please don't get me wrong,I only mean well!