Great Plains Rat Snake (Pantherophis emoryi)

Common Name: Great Plains Rat Snake
Scientific Name: Pantherophis emoryi
Source: CB
Adult Size: 90–120cm (roughly 3–4ft)
Native Range: Central United States and northern Mexico, from Nebraska and Colorado south through Texas into the Chihuahuan Desert region

Enclosure: A minimum 120×45×45cm Viperia PVC vivarium, furnished with a dry substrate such as aspen or coco coir, multiple snug hides at both the warm and cool ends, and low-level cork bark or smooth branches for occasional climbing enrichment
Heating: A warm basking spot of around 30–32°C, a cool end ambient of 22–24°C, with a gentle night drop down to 18–20°C
Humidity: 40–50% as a general baseline; achieved by lightly misting the cool end of the enclosure every few days and using a partially moisture-retaining substrate — avoid keeping the enclosure overly damp
UVB: A 6% UVB tube run along most of the vivarium's width, positioned so the animal can bask 25–35cm from the lamp — while rat snakes are largely crepuscular, low-level UVB supports natural behaviour and overall wellbeing
Diet: Appropriately sized defrosted mice or rats; juveniles typically feed every 5–7 days, adults every 10–14 days — always offer prey using tongs and never feed live rodents

ABOUT THIS SPECIES

The Great Plains Rat Snake is a slender, naturally curious colubrid native to the open grasslands, rocky scrubland, and semi-arid plains of central North America. With its warm buff-to-grey base colouration and crisp dark dorsal blotching, it has an understated elegance that sets it apart from more commonly kept rat snakes — and its compact adult size makes it an excellent choice for keepers who want something a little different without needing a huge amount of space.

These snakes tend to settle into captivity readily, becoming calmer and more handleable with regular, gentle interaction — making them well suited to confident beginners and intermediate keepers alike. They are active and inquisitive animals that reward a well-structured enclosure with visible, engaging behaviour, and their modest care requirements make day-to-day keeping straightforward and enjoyable.