Rat Snake Everglades Health Information

Everglades Rat Snakes should be kept in an enclosure of at least 20-gallons. The cage should be kept at a temperature of about 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day with a basking area in the mid to high 80s. At night the temperature should be between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The enclosure should include a large, shallow water dish for soaking, drinking, and defecating. This water bowl should be cleaned and disinfected regularly. They should also have a hiding box and climbing limb. Good substrates for the Everglades Rat Snake's enclosure include newspaper, paper bags, paper towels, artificial grass, and aspen shavings.

Breeding
Everglades Rat Snakes reach sexual maturity at about two or three years of age. In captivity, they usually breed in the spring and summer. Although hibernation is not necessary, they may be easier to breed if they hibernate for two or three months at between 45 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit before breeding is attempted. The Everglades Rat Snake usually lays one or two clutches containing between 6 and 30 eggs per year. The eggs will hatch after about 60 days of incubation at between 82 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit.