Reptile & Amphibian Forums

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.

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

Thanks for the reply Carmichael but you didn't mention what feeding tricks/items I might use...nothing I've read about D. polylepis state that they ever take frogs/lizards so I am curious. Just to follow up on some ques, you had of me, the animal came from South Africa on 1/19/08 and I received her on 1/29/08. I have not run any fecals yet, but stools have the characteristic curry smell of African elapids, mild greeness present. So I guess I have had her now, a little over 2 weeks(I wonder how long until I should consider force feeding--I don't want to wait until she is frail and more likely to be injured). She has a hide spot which she doesn't utilize much and sits out on her branch for the majority of day hrs. and sleeps on the floor of the cage,fully exposed. The day time temps are approx 85 degrees and night time approx 82 degrees.I minimize disruptions to her as much as possible but I do have other animals in the room that need my attention. I have thought about adding a full spectrum basking spot lamp myself so I may try that. Again any further advice is welcomed as I really don't want to lose one of my favorite animals on earth!
With appreciation,
Drew.

Drew, One thing I would do, lower the daytime temp by about 7-8 degrees. The snake may also be in a shed cycle, so that would explain why it's not interested in any item you offer.

Randal Berry

set the temp to 80 no need to drop at night at all.
cool floresent light no hot spotlight needed.
put the normal live pinky on the clean floor of the enclosure.
leave it alone cover the cage with paper so to minimize distractions.
do not over mist mine grow up fine never ever being misted.
but the humidity is 75 -80%
A large water dish.
A hide box is mandatory for a mamba they need to hide now and then.
Enclosure size is important must be long enough for the little bugger to lay out.

the only weird thing is why did it take 10 days to get to you from SA?
3 days is too long for me since a jet takes only hours to get here.
also you might need to let us know what dealer
sold it to you so we will be advised.

if you get it eating it will grow up to be much tamer than a adult wild caught polylepis.
ask snakes and stuff to verify this!
he has seen junior the tame mamba!
later
good luck

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Bud

I am really looking forward to get a baby myself.

Can you email me the breeder info if possible? (email below)

How is your snake doing by the way?

Thanks,
Yasin

najakeeper@gmail.com
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