Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got a BRB as a rescue last night. This girl is about 3' and was lost in someone's house for a little over a month (in dry california). I got her in a nice 80 degree humid cage and offered her water, which she drank a ton of. I can see her backbone a bit and it appears that she's missing a couple scales on her side, but otherwise is active and seemingly ok. My question is how soon should I offer her food. I know she needs to be well hydrated before I feed her. Also should I give her a meal appropriate to her size or small or should I offer her a couple prey items because she hasn't eaten in quite some time? Thanks a bunch!

I suggest giving her a few days to get used to the new home and hydrate herself well. Then over a size smaller than would be normal to feed her for the next couple weeks, if she has no problems keeping them down, offer a more appropriate size meal on the third or fourth week (offer food once a week basically).
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PHLdyPayne

I would wait about a week to offer food, so it can adjust a bit to its new home The important thing is that it now has water & humidity.

I would ofer it a bit smaller food item than you normally would - by one size. I would also try to feed a live feeder to see the snake's reaction. If it eats right away great - if not get the feeder animal out before the snake can get injured. If it eats I would wait at least 2 weeks before offering food again - the snake is not used to regular feeding. I have one snake that took months to get use to regular feeding - as it was only maintenance fed before I bought it.

If it does not eat - I would wait a week and try again.
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Mike

7.13 BRB
1.2 Spotted Python
1.0 Cal. King

As the others have said, water is the primary need right now. I agree a week is minimal. Snakes can go for MONTHS with no food but dehydration will kill them pretty quickly. Once the week has gone by then a very small prey item, at least one size down from "appropriate" IMO even better to go a couple of sizes. (at three feet, probably a small mouse) Let that meal sit a couple of weeks before going with another. The key here is slow progression. Go to fast and the snake may regurge which in it's weakened state could be very bad.

Keep fresh clean water with her and provide a nice damp hide box in the warm area of the enclosure. damp hide details here

Oh yeah, you know the "rules"??? Pics are a must!!!
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Right now there's no way I can get a pic of her. I gave her a waterfall and set it up a bit ajar so that she could get up in the top of it. I figured that would be the best place for high humidity, an enclosed space over a water bowl... and as I thought, she has wedged herself in there and there's no chance of getting her out without stressing her. If I catch her out and about I will certainly grab a pic, but for the time being I'm just going to leave her be. She currently has 2 water bowls, one with a hide above it, like I said, and lots of moss. The whole cage is nice and humid. She really seems ok for the time being, I just needed some assurance that what I thought was the right thing actually was. The last thing I want is to make matters worse. So I'll give her a week to get hydrated and I'll try a small meal next Sunday night (1 week). Do you think I should do a live meal or f/t? Thanks for your help! It's much appreciated! And I will try to nab a pic if possible.

What was she fed before? And live only as a last resort, if it has teeth, it can bite back!!
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

This guy is in Mexico on vacation but speaks no Spanish. He goes to the bullfights and has a good time watching the event. After the fights, he stops in at the restaurant right next door for lunch. Not speaking (or reading) any Spanish he looks around at the other patrons food to see what looks good. He spots one plate with two large meatballs covered in sauce with rice, beans and tortillas on the side and it looks vary good. When the waitress comes by he points and asks for that dish. Speaking a little English she replies it is called "Juevos El Toro" and there is only one serving per day and that's already taken.

Disappointed the guy decides to come back earlier the next day and asks if the "Juevos El Toro" is available. The waitress tells him it will be ready shortly and that she will bring it out when ready.

He's quite happy knowing he's in time to get a once a day dish and nobody else will get it but him that day. So when it comes he's quite surprised. Still the same sauce, rice, beans and tortillas but the meatballs are much, MUCH smaller.

He asks the waitress what is wrong, yesterday they were so large and full and today so small and puny???? She replies.....

Well Senor, the bull does not always lose!!
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

LOL... Too Funny. I'm not sure what she was eating before, but I can usually get my 'kids' to eat f/t pretty easy with tongs, so I'll try that in due time. Thanks!

But oh so funny lol

Sean.
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1.1 BRB
1.1 Triple Het TPRS's
0.1 Silver TPRS
1.1 Amel Bloodred Corns
0.1 Abbott Okeetee Corn
0.1 Blizzard Bloodred Corn
1.1 Thayeri Kingsnakes
0.1 Reeve's Turtle
0.2 Amstaff's
1.0 Pudytat

>>This guy is in Mexico on vacation but speaks no Spanish. He goes to the bullfights and has a good time watching the event. After the fights, he stops in at the restaurant right next door for lunch. Not speaking (or reading) any Spanish he looks around at the other patrons food to see what looks good. He spots one plate with two large meatballs covered in sauce with rice, beans and tortillas on the side and it looks vary good. When the waitress comes by he points and asks for that dish. Speaking a little English she replies it is called "Juevos El Toro" and there is only one serving per day and that's already taken.
>>
>>Disappointed the guy decides to come back earlier the next day and asks if the "Juevos El Toro" is available. The waitress tells him it will be ready shortly and that she will bring it out when ready.
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>>He's quite happy knowing he's in time to get a once a day dish and nobody else will get it but him that day. So when it comes he's quite surprised. Still the same sauce, rice, beans and tortillas but the meatballs are much, MUCH smaller.
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>>He asks the waitress what is wrong, yesterday they were so large and full and today so small and puny???? She replies.....
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>>Well Senor, the bull does not always lose!!
>>-----
>>Thanks,
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>>Dave Colling
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>>www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com
>>
>>
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>>0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
>>0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)
>>
>>LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
>>26.49 BRB
>>20.21 BCI
>>And those are only the breeders
>>
>>lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats
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Thanks,

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