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Texas Rat Snake
Photo: William L. Farr, CC BY-SA 4.0
Snake
Intermediate
Pantherophis obsoletus
Lifespan
15-20 years
Adult size
110-180 cm
Temperament
Lively; often defensive but usually tames
Temperature
20–30°C
Humidity
40–70%
Vivarium
180 x 90 x 90 cm (adult); semi-arboreal
Wikipedia →
Found mainly in Texas, extending into Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma, in swamps, woodland, grassland, farmland and towns. A slim, powerful climber, yellowish-grey with dark brown blotches in the wild form; the white, blue-eyed leucistic morph is the best-known pet. Keepers like its hardiness and active climbing, though many hiss, rattle their tails and musk when disturbed. It needs a tall, escape-proof vivarium.
Care information is provided for educational purposes only and does not replace professional veterinary advice.
🔥 Heating
Use an overhead halogen lamp on a thermostat at one end, giving a basking surface of 29-32 °C on a branch and a cool end of 22-25 °C. Heating can go off at night if the vivarium stays above about 20 °C.
💡 Lighting
About 12 hours of light a day. UVB is recommended but not essential: a 5-6% T5 tube over about half the vivarium giving a UVI of 2-3 at the basking branch.
🪨 Substrate
Aspen, a topsoil and coir mix or cypress mulch, about 10 cm deep. Avoid cedar and pine.
🍽 Feeding
Frozen-thawed mice, then rats, no wider than 1.5 times the snake's widest point. Hatchlings and juveniles every 5-7 days and adults every 7-14 days.
💧 Water
A large water bowl it can soak in, always available and cleaned weekly. Keep humidity moderate, with a humid hide of damp moss for sheds.
🏠 Enrichment
Plenty of secure climbing branches, shelves and hammocks, at least two snug hides and foliage cover; it is an excellent climber and swimmer.
🩺 Health Considerations
Hardy; watch for stuck sheds, mites, respiratory infections and obesity. Squeezing a struggling snake can injure its fragile spine, so handle gently.
🤲 Handling
Hatchlings are flighty and many adults hiss, rattle their tails, musk and bite when disturbed, but most calm with regular, gentle handling. Approach from the side, support the body and avoid sudden grabs. Non-venomous.
⚖️ Legal Restrictions
No licence needed in the UK. It is not CITES-listed and not covered by the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 or any invasive-species restriction.
📋 Additional Notes
Formerly Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri (Pantherophis obsoletus lindheimeri); many authorities no longer recognise subspecies, so it is now simply part of the western rat snake. Morphs include leucistic, albino, hypomelanistic and scaleless. Males have longer, thicker tails; probe to confirm sex.