Hi, Wendy!

I, too, am looking for a pure white snake. I considered the Leucistic Rat Snake but have decided to go with a Blizzard Corn Snake instead. I actually have a Common Black Rat Snake (same species as the Leucistic Rat Snake you have pictured in your previous post) named Persephone. She was a gift from a friend, who was ordering two kinds of Rat Snakes whose coloration would end up at least mostly black as adults, for his daughter. He wanted to give her a choice between the Common Black Rat Snake and the Amur Rat Snake (IIRC), and she chose the later. My friend said that the breeder he ordered them from promised to send the most mellow hatchling from the clutch of Black Rat Snakes, which gave me my first warning that they might be a snappy breed. When she arrived, she was barely the size of a pencil, but had my rather large male friend totally cowed. She was indeed very snappy, and had bitten him and his daughter several times.

Well, I might be snappy too if I'd just been mailed across the country in a tube! I think she was pretty well freaked at first.

She even had me a little intimidated at first -- but then, my previous snake, a boa constrictor, had died several years before and I hadn't handled a snake in a while. But I was very patient with her, and she has mellowed out quite nicely. She's now two years old, and has only snapped at me once so far since I brought her home -- and that was very shortly after her arrival. She's not actually bitten me yet. She can put on quite a defensive show for our dogs from time to time -- she seems quite alert and bold, and has bitten them on the nose when they got too close an a couple of occasions. Rather comical, really -- they are huge, curious, gentle Scottish Deerhounds and she's still rather small. Despite the size discrepancy, she was quite determined to let them know she would rip their face off (or at least a whisker or two) if they got too close. Recently, she's taken to buzzing her tale -- seemingly in excitement -- when feeding. I feed her live prey. So I do not doubt that the Black Rat Snake's reputation is earned.

Since you've found the South Mountain Reptiles site, you might want to email the breeder there with your questions. I did, and found him to be very prompt and helpful. I, too, prefered the more natural colored eyes in the leucistic Black Rat snake, to the pink eyes in the Blizzard Corn snake. He was frank about the problems with temperament in the Black Rats, including the Leucistics. He described them as being far less tameable than the corn snakes. He even went so far as to say he considered them dangerous, and that he doesn't use that word often. While I am generally very good with animals, and so far have had no problems with Persephone, I decided to go with the Blizzard Corn Snake instead -- and to continue to handle Persephone frequently! As I said to Don at South Mountain Reptiles, it is a lot easier to maintain a reputation for being good with animals if one is careful about which animals one selects first!

But if someone were to offer me a Leucistic Black Rat Snake hatchling for free, as happened with Persephone, I'm not so put off the breed that I'd necessarily refuse! I'd want to know why the offer, and what temperament had so far been displayed (among other things). And if I accepted it, I'd simply know that I would have two snakes needing careful and frequently handling and care to help them become and remain mellow (hopefully). And hope for the best.

However, for me, my preference for normal eyes was not great -- pink eyes will be fine. So, it was a no-brainer to go for the Blizzard Corn Snake -- especially since they were also less expensive!

I really can't address the issue of differences in temperament, etc. between the leucistic Texas Rat snake and the leucistic Black Rat snake. I've read a few things that implied that the Texas Rat snake might be even more snappy than the Black Rat, but I would suggest that you email Don at South Mountain Reptiles with your questions. I'm impressed that he seems to know his snakes, and is very helpful and prompt in his responses.

Good luck in your search!

Dr.Dorothy

We have an albino Red Rat Snake at work that you can barely see any markings. She's beautiful and rather large. I'd love to see an adult Snowy colored Boa. Talk about striking.

Well, I think it is time for a follow-up (and confession) on my first comment. At the time I posted, I was having medical issues and it looked like I might have to have surgery, so I postponed ordering any new snake. I had my surgery on Dec 5th, and there were several complications, leading to an 11-day hospital stay (as opposed to the 4 days we had expected) so it was a good thing I had waited. But within only 2-3 days of my return home, I wanted my snake, so I went to South Mountain Reptiles' website to see what he might have still in stock.

He was out of Blizzard Corn Snakes, but did have a couple of Leucistic Black Rat Snake hatchlings left for sale, one with blue eyes, and one with red eyes (I didn't know they came with red eyes too!) The red-eyed one had not yet been sexed, but the blue-eyed one was a female, which is the sex I had hoped to get, so, after an exchange of emails, I purchased her! I asked Don what behavior/temperament she had so far displayed, and she said that so far, she'd been quite sweet.

And so far, she continues to be so. Despite shipping problems (a Fedex plane had mechanical problems) she arrived in fine condition (if somewhat cold). She warmed up in my hands and has been a charming, sweet thing since. She has "struck" at me only three times in the time I've had her, so far, and seems to enjoy being handled. She's very beautiful, and very young (hatch date was in September 2006), so her scales are nearly translucent, giving her a pinkish cast. I'm sure she will become more boldly white as she grows more adult, thicker scales. There is no sign of any patterning whatsoever. Her eyes look more silver than blue so far, with dark pupils. I expect they may become more blue as she grows.

So, I didn't get a Blizzard Corn Snake after all. I plan to continue to handle my Leucistic Black Rat snake frequently and lovingly.

She's a delight. I've named her Kallisto Aglaia, and am very glad to welcome her into our home and heart, as I would have welcomed and loved a Blizzard Corn Snake. And not-so-secretly, given that she is so far being so sweet, I'm tickled to have the normal-eyed white I preferred.

-- Dorothy