Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Last night my Arizona splendida ripped through it's screen top and busted in my Southwestern rat snakes cage and commited a dasterdly deed, even with 2 mice in him. Well now 3 mice and a 2 1/2' rat snake as the rat snake had eaten one also. Sneaky Ba$t@rd! Well now I have a proven snake killer and he will be put in solitary confinement in my bedroom. Incarceration till March '07 when he will get a conjugal visit from his g-friend! Man, that was a nice rat snake not pissy like most. Oh well, guess he starts getting small rats! Mug shot of convicted felon:
Todd Hughes

Murder victim:
Todd Hughes

Too bad. That reminds me of a story... I was the Reptile/Fish guy at a specialty Pet store a number of years back. I had a customer that purchased a ton of Kings from me and then he skipped town. His Mom calls the store and asks if we will take them. I had no room for all these snakes but for free my Boss said make it happen. I had all sorts of cages within cages trying to make room, it was a mess. Anyway one of the snakes was a yearling Splendida that was a badass and ate like a bottomless pit. He escaped and got into a cage with a beautiful yearling Albino Southern Pine and totally smoked him. That Splendida couldnt hardly move he was so stuffed lol. Nothing worse than a 30 dollar King eating a 125 dollar snake ouch !

Keith
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I had a Cal King escape her cage despite clips that are suppose to hold the screen on - and eat my Pyro Pyro. And yes, she did actually eat it - there was some undigested tri colored skin in her poop. Not sure why it wasn't all digested.
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3.0 WC; 0.2 CB L. getula californiae
0.1 WC; 10 eggs (7/11) Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata

You're a better man than me Todd. This side of the MS River would turn that into an electric chair case...lol.

Well, they only do what they are allowed I guess so I am guilty as charged! But dammit that was a mated locality pair! At least he got the male, they are easy to find! It just amazes me sometimes how much they can eat and other times turn their noses!
Todd Hughes

to funny!(well not for the ratsnake) so is the splendie allowed commisary?,,,,thomas

The only thing his chocho will buy will be small rats! I am gonna see if he will move up in size but He is definitely in solitary!
Todd Hughes

When (if) he makes parole, I bet he's covered in prison-gang tats.
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I am so not lesdysxic!

0.1 Creamsicle Cornsake "Yolanda"
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake "Steely Dan"
0.1 Desert Kingsnake "FATTY"
0.1 Black Rat (WV Rescue) "Roberta"

When you say "ripped through its screen top and busted in" your rat snake's cage, are you saying that it pushed the top open, or that it literally ripped through the screen? Did it rip through both screens?

See, the thing is, I've been planning on getting a splendida soon, and I told my girl that this wouldn't happen, and that her snow corn would be safe. It's looking an awful lot like I lied to her. This makes me nervous because we've got lots of rat snakes here, and both your story and Keith's involved splendida specifically.

Does anyone else have stories like this about splendida or other getula?
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2.0 Pantherophis obsoletus obsoletus
0.2 Pantherophis guttatus guttatus

Well I must admit that some of my tops are walmart tops with a sliding screen held in place by a rubber gasket that runs around the entire top. The screen is very light and it is a big snake (for a splendida).I have heavier wire mesh screens that have clips to secure them and even though they are a hassle to remove they are way stronger. He did actually push the screen enough to pull the gasket out, forming an escape route, then went 2 cages over and up a row and pushed a hole into the rat's enclosure in the same but opposite manner. He is now in a maximum security enclosure!!! I would suggest either strong wire mesh lids with clips (multiple) or a rack system. (which is where I am heading for repeat offenders!) I like the fact that my snakes can see out but it begs a thought about them seeing the outside world and figuring out that they can escape. Luckily (and unfortunately for the other captives) They cannot escape the room. But this guy is obviously the schoolyard bully and will have his way with whomever he wants. If he wasn't so cool looking, he might have been sold. But he is in rehab now and a 12 step program! I wouldn't say you lied to her unless you let it happen. Do your best to secure it, go overboard to reassure her. That is why I posted, so newer people could see what is possible so that they can try to avoid it in their collections.
Todd Hughes