Tx rat feeding, shedding, and growth ?s - really long

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Posted by Kristen on August 07, 2001 at 22:11:50:

I have had a wild caught Tx rat,about 21 in long, for about six weeks (first snake). I don't remove him from his tank to feed, but I put a thawed frozen fuzzie in a small cardboard box and lay it on it's side in the tank while we have the snake out. When we put him back in the tank, he seems at first repelled by the mouse and goes into his hide, but then he has always come back for it anywhere up to two hours later - whether it was a pinkie or now a fuzzie. I remove the box once he's eaten and then we don't handle him for two days. Last week, on the regular feeding day, he didn't eat the mouse that was left all night (he only seems to come out voluntarily at night) so I threw it away and tried again the next night. HE ate that night. Last night we handled him for a while before putting him back in his tank with the fuzzie already in there and he did not eat all night. My questions are: are there potential problems to feeding in this manner? Are we handling him too much before feeding - we like to since we don't bother him for two days after? If he doesn't eat, do I try again the next night or wait until the next week(I hate to throw away many fuzzies)? He seems to have grown a couple of inches since we've had him, and he is definitely larger around - but he has shown no signs of shedding, except he has had a few dry flakes or pieces of scales around his head (soaking did not seem to help as he never put his head in the water) How often might he shed and how long does a shed take? Also I have been told that he might grow to 41/2 to 6 feet, but will he stay relatively thin? THanks to any who offer advice or info.

Follow Ups:

even longer:) TravisG 08/08/01 (0)
Re: Tx rat feeding, shedding, and growth ?s - really long patricia sherman 08/08/01 (0)

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: I have had a wild caught Tx rat,about 21 in long, for about six weeks (first snake). I don't remove him from his tank to feed, but I put a thawed frozen fuzzie in a small cardboard box and lay it on it's side in the tank while we have the snake out. When we put him back in the tank, he seems at first repelled by the mouse and goes into his hide, but then he has always come back for it anywhere up to two hours later - whether it was a pinkie or now a fuzzie. I remove the box once he's eaten and then we don't handle him for two days. Last week, on the regular feeding day, he didn't eat the mouse that was left all night (he only seems to come out voluntarily at night) so I threw it away and tried again the next night. HE ate that night. Last night we handled him for a while before putting him back in his tank with the fuzzie already in there and he did not eat all night. My questions are: are there potential problems to feeding in this manner? Are we handling him too much before feeding - we like to since we don't bother him for two days after? If he doesn't eat, do I try again the next night or wait until the next week(I hate to throw away many fuzzies)? He seems to have grown a couple of inches since we've had him, and he is definitely larger around - but he has shown no signs of shedding, except he has had a few dry flakes or pieces of scales around his head (soaking did not seem to help as he never put his head in the water) How often might he shed and how long does a shed take? Also I have been told that he might grow to 41/2 to 6 feet, but will he stay relatively thin? THanks to any who offer advice or info.

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