Re: Radiated rat snake feeding...

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Posted by Patrick Alexander on September 29, 1999 at 21:06:00:

In Reply to: Re: Radiated rat snake feeding... posted by CD on September 28, 1999 at 18:46:14:

: This is merely a solution that has worked for me with radiateds. I purchased a pair of 6 month old radiateds last December. The female ate with enthusiasm from the beginning, but the male ate one meal in 6 weeks or so. They were housed in very basic rubbermaid enclosures with paper towel substrate, so I could better monitor them for the first couple of months.

That's pretty much the same situation I'm in... except that the male is the one that eats very well and the female hasn't eaten in the month I've had her... And instead of rubbermaids I've got them in half of a ten-gallon each.

: I noticed the male was more nervous than the female, and decided insecurity could be a factor. I set him up in a naturalistic cage with cypress mulch (which he constantly burrowed in), hiding places, and some artificial plants. Within two days he began eating like crazy and hasn't refused a meal since.

Okay, sounds like it's worth a try. My female that isn't eating also appears to be very nervous, so I guess I'll move her up into an entire ten gallon and give her some mulchy stuff and some plants (probably even real ones... ooh...).

: A couple of other tips if you don't mind unsolicited advice. Keep an eye out for shed cycles and mist them regularly, I have noticed a high occurance of shedding problems with these if the humidity gets low. Also handle them. I am not in the habit of handling my snakes very often, and my female radiated was especially docile from day one. But with a few months of age and growth, she acquired quite an attitude. She has now been dubbed spawn of satan. I can honestly say I have never encountered a snake that seemed to relish attack with practically no provocation, as much as this one. She particularly enjoys facial strikes, but will never turn down a finger or arm if the face is too far out of range. The threat display (more of a warning of the inevitable), is quite an interesting sight however. The inflating of the neck, and gaping makes for a cool performance.

I've already noticed the need for humidity... the male shed last week and needed some help with it. BTW, do you just give these guys high humidity all the time, or just when they're nearing a shed? And regarding the threat display... When I got the pair of radiated's I also got a young tiger ratsnake (btw, these are *awesome* snakes!) and I was kind of disappointed by teh fact that even though both radiated rat snakes and tiger rat snakes are both known for aggression and for the nifty threat display, none of mine was willing to show me the display... Hey, maybe if I leave them alone a while? :)

Patrick Alexander

Follow Ups:

Re: Radiated rat snake feeding... CD 9/30/99 (1)
- Cool. Thanks for the info. ~n/p~ Patrick Alexander 10/01/99 (0)
Re: Radiated rat snake feeding... Patrick Alexander 9/29/99 (0)

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: : This is merely a solution that has worked for me with radiateds. I purchased a pair of 6 month old radiateds last December. The female ate with enthusiasm from the beginning, but the male ate one meal in 6 weeks or so. They were housed in very basic rubbermaid enclosures with paper towel substrate, so I could better monitor them for the first couple of months. : That's pretty much the same situation I'm in... except that the male is the one that eats very well and the female hasn't eaten in the month I've had her... And instead of rubbermaids I've got them in half of a ten-gallon each. : : I noticed the male was more nervous than the female, and decided insecurity could be a factor. I set him up in a naturalistic cage with cypress mulch (which he constantly burrowed in), hiding places, and some artificial plants. Within two days he began eating like crazy and hasn't refused a meal since. : Okay, sounds like it's worth a try. My female that isn't eating also appears to be very nervous, so I guess I'll move her up into an entire ten gallon and give her some mulchy stuff and some plants (probably even real ones... ooh...). : : A couple of other tips if you don't mind unsolicited advice. Keep an eye out for shed cycles and mist them regularly, I have noticed a high occurance of shedding problems with these if the humidity gets low. Also handle them. I am not in the habit of handling my snakes very often, and my female radiated was especially docile from day one. But with a few months of age and growth, she acquired quite an attitude. She has now been dubbed spawn of satan. I can honestly say I have never encountered a snake that seemed to relish attack with practically no provocation, as much as this one. She particularly enjoys facial strikes, but will never turn down a finger or arm if the face is too far out of range. The threat display (more of a warning of the inevitable), is quite an interesting sight however. The inflating of the neck, and gaping makes for a cool performance. : I've already noticed the need for humidity... the male shed last week and needed some help with it. BTW, do you just give these guys high humidity all the time, or just when they're nearing a shed? And regarding the threat display... When I got the pair of radiated's I also got a young tiger ratsnake (btw, these are *awesome* snakes!) and I was kind of disappointed by teh fact that even though both radiated rat snakes and tiger rat snakes are both known for aggression and for the nifty threat display, none of mine was willing to show me the display... Hey, maybe if I leave them alone a while? :) : Patrick Alexander

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