So I only have a ball python at the moment, but I was seriously considering a rhino ratsnake recently. I have a more arboreal enclosure, and was just looking for a bit of advice since how to keep them is a little more sparse!
My biggest question is how do they handle, and are they a good display animal? I know they like to climb and need a water feature, but can I expect to see them out basking often? I also heard they’re quite spazzy and wild, as most other ratsnakes. However I’ve also heard a lot of people say they’re calm, so it’s a bit hard to judge. I’d be a bit more hesitant to get one if they’re constantly wild and trying to bite, I won’t lie.
Also, where would the best place to get one be? I really, really like the high blue individuals (I know there a full blues, but those are too rare and expensive) that look more teal, but I know I wouldn’t be able to know if I just bought a random baby. Is there anyone that specializes in these? Thanks for any answers!
There are a lot of people that work with these, a handful of names that come to mind (in no particular order):
Rob Stone
Owen McIntyre/Rogue Reptile
Justin Smith/The Herpetoculture Network
Terry Burwell
I would absolutely recommend to reaching out to any/all of them and getting first-hand info, they are all very approachable and happy to chat (just be respectful of their time)
But as a whirlwind from having spoken to all of them and listened to all of them on podcasts…
Biggest thing to be aware of is that these animals need to be kept at cooler temps. They should not have sustained temps over mid-80s max but do much better at low 80s to upper 70s. They also greatly benefit from a good cool down in winter (as in they have been observed actively out and hunting down to 40)
Any individual animal will have its own personality but as a whole they tend to be very calm once out of their cage and aware it is not food time. But they are very food oriented and may strike/bite if you just reach in without using a hook or something to break the response. I know at least three of the four I mentioned above have readily let children (their own or siblings) handle them once out of the cage. They also tend to bee very gregarious and happily bask out in the open, but again YMMV
Probably a little late to this conversation. But, I have Ball pythons too and just got my first Rhino from Mike at Scattershot. She took a little longer to warm up then a ball . The first couple weeks were humbling lol. But now with patience and building time out of the enclosure slowly she will literally seek out handling. I have 2 or 3 balls that do this but non to this level. She will literally surf the front of the cage when she sees us. Come out of her hide if we are in the room. Shes super fun. Its a totally different experience handling. Shes 2 and very tiny ,fast and lightweight. You have to be aware and gentle.Shes always up to something lol. I see her actively from sun up to sun down. She has a basking light on for a couple hours. No other heat source. You can create a beautiful enclosure for them and they use every inch. In the last 2 months Ive went from thinking I made a mistake to wanting 4 or 5 more
