Indigos...blind feeders, or sight hunters? *new topic*

Posted by Fred Albury(Aztec Reptiles U.S.A.) on July 20, 2002 at 12:48:07:

In Reply to: DT, My animals ...(Plus a second feeding question) posted by Carl on July 20, 2002 at 11:22:56:

: usually seem to go about swallowing the meal when they do the "bulldozer" routine...If mine don't want to eat, they usually just ignore the item completely...

: A secondary question: How long is "long enough" to leave a food item in the cage (FT) and what would you consider too long for safe consumption, given that we know snakes dead animals in the wild ie road kill, etc..

: : There was a topic brought up a few weeks ago about how sometimes people's indigos will push the food around a bit before eating it.

: : "Bulldozing" is the term I've heard and used. For me, it's a clue to remove the prey item because I've never had them eat something once they start bulldozing.

: : I think it's to do one of 2 things: Elicit a panic response from something that "Playin' Possum", to make sure it's not old and rotten... OR that they are transfering scent from the rodent to themselves, perhaps to add a little advantage to hunting in burrows.

: : Just thoughts...

: : Doug T

Okay, heres a *FRESH NEW TOPIC*, lol

I have noticed, in my meanderings(Can I call them meanderings, or were they merely wanderings?) uhhh.. Well, what I have observed in the course of my work with Drymarchon(Sounds more astute and pomous, no?) is this:

When prey items are putinto a Indigos cage, they often LUNGE around, totally oblivious to the prey item...biting the water bowl, the newspaper, striking at the glass cage door(Back ,you spawm of Satan!) anything that the mouse or rat has TOUCHED is fair game and they will move all over the cage, even BYPASSING the dead mouse up in their FURY to eat.

BUT WAIT?
I thought these snakes were diurnal sight hunters?
Then why do they seemigly not even use their sight in captivity to find food. I have YET to see them use their sight, it is always olfactory senses, such as SMELL that lead them to their prey.Sometimes movement attracts them, but for a sight hunting snake, this is pretty pathetic.
I wonder how these snakes hunt in the wild, and if the use of their sight in the wild is increased. For a while I actually wondered if mine were blind(Their not) because they react to the scent markers so strongly. Well thats all, I welcome your comments, one and all.

*cheers*

Fred
(Aztec ReptilesU.S.A.)

Follow Ups:

• Re: Indigos...blind feeders, or sight hunters? *new topic* Edgar M. 07/20/02 (0)
• Re: Indigos...blind feeders, or sight hunters? *new topic* dorkdog 07/20/02 (0)
• Same here Fred...N/P Carl 07/20/02 (0)

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: : usually seem to go about swallowing the meal when they do the "bulldozer" routine...If mine don't want to eat, they usually just ignore the item completely... : : A secondary question: How long is "long enough" to leave a food item in the cage (FT) and what would you consider too long for safe consumption, given that we know snakes dead animals in the wild ie road kill, etc.. : : : There was a topic brought up a few weeks ago about how sometimes people's indigos will push the food around a bit before eating it. : : : "Bulldozing" is the term I've heard and used. For me, it's a clue to remove the prey item because I've never had them eat something once they start bulldozing. : : : I think it's to do one of 2 things: Elicit a panic response from something that "Playin' Possum", to make sure it's not old and rotten... OR that they are transfering scent from the rodent to themselves, perhaps to add a little advantage to hunting in burrows. : : : Just thoughts... : : : Doug T : : Okay, heres a *FRESH NEW TOPIC*, lol : I have noticed, in my meanderings(Can I call them meanderings, or were they merely wanderings?) uhhh.. Well, what I have observed in the course of my work with Drymarchon(Sounds more astute and pomous, no?) is this: : When prey items are putinto a Indigos cage, they often LUNGE around, totally oblivious to the prey item...biting the water bowl, the newspaper, striking at the glass cage door(Back ,you spawm of Satan!) anything that the mouse or rat has TOUCHED is fair game and they will move all over the cage, even BYPASSING the dead mouse up in their FURY to eat. : BUT WAIT? : I thought these snakes were diurnal sight hunters? : Then why do they seemigly not even use their sight in captivity to find food. I have YET to see them use their sight, it is always olfactory senses, such as SMELL that lead them to their prey.Sometimes movement attracts them, but for a sight hunting snake, this is pretty pathetic. : I wonder how these snakes hunt in the wild, and if the use of their sight in the wild is increased. For a while I actually wondered if mine were blind(Their not) because they react to the scent markers so strongly. Well thats all, I welcome your comments, one and all. : *cheers* : Fred : (Aztec ReptilesU.S.A.)

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