Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Here is a little photo series I took today with my new camera.

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David Hiscock
http://www.flherper.com
St. Lucie Regional Herp Society
http://www.stlucieherps.com

2nd photo

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David Hiscock
http://www.flherper.com
St. Lucie Regional Herp Society
http://www.stlucieherps.com

3rd

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David Hiscock
http://www.flherper.com
St. Lucie Regional Herp Society
http://www.stlucieherps.com

The last photo.

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David Hiscock
http://www.flherper.com
St. Lucie Regional Herp Society
http://www.stlucieherps.com

Does that snake eat?

I have to say and with the utmost respect,that snake does not look well..
I say this because mine is starting to look like this and he has not eaten in a couple of months.

I've been trying everything and have gotten some great advice from Dan Felice and epedemic..but he will not eat.

I have tried f/t rats,live mice,chicken wings,rats with chicken blood dripped on them, rats with their throat ripped open, fish,and today I tried a live chick and they have turned out to be the best of friends..curling up together in his hidebox!!

so anybody else have any ideas? the previous owner says he was slamming rats and toads..

When I acquired him he was as thick as they come and just about 7ft..

thanks for any help
ST

Uh this snake eats great just needs some more beefing. And wha?
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David Hiscock
http://www.flherper.com
St. Lucie Regional Herp Society
http://www.stlucieherps.com

How are you keeping your snake? If the snake was a LTC import find out how the previous owner was keeping it. Do the same even if the snake was c.b.
Sounds like you've tried just about every type of food item I would have suggested, epecially the live chick which is what I used on a couple of really picky imports to get them feeding.
I would also try fish. Either large live shiners or trout fillets or scent rodents with them. I would offer smaller sized rodents like large mice instead of rats which might intimidate your snake.
Proper environment in his enclosure may also give the snake a sense of security and spur his appetite. Warmth, humidity, a large water dish, and a covered hide box with damp Cypress mulch will be appreciated by the snake. Also leave the snake alone to feed. Offer food at night and see if it's gone in the am. Get the snake to a vet for fecal exam for parasites.
Good luck.

If you have to, try scenting with snakes. I've used that method before.

You tried fish already. Maybe the live shiners will work.
I got my hatchling YTs to feed right away using live feeder fish of appropriate sizes.
Good luck.

Hey Minicopilot,
Thanks for the help..Like I'd said from my previous message the former owner of my YT said he was slamming rats and toads..

He has ignored my last couple of e-mails. I 've been trying to get more history on my snake..

Toads usually start to come out here in AZ at the end of April from my experience.

Would any of you suggest a Sonoran Desert toad?

thanks again Minincopilot.
ST

No problem! I hope some of this info from all of us here will help.
As far as toads go, I wouldn't feed my snakes frogs, let alone toads!!!!!!!!
Even if the snake could tolerate the venom/poison in the skin of the toads the parasite factor and the risk of the snake getting hooked on them would turn me off to the idea.
There was a time when I was getting several w.c. YTs and for the most part they all ate F/T no problem. The picky ones would take chicken, (small drumsticks) chicken scented rodents, (always small sized) and one really picky one took snake pieces and snake scented rodents.
I almost resorted to frogs as there are hundreds of them around here, but I never did.
I might try them as a last resort, F/T.
Keep him hydrated and get him an appropriate sized covered hide with the moist Cypress mulch.
If he's not feeding at least he'll have water in him.

Good luck!

ditto here david, i've been thinking the same exact sentiments steve has verbalized, hoss is definitely underweight. i can still see his backbone clearly & that shouldn't be after all this time! a snake that size should be eating rats. what are you feeding him? also, do you know if he was treated for parasites before you acquired him? he looks possibly be a candidate though i don't know his history. bottom line....i'd increase his intake OR get him panacured asap. the male yt shown in the foreground is a ltc wc & represents what a well fed, healthy animal should look like. hope this helps......

I don't see his spine in person, may be the photos. Anyway I feed him every 5-6 days 2 Med/Large rats. I am upping it right away.
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David Hiscock
http://www.flherper.com
St. Lucie Regional Herp Society
http://www.stlucieherps.com

David,

If you're feeding him that much, and he is that thin, he probably has parasites. With that much food, he should be fat.

Dan,

If that's the snake I sent you it is HUGE!!!!!!
He was a worm when I shipped him out.
What are you feeding him, steroids!!!
Awesome!

into a freakin' monster bob. thanks. LOL!, but why am i laughing? he has his calm moments then there are his more normal times aka 'the twi-rip zone'. i now have approx. 9.75 fingers as of this past winter due to his absolute, complete indifference as to who is actually the boss here. anybody got bordner's email addy & the name of a good yt lawyer? haha.....jekell & hyde, he's actually quite gentle & fairly protective of his live in mate, a trait i've also noticed w/ my adult uni's. they don't mind me dropping in sometimes, just not unannouced...

He's a beast!
Hopefully you get some babies from that pair. Great shot of the Uni! Very Cobra like.
Take care

thanks bob, she's [uni] a kitten & can be trusted. she's coming towards what's left of my hand, thinking food may be in the offing. LOL! i would never do that w/ a yt. even the tiger rats are better behaved!

Nice Tiger Rat!!! Are you breeding Unis this year???

no uni's till 07 bob, i'm alternating years between them & the yt's. that way everybody gets a rest! i should have had yt eggs by now but none so far. did you see that yellow-headed female last week in the classifieds? i came very close to pulling the trigger on that one but restrained myself......for once. haha! did you grab her Wallmaster?

Dan,

I was just looking at the pictures of that snake in the ad! LOL That female is a nice one, but a bit too expensive for my taste.
I did however get the male that was posted before that female and I just got a male in today. Good coloration, but he needs a good shed to reveal his true self. Looks a lot like that male I sent to you that turned into a monster!
I'll get pics when they are settled in.
Keep us posted on any YT hatchlings!

Take care
Bobby

Wow - now that's an attitutde!

For critters that have little range of facial expression, they sure can look mean when they want to!

Cheers,

John D
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0.1 Creamsicle Cornsake "Yolanda"
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake "Steely Dan"

Seriously. I'm not being judgemental, just suggesting you get it to a good herp vet.

Joe