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Posted by patricia sherman on November 08, 2002 at 17:53:12:
In Reply to: Need Eastern Ratsnake advice please... posted by blondemoment on November 08, 2002 at 17:05:50:
:He's about 2 feet long ...
Still pretty small. He probably weighs about 50 to 60 grams.
:Right now I've just got paper towels on the floor of his dwelling (he's in a 55 gallon aquarium, with a heating pad on one end).
Paper towels work really well, but in a tank that large, may be a bit expensive.
:What type of substrate would he like? He seems quite comfortable on his paper towels, but do I need to give him something else?
Newspaper works really well, and costs nothing. Many keepers swear by aspen shavings. Cypress mulch is also popular. I'm partial to the use of additive-free bedding plant mix, when I'm not using paper towels or newspaper. It is really convenient to use a substrate that can be spot-cleaned rather than having to change the entire thing every time, as one must do with paper. Something that you should never consider using, is gravel or sand; both are very bad for your snakey. Also, if you're using anything other than paper, it is wisest to feed snakey in a separate container, to avoid ingestion of substrate.
:He has a few hiding spots in his tank and his water bowl (which he's not at all interested in...) Does he need rocks or anything?
Probability is that he drinks when you're asleep. A rock, or a piece of pottery, serves well to assist in shedding, and it can also be a decorative and esthetically pleasing addition. Just be sure that it rests firmly on the floor of the cage, and that he can't get partially underneath and then have it crush him.
:The guy that gave him to us said he'd eat one mouse per week...I put him with four mice a few days after we got him and he ate all four in less than 30 minutes. So I gave him 4 this week as well...and he ate them again in less than 30 minutes. Does this mean that he needs more? Should we feed him more frequently than once per week? Don't want to underfeed him!
If he's able to wolf down three or four mice of a particular size, then it is far past time to move him up to the next larger size of prey. As young as he is, you could feed him at five-day intervals and feed smaller meals, and he'd probably do as well or better that way. Many will tell you that weekly is fine, but I don't move any of mine up to weekly feedings before they're at least a year old, about 30" long, and weigh at least 95 grams.
Just my observations,
Tricia
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