Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My local petstore just got in a baby red tailed that is just over a foot long. It is shedding, skin coming off in bits and pieces, no eye caps, probably because of low humidity.(?) It is not emaciated looking like a tlot of imports I saw in the 90's, and I am inclined to think it is cb. The price is really low and I am probably going to get it tommorrow. What should it be eating at this size - pinkies, frogs, or lizards? Does anybody have any input to guide my decison? I have not been able to get out to too many shows in the last few years, so the last I saw this species was still really tough to find good specimens. Does this sound like one? I can't imagine one this s ize was wc, but I am taking a chance "saving" it from the petstore environment without seeing it eat first. Feedback, please !!!!

Your probably right about dehydration (though check close for mites). It sounds small for an imported specimen..though not impossible. This is a species that does best with frequent mistings. It needs a terrarium with ample branches to climb. At that size it should be eating large pinkies to fuzzies. If it is w/c there might be a problem getting it started...The first thing I would do is to soak it when it got home and quarrentine it.....Good luck on your rescue...Frank

I'm not entirely surprised. I have an adult red tail green rat, and they require high humidity (about 70 - 80%). Check to see whether it has already developed a respiratory infection. Look for open mouth breathing (which is common in this species when not kept right, and listen for popping and wheezing). Careful because this species is fairly aggressive!

If you do get it, soak it to rehydrate it and get some of the stuck shed off. Make sure you mist several times a day to keep the humidity up. Also, this species (even as adults) are easily stressed out and, consequently, stop feeding (or start in your case), so you need to place him in an enclosure that is in a very low traffic area. It might even be a good idea to block out all sides of the enclosure (except the front). And if you're using a glass tank make sure you cover the top with something to trap in the humidity. You won't be able to achieve 70% otherwise.

As for food, you may need to experiment a little. As young as he is, you may need to try lizards and frogs if he isn't taking pinkies or fuzzies (try these first). And try different methods of feeding. Feed live (only with pinkies and fuzzies), pre-killed, or tease feeding (I've found tease feeding works with my adult).

Good luck and post if you have any more questions.

Dimitri

Well, I purchased the little guy (or girl) from the petstore for 49.99. It is around 16". I put it in a small sweater type box with moist cedar mulch. It was pretty calm, and of course Idid not try to "play" with it or anything. There are no signs of respitory illness or mites. Tonight it decided to start exploring it's new surroundings. After sitting in the mulch for a few hours, the dry shed skin had moistened up and was not noticeable. A few hours of crawling around, and it had started to loosen in spots and was coming off. It gaped its mouth a few times, and I could not see any signs of "cheese" or anything else - just pink flesh. I did not observe it checking out the water dish and drinking, though, but everything else seems OK. I will try a live pinky Friday. Until then my plan is to leave it alone and observe for any problems. I think the non-shed skin will eventually come off as it moves around the mulch.
Does anybody breed these, or are eggs from wc females the only source? Many years ago I briefly kept an adult that it's previous owner had to pry off his nose with plyers. Theye are beautiful snakes, but I have never found any cb. I'll let you all know how feeding goes Friday.

Cedar can cause serious respiratory problems with snakes (and people!). Cypress mulch is much safer...or you can use spagnum. They are bred in captivity, though not frequently (that I have seen). Frank