Red Rat Snake Help!!

[Cheska]

About three weeks ago I aquired a 4 1/2 ft red rat snake. ;D He is the most gentle and inquisitive snake I have seen. The day I got him, he let me hold him all the way home in the car with no problem. Last week he went blue and I tried to feed him (both of my balls eat when in blue) but he wasn't interested so I removed the prey. Yesterday in the morning he finally shed and I fed him last night. After feeding, I was sitting next to his cage admiring his new skin. The little butt head struck at me. Luckily the glass was there or he would have got my nose for sure!! s36.gif
Anyway, I have never seen this before. Is this normal? Was he still hungry? I can't keep a snake around my kids that is going to stike whenever he feels like it. What should I do??

Thanks,
Cheska

[___LEE___]

Re:Red Rat Snake Help!!

he probably was just stressed u know how we don't like to be stared at maybe he doesn't like that either LOL what did u feed him and what size prey cuz he could have still been hungry as well.

[Cheska]

Re:Red Rat Snake Help!!

I fed him a large mouse (that is what the guy I got him from was feeding him). He could probably take a small rat, but this is only the second time he has fed since I got him. Because he went blue, I didn't really get a chance to see how quickly he started hunting again after feeding the last time to make an accurate assesment of his feeding habits.

[___LEE___]

Re:Red Rat Snake Help!!

i always offer a second food item to my boas even if they don't take that is why i f/k my stuff so if they don't take i freeze the one they don't take. may want to try that or move to small rat every 10 days. that would work better since rats are more nutritious for the snake.

[sclark]

Re:Red Rat Snake Help!!

Hi Cheska,

Congrats on getting the rat snake..

First its fully normal for alot of snakes to refuse food during shed cycle.. So don't worry about that.. As for the snake striking. It could be several reasons he did that. Remember that when a snake is looking through glass, they can not smell, so the movment could have startled him, or he could have been hungry. Most snakes to not have the best vision, so they see something move and they can't sence what it is, the do it as a defensive reflex.

Now you should up its food intank. A 4 1/2 rat snake requires more food then one mouse at a feeding.. When my Blue Beauty (also a rat snake) was 3 1/2 foot, it would whomp 3 large mice every seven days.. Right now she will eat upto 13 mice at a sitting, or two small rats, or one large Medium rat. She is over 8 foot now. I would start offering your snake atleast 2 mice at a feeding. Rat snakes can be nippy, but that depends on the snake itself. Rat snakes are alot of fun to work with, just need the right amopunt of food..

Again I would up him to 2 large mice and see how he does..

Good luck and keep us posted..
Steve

[Cheska]

Re:Red Rat Snake Help!!

Thanks Steve
When the previous owner told me that he only fed the snake one large mouse every 10 days I thought he was joking. My ball eats a small/medium rat every 10 days and he is no where near the size of the rat snake. I think I will up the size prey he gets or double the amount of items offered. He has been gentle since day one and it sort of hurt my feelings that he struck at me. But you are right, he probably thought I was another snack. Thanks for the advice. I tried to post a pic of him but it didn't work for some reason, I'll try again.

Cheska

[Cheska]

Re:Red Rat Snake Help!!

Woohooo, it worked that time, isn't he beautiful!!

Oh, and I need to give credit for that pic to Charles, he is the guy I got Cinnamon from and it is his picture. Thanks.

[sclark]

Re:Red Rat Snake Help!!

Hey Cheska,

Nice looking rat.. Now that I can see him. I would move him upto a small rat, or atleast 3-4 adult mice every 7-10 days..

Great Luck with him..

Steve