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Thread: Adopted snake update!

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    Featured Member kandie_kitten's Avatar
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    Default Adopted snake update!

    I posted back in the beginning of April about a snake I had adopted.

    A lady's son had bought this snake without her permission, totally neglected it, until it eventually escaped, and this snake survived in her walls for three months in the middle of a Pennsylvanian winter.

    We found out later he had glutted himself on the squirrels living in her walls

    Anyway, at first, I had some trouble with him eating. I want to feed him frozen, but because of his time away in the walls, he refuses no matter what I try.

    So I fed him live baby mice, which he also refused to eat- for weeks.

    I tried a few tips I found online (spraying him with warm water right before I put the mouse in works the best)

    He remains enormously obese (his head is smaller than my thumb nail, but I can't wrap my hand around his body), despite eating only fuzzies now.

    But isn't he gorgeous?! (excuse the cage...it's his "feeding/cleaning" time cage.)






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    Featured Member Winged Dinghy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Adopted snake update!

    Wow, he's a beaut! What incredible colors. I like how fat he is.

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    God/dess velvet's Avatar
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    Default Re: Adopted snake update!

    aww my first snake was a red rat/corn snake. i cant believe how fat it is. you could probably go awhile before feeding. that is probably why he wasn't eating, not hungry.
    i know the PC thing to do is feed frozen but none of mine have ever eaten frozen.
    As quoted by Luckyone:
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    Featured Member kandie_kitten's Avatar
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    Default Re: Adopted snake update!

    Well, he has been eating now, voraciously, about 3 fuzzies a week.

    A few snake-knowledgable friends have suggested I go to one adult every 2 weeks, but I'm reluctant to feed a live adult because it may claw him.

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    Featured Member Jezzebelle's Avatar
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    Default Re: Adopted snake update!

    Omg what a porker! LOL
    He got a Boa body goin` on!
    Looks like he needs a poop or is that just a fat booty?


    Id be worried about feeding live too, btw. But I guess he grappled with squirrels and won?
    A civilian spends money to look good
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    God/dess velvet's Avatar
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    Default Re: Adopted snake update!

    if the snake is hungry the mouse wont have time to claw him. i feed large rats and they are gone before they barely hit the ground.
    how do you think snakes in the wild do? they don't eat dead food and never would.
    As quoted by Luckyone:
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    Methodus saved my life!

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    Featured Member kandie_kitten's Avatar
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    Default Re: Adopted snake update!

    ^Oh I know, but this snake is finicky. He doesn't always eat immediately. Sometimes I have to leave the mouse in overnight.

    And he also doesn't constrict. He just goes up, sniffs it, then opens his mouth and eats, usually eating the mouse tail first, so an adult mouse would have plenty of time to cause some damage.

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    God/dess velvet's Avatar
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    Default Re: Adopted snake update!

    hmm weird. in that case i see what you mean.
    As quoted by Luckyone:
    I asked directions from a genie in a bottle of jim beam and she lied to me.

    Methodus saved my life!

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    Veteran Member Fenriswolf's Avatar
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    Default Re: Adopted snake update!

    Haha, I wouldn't have a clue about snake fatness, though I suppose when you point it out that that is pretty fat!

    He's gorgeous though, I wish we could keep snakes here... probably lucky, I don't need any more pets who'd like to eat the other pets.

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    Default Re: Adopted snake update!

    That's a gorgeous snake, I love the colors.

    As for the feeding issue, I agree that moving him up to adult rats will lead to some trouble. That being said, feeding him the adult rats may cause him to change his eating behavior once he realizes that he's no longer dealing with tame little fuzzies.

    If anything, you could probably not feed him for 2 weeks (guaranteeing that he'll be hungry since he's used to eating every week), and then give him an adult rat. That way he'd be more inclined to eat immediately...if not because he's hungry then because the rat is scratching him like all hell.

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    Veteran Member Fenriswolf's Avatar
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    Default Re: Adopted snake update!

    Can't adult rats seriously injure a snake? I have heard some snake people say they never feed them for that reason.

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    Featured Member kandie_kitten's Avatar
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    Default Re: Adopted snake update!

    ^Yes, they can. Which is why many snake owners will feed frozen.

    I don't think I would ever feed a rat to any of my snakes. I'd rather feed 2 or 3 mice than one rat.

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    God/dess velvet's Avatar
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    Default Re: Adopted snake update!

    i think a rat is to big for that size snake. i fed the one i had that size mice. (2)
    As quoted by Luckyone:
    I asked directions from a genie in a bottle of jim beam and she lied to me.

    Methodus saved my life!

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    Featured Member kandie_kitten's Avatar
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    Default Re: Adopted snake update!

    ^oh absolutely. He's way too small for rats.

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    Veteran Member datchapin's Avatar
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    Default Re: Adopted snake update!

    I'm not an expert, but if your leaving the live mouse/rat in overnight your feeding it too soon. Also it's behavior when eating indicates it's needs a bigger prey. If it can eat it from the bottom up their way too small. They don't start with the head because of risk, but because it's the smallest point. Also the lack of actually constricting is something you should ask a pro about. All the snakes I've had have killed their prey first than eaten at their leisure. If your worried about feeding it too soon put the mouse in first and if there's no reaction from the snake don't leave it in there. Don't leave it in until there's a reaction from the snake. I would usually leave the mouse in for five minutes and if my snake wasn't in the process of hunting it or eating it in that time then I would take it out.
    The more I see, the less I know, the more I like to let it go! - RHCP

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