Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I brought home my new banded cali on Saturday. When I first housed him in 10g tank I just had paper down and a few hides. He hid for two days and when he did come out he went a bit mental (posing to strike, rattling tail etc). I took him out for the first time tonight and although nervous at first, he soon became a lot calmer.

While he was out I cleaned the tank and put down some chippings and made the tank a bit busier. I have put him back in the tank with a fuzzie and hopefully he will feed (he hasnt yet done so since I got him).

With regards to feeding though...I know that he may sometimes refuse, but how should I avoid him eating the chippings too? I do put the fuzzies on paper, but just now he has dragged it off. Do I just have to hope he doesnt swallow anything he shouldnt?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated...I am very new to this.

Thanks

First, I wouldn't even bother feeding the snake until a week after you purchased him. Reason being, while there will be snakes that would eat right away, some also can be very stressed from being moved to a new home. Him " going mental " was simply him just being scared, and rightfully so. He has a new home that he is not familiar with, lots of movement in and around the cage, etc. If he has not eating now, since you got him two days ago, I would not even think anything of it. He may simply just be too stressed.

The key is time. I would leave him ALONE for a few days, actually for 3-4 days, IMO. What I actually do is when I get a new snake, I put him in the cage and don't mess with it for 3-4 days. Then, when I do first start handling, I make the handlings very short. Then, after some time, I build up the time being handled. With doing this, the snake will get familiar with your smell and find that you are not a threat to his safety.

When I used aspen, for feeding, I would do this: Take the hidebox off the bottom of the cage and clear a space, the size of the hide box, in the aspen. Of course, removing the snake if he is in the hide box at this time. This way, leaving only the exposed glass or plastic of the bottom of the cage. Place the food on that and then put the hidebox over it. Then go wash your hands really good and then direct the snake back towards the hide box. When he goes in, he find the mouse. Snakes may feel more secure eating privately in their hideboxes and also, removing the aspen underneath the hidebox reduces the chance of ingestion.

Take care and keep us posted!!
Billy

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Genesis 1:1

I feed mine in a deli cup inside the cage.
Put rodent and snake in cup, put top on cup, and by morning - there's just a fat neonate in the cup.
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3.3.5 L. getula californiae
1.0 L. getula nigrita
1.0 Boa constrictor constrictor (suriname, fostering/rescue)
2.1.2 Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata

cheers for the advice, by deli cup, do you mean a wee plastic tub? he has just been fed and seems to be fine...if anything he's the most active hes ever been!

It's a thin plastic tub with a lid - air holes in the side.
Deli cups are what normally are used for shipping snakes and sending them home to new owners at pet stores.
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3.3.5 L. getula californiae
1.0 L. getula nigrita
1.0 Boa constrictor constrictor (suriname, fostering/rescue)
2.1.2 Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata