Re: Thanks for the info Bill / one more question.......

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Posted by Bill on June 01, 1999 at 00:45:38:

In Reply to: Thanks for the info Bill / one more question....... posted by Math-U on May 31, 1999 at 08:38:52:

I initially got 2.3 wc imported adults. I immediately treated them w/Panacur and Flagyl and all were voracious feeders on live mice immediately. Now, all but one hit live prey and the one that does is the newest replacemant male for a male I lost to a virulent upper resp. infection. He ate two mice at the same time the first time I tried to feed him (grabbed one and "rolled" it down his coils so he could hit the other mouse)
Now all eat only dead hopper sized mice presented w/tongs or dangled by hand (depending upon where the snake is!). I have wooden cocatiel nest boxes suspended at varying heights so as to provide hide boxes in different temp. gradients. Usually if I dangle a dead mouse in the hole its nailed immediately.
They can be finicky though! For awhile (month or so) mice were refused but rat pups were relished. Now they're all back on mice. If the mouse is too large it will usually be spit out before it gets half way down. I usually wait until they're actively cruising the cage before trying to feed them. When hungry the reaction is immediate. In my experience they only seem to need to feed around every 10 days or so but others have gluttons that feed more often.
What is amazing to me is how much they tame down! I can safely hold all of mine once I get them out of the cage and don't make any "baiting type" moves. The most important thing w/Goynosomas is hydration! They soak alot but that doesn't always equate to drinking. They must be misted every three days or so and all mine come right up to the sprayer to drink.
They teach me something new every day. Its a good idea to bother them as little as possible for the first few months or so. I even went so far as to cover the cages w/a towel as they are extremely shy initially. Hope this helps - Bill

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: I initially got 2.3 wc imported adults. I immediately treated them w/Panacur and Flagyl and all were voracious feeders on live mice immediately. Now, all but one hit live prey and the one that does is the newest replacemant male for a male I lost to a virulent upper resp. infection. He ate two mice at the same time the first time I tried to feed him (grabbed one and "rolled" it down his coils so he could hit the other mouse) : Now all eat only dead hopper sized mice presented w/tongs or dangled by hand (depending upon where the snake is!). I have wooden cocatiel nest boxes suspended at varying heights so as to provide hide boxes in different temp. gradients. Usually if I dangle a dead mouse in the hole its nailed immediately. : They can be finicky though! For awhile (month or so) mice were refused but rat pups were relished. Now they're all back on mice. If the mouse is too large it will usually be spit out before it gets half way down. I usually wait until they're actively cruising the cage before trying to feed them. When hungry the reaction is immediate. In my experience they only seem to need to feed around every 10 days or so but others have gluttons that feed more often. : What is amazing to me is how much they tame down! I can safely hold all of mine once I get them out of the cage and don't make any "baiting type" moves. The most important thing w/Goynosomas is hydration! They soak alot but that doesn't always equate to drinking. They must be misted every three days or so and all mine come right up to the sprayer to drink. : They teach me something new every day. Its a good idea to bother them as little as possible for the first few months or so. I even went so far as to cover the cages w/a towel as they are extremely shy initially. Hope this helps - Bill

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