Everglades Ratsnake Care Sheet
Everglades Ratsnake Care Sheet
By Reptitrader
New! Scroll down for an everglades rat snake video
Photo Courtesy of LT Shears under GNU free documentation license
(Care sheets are a simplified look at how to care for your snake. For a more complete guide see our book store.)
General: The Everglades Ratsnake (Elaphe obsoleta rosselleni) originates from North America. They attain an average length of between 4 and 5 feet. They are usually found in the everglades regions of South Florida in open grassland, trees, shrubs and along water ways.
Enclosure: Everglade Ratsnakes require a minimum enclosure size of 36 inches X 12 inches X 18 inches. The cage should be escape proof and furnished with 2 hides, a water bowl large enough for the snake to soak in and a branch for climbing.
Substrate: Everglade Ratsnakes can be kept on Newspaper, Aspen shavings or cypress mulch. Never use cedar or pine because these can be toxic to your snake.
Temperature & Humidity: Everglade Ratsnakes require a daytime ambient temperature of about 78 degrees F and a hot spot of 85 degrees F. Nighttime temperatures can fall as low as 70 degrees. They require a humidity of about 65%, if your snake is having shedding problems then raise the humidity.
Feeding: Everglades Ratsnakes can be raised on a diet of rodents. Feed hatchlings an appropriately sized prey items every 4-6 days and adult males can be fed an appropriately sized food item every 7-10 days. To maintain females weight for multiple clutches feed them every 7-10 days as many prey items as they will take.
Cleaning: Clean and disinfect your Everglades Ratsnakes enclosure thoroughly at least once a month and remove fecal matter as it appears. Clean water should always be available.
