Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all, I used to post here about 4 years ago when I first got my pair of Trans Pecos Rats (under a different name that I cannot remember...possibly sugajay or something like that).

Sadly, one escaped about a year ago and was not found (female).

However, I still have my male suboc and he has been fine. Last week I bought a mouse and knocked it out before tossing it in the cage. As usual, the snake was waiting for his meal and everything went as planned.

The mouse landed, the snake struck and constricted... I left for the day only to return about 8 hours later. I glanced into the cage as I passed and saw the snake still wrapped around the mouse...

The mouse was somehow still alive because it was attempting to free itself. The snake seemed dead because it's head just rested on the ground without movement.

I tapped on the glass and the snake barely moved. I decided to leave it alone for a bit and once I returned, I found the snake attempting to swallow the mouse, which was still alive and fighting. The suboc had the head of the mouse in its throat as the mouse struggled. I knew this was not good, but I decided not to attempt to stop it because the snake had the claws of the mouse restrained at the moment.

Four hours after this (12 after the original feeding time) the snake finished the mouse and disappeared.

In all 4 years of owning this snake, I have never seen him take this long to finish a meal. Could he possibly be sick? I checked for mites and whatnot but came up empty. Do you all think I should take him to the vet to have a check up or should I go ahead with another feeding to see if it happens again?

My first thought was that he was in shed. Obviously you are experienced enough to know when he's "blue"... but I sometimes miss that stage(don't check all my snakes every day...and of course the ones who are blue are hiding) & try to feed them when they SEEM to have cleared up but are still in shed. My snakes that DO eat when in shed almost always eat much slower. Is he overdue to shed? Duffy

I had a baird's ratsnake escape last year & found him 8 months later alive & well. He had grown, so must have found a nest or three of mice. Never give up. Duffy

Well, I had hope in finding the escaped female when I packed up my apartment 2 weeks ago in my move, but I had no luck. She probably went right out my patio door when I have people over and we leave the door open for smoking.

I am not sure about the shedding thing since the snake is very shy and hides all the time. It only comes out at the latest hours of the night. I had not seen him in a while to be honest so I could not answer the shedding question.

I fed him a smaller mouse today and seemed to be back to his old self. The whole meal was finished in under 10 mins with no problems.

That reminds me of the story that someone posted about losing a snake, packing up & moving, and then finding the snake at their NEW place!!! Obviously the snake was inside one of the many items moved. You should be so lucky!!! Glad your other snake seems OK now. I'd put my money on the shed idea then. Duffy

I can only hope that will happen to me.

She was a beautiful blond phase suboc. I am giving it time just incase she is still around before picking up another in a few months.