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Red-tailed Green Climbing Rat Snake

Family: Colubridae

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Gonyosoma oxycephelaPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

     These are beautiful snakes, but definitely are only a pet for the advanced snake keeper!

Dr. Jungle..."The Red-tailed Green Climbing Rat Snake shown here
is an adult female about six feet long!"

. The Red-tailed Green Climbing Rat Snake is not venomous, but may always be a bit temperamental. There are are some keepers that say they will tame down with regular handling, however there are others who say they are unpredictable.
     Many will repeat a pattern of being docile, even tempered, and tolerant of handling for several months and then bite their keeper for no apparent reason. Despite this they are very hardy, easy to maintain and a beautiful snake.

For more Information on keeping Snakes see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Herptile

Distribution:      The Red-tailed Green Climbing Rat Snakes are found in central, south, and southeast Asia.

Description:      The Red-tailed Green Climbing Rat Snake snake will grow to a good size between six and eight feet (2m to 2.5m). They are a thinner bodied snake with a beautiful iridescent green coloration.

Feeding:    They are a constrictor and their diet consists of chicks,mice, rats and other rodents. Feed once or twice a week, depending on the size of the food and the size of the snake. As you get to know your snake, you'll learn what its feeding needs are. Fresh water in a shallow dish should always be available.

Environment:      It is recommended that the Red-tailed Green Climbing Rat Snake be kept singly, except when breeding.
     As the name implies, the red-tailed green climbing rat snake is an excellent climber. They like an arboreal type setting so set up their terrarium as a woodland type with a vertical or semi-vertical tree limb and plant vining. See Basic Reptile and Amphibian Care for more information on the terrarium type. Also provide a hiding place and a small water dish.

Temperature and Lighting requirements:      They do well in 70 ° to 80 ° F with moderate humidity. Lighting requirements are minimal, they do not need full spectrum lighting though it is good for long term maintenance as it helps them feel good. You can use a substrate heating device for basic heating. For additional heat, you can add a full spectrum incandescent daytime bulb and a blacklight bulb or red incandescent bulb for nighttime heating. Be sure you use a thermometer so you don't let the terrarium become overheated!
     For more detailed information see the Basic Reptile and Amphibian Care: Housing.

Breeding/Reproduction:      These snakes, if not babies, need to be probe sexed for positive sex identification.

Availability:    The Red-tailed Green Climbing Rat Snake are not real common, so are not always readily available as pets.

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Latest Comments
I think they are really cool, please send more information and pictures. Jacobnew 2008-10-15
I have one that came into the pet store I work at. No one would handle him except me and it even bit a co-worker but once it settled down to the new place, it got very easy to handle although it had everyone leery of it. I finally brought it home and it's the sweetest snake I have ever had. My only problem is getting it to eat mice. It would rather have a bird but I'm finding it's very hard to find feeder birds for a snake. Any suggestions, I love this snake. Now if I could find out what sex it is and find birds for feeding... donna 2008-07-13
Just got a wild caught adult in. Very aggressive. Check out the site at www.reptilesolutionsllc.com for a pic soon. Reptile Solutions LLC 2007-12-22

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