Species Notes based on experiences:

The hardiest snake on the entire website. Quite simply bomb proof. Coupled with this their laid back attitude to life makes them one of the very best pet snakes. They go through an interesting colour change where as babies they are greys and tans with saddles down their back. As adults roughly half of these saddles have fused together making larger rectangular saddles and the colours have changed to black and contrasting yellow or cream. Russian Rat Snakes are impressive size snakes as adults which does concern us slightly that novices may be put off by this. Aggressive Russian Rat Snakes are almost unheard of.   

Score analysis:

Russian Rat Snakes even as youngsters are usually totally laid back in hand. They seem to get on with whatever life throws at them in a chilled out manner. Obviously as pet material it makes them almost perfect. They are a larger more robust baby than a Corn Snake for example and for that reason they are less of a worry that we may hurt them with our big clumsy hands.

Territoriality pretty much always scores lower than temperament. Snakes don’t particularly like being disturbed. Some snakes may temporarily go rigid at the touch of a keeper, some may rattle their tail. This is not a snake that is particularly vocal and we don’t even recall an individual rearing up in protest. If a snake were to feel particularly un-amused with being picked up a faint smell from their musk glands may be deployed. On the whole this snake is a pleasure to work with both in hand or inside the enclosure.

As previously mentioned this species holds the crown for hardiest snake covered on this website. The climate based kicking this species takes annually in its natural range is simply staggering. That a cold blooded animal can withstand so much is amazing. Yet in the face of all this adversity they still remain totally patient and placid. This is a wonderful species.

This is a large Rat Snake, exceptional examples may be approaching 2 metres in length with considerable mass and a proportionally massive head. This quality therefore may be the chink in the armour. The one thing that stops it wiping the floor with the competition. Big snakes are units and very impressive. To a rank novice this may translate to an intimidating sight. One that could put them off going in to handle the snake regardless of how tame it is.

For the period of the year whilst they are active Russian Rat snakes are feeding machines. Seemingly bottomless pits. Mice, Rats, Chicks and Hens eggs will all be accepted. Their metabolic rate however is prodigious and as such they can produce waste at an alarming rate. The issue here is there will come a time, even with youngsters during the winter months where feeding may become sporadic and may even cease completely. This is because of their natural in built body clock telling them it is time to shut down. Fighting it long term is futile. It becomes apparent it will be far easier to overwinter the snakes in make shift hibernaculums in the shape of snap shut storage boxes stuff with hay or similar within a fridge running at around 5-7°c. Care must be taken not to just dump them down in temperature or jump them straight back up. 4-6 weeks should be taken lowering the temperatures and then the same raising them again. The cold should plateau for around 2.5-3 months.

Enclosure recommendations:

Tub:
   not appropriate long term and may only be a stop gap solution to grow the baby snake on in.

Vivarium:
    150cm x 60cm x 60cm

Budget rig: -
    60cm x 30cm heat pad
    On / off thermostat
    Digital thermometer to monitor thermostat performance
    Warm hide
    Cool hide
    Water bowl
    substrate

Recommended rig (vivarium only): -
    250w ceramic heat emitter
    Ceramic lamp holder and bracket
    Bulb guard
    Day night thermostat
    Digital thermometer to monitor thermostat performance
    Various logs and caves along the thermal gradient
    Damp hide
    Climbing and exercise branches
    Plants and foliage (live or artificial – your choice)
    Water bowl
    Substrate
    UVB light (8w T5 shade dweller 7% kit from Arcadia or equivalent) (optional)
    Subterranean section to vivarium for further psychological security (optional)

Climate analysis:

Certain regions within the natural range of Russian Rat snakes are horrific when it comes to being a cold blooded animal. Yet this species has made those regions its home. -20°c, -25° and even -30°c in places. Frost and anything below 0°c will kill a snake so imagine for a moment just how far into fissures, crevices, cracks and cave networks these snake will have to retreat to be able to escape the harshness of the surface environment. This is why this is the toughest snake on the entire website by an not inconsiderable margin. Of course in captivity we don’t need to be this harsh but as discussed because of the snakes in built body clock they may begin fasting in preparation for this winter that they sense approaching (even if we keep them at stable temperatures). Certain research now suggests that longevity is improved by offering annual brumation.    
 
Conclusion:

The best snake on the website if it didn’t grow so big. That pretty much sums this snake up. They are wonderful snakes, with brilliant personalities. Keepers of Russian Rat Snakes can be some of the most positive of owners. They sing their snakes praises from the rooftops. Having kept around 100 of them over the years it is clear to see why, seldom an issue or a moments worry. Size will play a part, beginner and particularly children can be intimidated by bigger snakes and regardless of how friendly this species is we have to consider optics when scoring them. Certain keepers may not like the idea of bromating their snake for 4-5 months in total per season.

Well worthy of consideration and actually probably done a disservice with the overall score.    

The photographic content below courtesy of Francis Cosquieri. He retains the copyright for these photographs. Please do not reproduce without consent.