Re: new rat snake owner please help (long)

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Posted by Bobbi on April 22, 2000 at 19:15:47:

In Reply to: Re: new rat snake owner please help (long) posted by Mike on December 08, 1999 at 06:20:21:

: : I just recieved my first rat snake as an early xmas present and have a few questions;

: : 1) Ever since I brought him home he has spent most of the time between the top of the terrarium and the lid, is this normal, or could it have something to do with the substrate,

: : 2) I purchased a heater rock, a heating pad, and a heat lamp, which is the best for maintaining the proper temperature of the tank and what should the temperature of the tank be at night,

: : and lastly how many pinkies does a young rat snake eat when feeding? thanks.

: It's probably not the substrate - unless you're using cedar. NEVER use cedar. If you give him a hiding spot on the cage floor, he will probably use that instead. Use the heat pad under the tank at one end of the tank and put about a 50watt bulb above that area too. What kind of rat snake is it? If it's one of the North American rats, 85-88 degrees above tha heat pad should be good. Mid 70's on the other end of tank is good. Just take a thermometer and lay it on the substrate to get an accurate temp. reading.

I have a 4-year-old rat snake that is about 5-1/2 feet long - and he eats about 5-6 feeder mice (fuzzies) every 3-4 weeks. I feed him once a month or as soon as he sheds, whichever comes first. He hides from rats... chicken snake, huh? Is this unusual to feed him so many? He sometimes is afraid of live mice (about once every 6-8 months) - and will only eat dead frozen ones. Odd, but true.

Please let me know what you all are feeding a similar-sized snake...

Bobbi

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: : : : I just recieved my first rat snake as an early xmas present and have a few questions; : : : 1) Ever since I brought him home he has spent most of the time between the top of the terrarium and the lid, is this normal, or could it have something to do with the substrate, : : : 2) I purchased a heater rock, a heating pad, and a heat lamp, which is the best for maintaining the proper temperature of the tank and what should the temperature of the tank be at night, : : : and lastly how many pinkies does a young rat snake eat when feeding? thanks. : : It's probably not the substrate - unless you're using cedar. NEVER use cedar. If you give him a hiding spot on the cage floor, he will probably use that instead. Use the heat pad under the tank at one end of the tank and put about a 50watt bulb above that area too. What kind of rat snake is it? If it's one of the North American rats, 85-88 degrees above tha heat pad should be good. Mid 70's on the other end of tank is good. Just take a thermometer and lay it on the substrate to get an accurate temp. reading. : I have a 4-year-old rat snake that is about 5-1/2 feet long - and he eats about 5-6 feeder mice (fuzzies) every 3-4 weeks. I feed him once a month or as soon as he sheds, whichever comes first. He hides from rats... chicken snake, huh? Is this unusual to feed him so many? He sometimes is afraid of live mice (about once every 6-8 months) - and will only eat dead frozen ones. Odd, but true. : Please let me know what you all are feeding a similar-sized snake... : Bobbi

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