First of all, thanks to everyone for their compliments!
When the snake arrived, the first step I took towards acclimation was to place him in a ten gallon bucket filled slightly with water to encourage him to drink. Before taking him out, I lightly sprayed him while he was in the bucket - paying attention to make sure water was hitting his head. He drank heavily.
After that, I took him out and put him in a 34" by 24" by 15" wooden enclosure with a single hiding spot comprised of a piece of cork. I also added a plastic plant and placed a rock underneath the light bulb. Substrate was a mixture of peat moss, coconut husk, decomposed granite, and New Zealand sphagnum moss. Temperatures were about ninety-five degrees under the light, and in the mid eighties throughout the rest of the enclosure. Humidity was not measured with a gauge, but I would approximate that it was between sixty and seventy percent, with occasional spikes to one hundred percent due to bi-weekly misting of the enclosure.
After two days in quarantine, I offered live mice and rat pups, and both were refused. Two days later, I placed several frozen-thawed chicks and rats on a paper plate near the hide and left the room. Within an hour, the snake had eaten all of the chicks provided, but none of the rats. The next few feedings I offered solely chicks, usually four or five at time, all of which were accepted, but not within my presence. Then I began to place rats in with the frozen-thawed chicks, and he ate those as well. I fed him twice a week at this time. Now, he will eat either live or frozen-thawed rats and chicks readily and has an incredible feeding response. He has no problem eating in front of me now - even eating off of tongs - but does not appreciate movement outside the cage when he is eating. I feed him once a week currently, with an average of six prey items at a time.
As for parasites, I used one precautionary treatment of Panacur (the paste) at the first successful feeding, and discontinued further use. I have not had a fecal done since, but the snake is thriving and gaining weight without a problem so I don't see it as completely advisable at this time.
Once feeding regularly, I upgraded the snake to a 48" by 24" by 36" enclosure, which he still resides in. I hope to purchase some new 72" by 24" by 24" enclosures from Animal Plastics within the year for both of my cribos.
Hope that helps, Vic. Any more questions, just ask and I'd be obliged to chat.
Also, I'm working on a Yellow Tail article with some of the above information, and more, if anyone is interested. Just e-mail me and I'd be happy to send it.
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Roy Blodgett
Green Man Herpetoculture
royreptile@yahoo.com
1.1 Drymarchon corais
2.2 Pseustes sulphureus
1.1 Pseustes poecilonotus poecilonotus
1.1 Lystrophis pulcher
1.1 Lampropeltis getula californiae (desert phase)
1.1 Boiga dendrophila dendrophila
2.3 Pogona vitticeps (snow and red/gold)
1.0 Iguana iguana
