What are the markings on a rat snake?
Racers have elliptical, uniform blotches down length of the body. Rat snakes have irregularly shaped (but uniform to each other) blotches down the length of the body. Both of their patterns run down through the tip of their pointed tails as opposed to the rattlesnake’s “velvet tail.” There is no stripe down the back!
Why does my black rat snake have mouth rot?
Like other constricting reptiles, black rat snakes are prone to mouth rot, or infectious stomatitis. This painful bacterial infection of the mouth displays as saliva bubbles as well as inflammation in and around the snake’s mouth. It’s imperative to treat mouth rot; an advanced infection can cause the snake’s teeth to fall out.
How to tell if a rat snake is black or white?
In contrast to the black racer, the belly of a rat snake is a mixture of light and dark, giving a somewhat mottled appearance. Light areas are often apparent between scales, and the scales on the back are weakly keeled. A juvenile rat snake is gray with light spots running down the middle of the back, and has white eyes.
Why does my black rat snake keep wheezing?
Black rat snakes also are susceptible to fungal and respiratory infections. If your snake is breathing with its mouth open or is wheezing, these are signs of a respiratory problem. Discolored skin indicates a possible fungal infection. All of the above are conditions that require treatment by a veterinarian who specializes in reptiles.
Why is my rat snake breathing with its mouth open?
Black rat snakes also are susceptible to fungal and respiratory infections. If your snake is breathing with its mouth open or wheezing, these are signs of a respiratory problem. Discolored skin indicates a possible fungal infection.
What are the symptoms of a rat snake bite?
There are lots of common signs and symptoms of black rat snakes that can appear if you get a bite from them. But here we are only going to discuss the most common one that you can experience after getting the initial bite from a Black Rat Snake. Numbness in the face or limb
What does a black rat snake do for a living?
The black rat snake is an excellent climber and may use trees to flee from potential predators and to seek out birds and bird nests for food. This snake is also a frequent resident of farm buildings and may function as an important control agent for rodents in barns, corn cribs, and other outbuildings.
What does the head of a rat snake look like?
The head of the rat snake is shaped like that of a turtle, and they have a small cap of scales with shiny appearance above the eyes but usually have no pits on their heads. They have round pupils and also have several small teeth. They have black scales on their backs with shiny appearances while their underside is lighter in color.
What kind of snake is black with white spots?
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries notes that the eastern rat snake is primarily black, with a shiny appearance. It is possible to see a spotted pattern after this snake has eaten a meal or when it is stretched. These spots are white, yellow, orange or red. Occasionally, the bellies are checkered in white, gray, yellow or brown.
