Posted by:
Carmichael
at Wed Feb 13 08:39:12 2008 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by Carmichael ]
You didn't mention how long you have had it. It may simply getting itself adjusted to its new environment. After that you need to carefully assess the set up, temps, lighting, humidity, meeting security needs, etc.....this is all assuming you actually purchased a healthy animal. Did you run any fecals as you mentioned that it did defecate. If not, you should have.
Make sure you keep this animal in a secure animal - baby Dendroaspis are amazing at squeezing out of what seems like impossible escape routes. Also, make sure you provide several very small hide areas (both on the floor and slightly raised). Give it a feeling of denseness with multiple snags/branches criss crossing each other and even a live plant will be welcomed. Provide some leaves on teh floor to provide for additional, natural hides.
Some baby mambas prefer to lap water that is misted on them (their heads too) so it may be dehydrated if you are not misting...you don't need to overdo it. Double and triple check your temps and make sure you are providing a nice thermal gradient. Adding some full spectrum lighting will be helpful too.
Patience is the key. Keep offering prey and see what happens.
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
>>Hello, finally got a captive born baby D. polylepis after much effort and searching- and now have been unable to coax the poor girl to eat! It was sold to me as "established on pinkies". I wasn't aware this was a problem with this species at all! I have tried the following:
>>live pinky mouse
>>live fuzzy mouse
>>live pinky mouse scented w/ rat blood
>>brained mouse fuzzy
>>live mouse fuzzy dipped in chicken broth.
>>A few keepers that I respect have said to try either a small green anole or green treefrog or scenting with one of the aforementioned.
>>The snake shed right after it arrived and the snake is very small so there is the possibility that this is the snake's 1st meal ever! It has defecated several times and has good weight so either it was feeding on something in South Africa where it was bred or is still absorbing yolk. Any keepers experienced rearing young of this species please help!
>>Drew.
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL
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RE: Black Mamba Feeding Problems! Help! - Carmichael, Wed Feb 13 08:39:12 2008
