what you are getting is a wild caught adult. Get him home and let him settle in for a week. Offer him a fuzzy or hopper. Maybe you will get lucky. As far as catching prey from outside, since you have a wild caught animal, he has been eating wild prey. I know this is by no means ideal and Florida is not his natural habitat, but if you bought a house gecko or tree frog from a pet store, it is going to be wild caught anyway. If feeding him wild caught prey keeps him alive, then that is what you have to do. You can try catching a tree frog and "scenting" the mouse. Place both of them in a deli cup for a while, or take the mouse and rub it on the frog. The mouse will pick up the scent and then throw the mouse with the snake. Do not sit and watch. Place the mouse in and leave the snake alone for a couple hours. Do not try an adult mouse. Be sure to try a fuzzy or hopper, even though the snake could take bigger. A little mouse will also be easier to scent. Your room temps. sound great. DO NOT put additional heat on him. I would keep his cage very simple at first. No bigger than a ten gallon and only the essentials (water bowl, newspaper or paper towel as substrate, and maybe a climbing branch or hide box. Make it easy for him to find the food. After he gets settled in, you can decorate the cage if desired. Good luck.



Phil Goss

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