Defining Characteristics:

• Juveniles have a gray body with brown spots while adults have variable bright yellow/orange or copper coloration all over. Patterns vary in intensity but will have 2 dark stripes going down the back
• Semi-arboreal snakes that love to climb trees looking for prey or a safe place to bask
• Everglades often breed with other native rat snakes in their native habitat  like the Yellow and Gray rat snakes 

Name: Pantherophis alleghaniensis, commonly known as the Everglades Rat snake's name comes from the location where it is more commonly found, the Florida Everglades.

Recommended Enclosure Size & Setup: A single juvenile animal should be kept in a 24x18 inch footprint enclosure until it outgrows that. Adult enclosures should be upgraded to a 4x2 foot footprint.

Solitary housing is recommended, and the enclosure should provide a cool side (70°F) and a hot side (90°F), a large water bowl that the snake can soak their whole body in, a hide they can access, and plenty of places to climb. 

Temperature (°F): Ambient temperature should be 70-75 degrees, while basking temperatures should ideally be between 85-90°. Nighttime temps shouldn't drop lower than 65°. We recommend monitoring these temperatures with a thermostat (VE-200, Herpstat, Freedom Breeder Thermostats) with a night drop feature.

Humidity: These snakes live in swamp lands and close to water sources in the Florida Everglades, so in captivity, they need a decent humidity level so they can shed easily. Humidity levels in our enclosures usually stay between 40-60%. We recommend creating a humid hide that your snake can retreat to and a large water dish that they can soak in. A good thermometer/hygrometer combo meter will help keep this in check.

Size: Hatchlings are approximately 10-12 inches in length, and full-grown adults range from 4 to 5 feet; males are typically smaller than females. At the time of sale, these snakes are about 12 inches.

Age: The typical lifespan in captivity under ideal conditions is 20 years, and in the wild this is shortened to around 15 years. Approximate age at time of sale is 1-2 months old.

Feeding: In the wild these snakes are known to prey on frogs, lizards, rodents, and small bird eggs. Our snakes are currently feeding on 1-day newborn frozen (thawed) pinky mice every 5-7 days. Babies are often fed baby mice cut in half until they are large enough to eat whole prey. 

Sexing: Snakes are sexed by using a probe inserted into their vent and gently pushed towards the tip of the tail and measured by the amount of caudal scales based on the depth. Shorter count of caudal scales is a female and a larger count is a male.

Color/Pattern: Hatchlings are gray with mottled brown spots going down their backs, while adults will look drastically different with yellow orange coloration on their entire body.

Social Behavior: These are solitary snakes that do better on their own. Although there has been success with keeping multiples in the same enclosure, if adequate space isn't provided for each snake, this will lead to a more stressful environment. These snakes are active during the day and will utilize any climbing space provided. Most snakes take some time to feel safe in their new environment so they will likely hide from you until they understand you are not a threat to them. 

Breeding: Most colubrids require a brumation period where temperatures are dropped to simulate the dormancy these snakes experience during the fall and winter seasons, which means the snakes have to be periodically cooled down and have their feeding periods reduced. Once the season turns to spring (after approximately 3 months of brumation) the snakes are then warmed up periodically and fed larger meals before eventually pairing.

Most rat snakes from North America take approximately 5 weeks to lay a clutch of eggs, and those eggs should be collected and put in an incubator with a vermiculite substrate that will stay between 75-82°F and about 95% humidity. Temperature fluctuations do not create many problems, but it's always safe to stay at consistent temperatures. Snake eggs will begin to hatch approximately 60-70 days after laying.  

Natural Range: These snakes are found in Southern Florida along the Everglades, Lake Okeechobee, and many river systems. Researchers often find them climbing in trees or hiding in leaf piles.

History in the Hobby: Although striking in appearance, these snakes have not held a popular position in the hobby. This is likely because of their temperament (being defensive) and being widely available in the pet trade.