The prodigal snake returns!! (You are soooo lucky Terry)

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Posted by Fred Albury (AZTEC REPTILES) on June 29, 2000 at 13:54:35:

In Reply to: Unbelievable moellendorffi adventure....escapee returns!!! posted by Terry Cox on June 27, 2000 at 10:20:01:

: I just caught a three foot, Chinese red-headed ratsnake in my mouse room. Imagine my shock when I went to get a feeder mouse from a cage and found a nice moellendorffi draped across the top of the cages. This is the story of the moellendorffi escapee.

: Late last summer, when my pair of Chinese red-heads were nearly three yrs. old, I made a stupid mistake while cleaning their cage. I left the top on, but not locked. Meanwhile I went to the bathroom to refreshen their water jug. Unknown to me, one of the redheads got out of the cage by pushing the top up, and when it was gone, the top fell back into place. It was two more weeks before I figured out one of the snakes was gone.

: I was devastated. The moellendorffi is one of my favorite snakes, and I only had one pair. They were doing so well. I immediately decided to order another pair because I eventually want to breed this species, so I started searching for a dealer to get them from. I did get another pair and I'm raising them even more easily than the first pair (no problems).

: The redhead that I still had from the original pair grew even better than in the first couple years, and this spring topped four feet. It eats like a pig now, and I think should be a good 4 and 1/2 feet by now. I'll attach a picture of it.

: The reason this is key, is because the one that showed up today, even though the same age, is about 1 and 1/2 ft. shorter. Why?

: Well, here's a possible answer. My wife and I believe the escapee got in the walls of the house. Somehow it survived a Northern Michigan winter. Fantastic! Remember, these are subtropical snakes. It got down to (-20)*F. last winter. I also believe it hadn't eaten since its escape. That's about 10 months. Is it possible??

: Well, I just put it in a new cage and put in three thawed hoppers and it chugged them right down. I think it's pretty hungry. But, strangely, it is in great shape. It looks very healthy.

: I can hardly believe my luck. I'm so excited, I don't know what else to say right now. Til later then.

: TC/Ratsnake Haven
I have a tale similar to yours, except the "one of a kind hypomelanistic cal king of mine has been gone for at least 6 months, with not a clue as to his whereabouts. Have you bred the Mollendorfi yet?

Fred

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Re: The prodigal snake returns!! (You are soooo lucky Terry) Terry 06/29/00 (0)

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: : I just caught a three foot, Chinese red-headed ratsnake in my mouse room. Imagine my shock when I went to get a feeder mouse from a cage and found a nice moellendorffi draped across the top of the cages. This is the story of the moellendorffi escapee. : : Late last summer, when my pair of Chinese red-heads were nearly three yrs. old, I made a stupid mistake while cleaning their cage. I left the top on, but not locked. Meanwhile I went to the bathroom to refreshen their water jug. Unknown to me, one of the redheads got out of the cage by pushing the top up, and when it was gone, the top fell back into place. It was two more weeks before I figured out one of the snakes was gone. : : I was devastated. The moellendorffi is one of my favorite snakes, and I only had one pair. They were doing so well. I immediately decided to order another pair because I eventually want to breed this species, so I started searching for a dealer to get them from. I did get another pair and I'm raising them even more easily than the first pair (no problems). : : The redhead that I still had from the original pair grew even better than in the first couple years, and this spring topped four feet. It eats like a pig now, and I think should be a good 4 and 1/2 feet by now. I'll attach a picture of it. : : The reason this is key, is because the one that showed up today, even though the same age, is about 1 and 1/2 ft. shorter. Why? : : Well, here's a possible answer. My wife and I believe the escapee got in the walls of the house. Somehow it survived a Northern Michigan winter. Fantastic! Remember, these are subtropical snakes. It got down to (-20)*F. last winter. I also believe it hadn't eaten since its escape. That's about 10 months. Is it possible?? : : Well, I just put it in a new cage and put in three thawed hoppers and it chugged them right down. I think it's pretty hungry. But, strangely, it is in great shape. It looks very healthy. : : I can hardly believe my luck. I'm so excited, I don't know what else to say right now. Til later then. : : TC/Ratsnake Haven : I have a tale similar to yours, except the "one of a kind hypomelanistic cal king of mine has been gone for at least 6 months, with not a clue as to his whereabouts. Have you bred the Mollendorfi yet? : Fred

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