How Do I Care for a Juvenile Gray Rat Snake?

Gray rat snakes are native to the United States, ranging from Florida to Mississippi. These semi-arboreal snakes are usually dark colored -- tan, brown or grey with dark patches. Rat snakes reach an average of 2 to 5 feet in length, although some adults have been known to reach lengths of 7 feet. Juveniles of the species have a distinctive mottled pattern that fades as they age. Gray rat snakes are known to be hardy snakes, which make them a good choice for novice owners.

Things You'll Need

  • Glass or plastic tank
  • Newspaper
  • Screen cover and clips
  • Heating mat
  • Heat lamp
  • Plastic tub
  • Appropriate substrate
  • Peat moss
  • Water dish
  • Tree branches
  • Thermometer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Clear a space for your snake's habitat. A juvenile rat snake can be housed in a large fish tank with a screen cover.

    • 2

      Place a base layer of newspaper along the bottom of the tank. Install the heating mat. The mat should cover one-fourth to one-third of the tank bottom. Pour a layer of aspen or other bark shavings or other substrate on top of the newspaper and heating mat.

    • 3

      Cut a hole in the plastic tub and invert it in the tank to serve as a hiding place. You may use additional tubs to create more places for your snake to hide. At least one of the hiding places should have moss bedding to hold moisture and help maintain humidity.

    • 4

      Place the water dish in the tank and fill it. The dish should be deep enough for your snake to soak in, but not deep enough to be a danger to your snake.

    • 5

      Place branches in the tank. Gray rat snakes like to climb. In the wild they spend a lot of time in trees.

    • 6

      Install a heat lamp to give your snake a basking area. Be sure to place the lamp above the screen so that your snake can not accidentally burn itself. Both the heat lamp and the heating mat should be connected to a thermometer to help control the temperature in the tank.

    • 7

      Maintain the temperature during the day between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep the designated basking area at a temperature of about 85 F. Nighttime temperatures in the tank should be in the high 60s to low 70s range.

    • 8

      Feed your juvenile gray rat snakes once a week on a diet of baby mice or rats. Do not feed your snake anything that is larger than the diameter of the snake.