Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello Everybody!

First let me introduce myself. I work at a big chain petstore in the DFW area. I'm not like your average pet store worker. I really want to learn about the animals and educate people on proper pet care methods.

Now my questions.
I have two snakes I'm having some issues with. One is a ball python. We've had he/she for two months and it is incredibly defensive. I cannot get it to eat for anything. (note: we have a frozen food only policy, so i cannot do anylive feedings) It does not live on the sales floor at this point. It is in a ten gallon tank in the back until I can tame it down. Another issue is the fact that I am not the only person who has contact with these animals. I work with people who do not understand the true nature of animals, and just take the striking at them as angry aggression. Any suggestions?

The other snake is a california striped king snake. It arrived on 4/14 and my manager told me he was friendly then. I did his first feeding yesterday, and boy he is aggressive. I put paper towels around the kritter keepers, so they cant see out, but when I'd look at him he strikes upward. Over 30 times (very persistent) I want to say he was just hungry. And perhaps he'll calm down now that he has eaten (2 1/2 pinkies in one sitting). He is just so unlike the last king snake we had. The last one was fidgety, but never struck at me. He even has different eating habits. The last one would feel the mouse with every inch of his body, then he'd eat it. This guy constricted the first pinkie, then just ate the other two that were lying on the bottom of the keeper. (I dropped them, and couldn't reach it with the tongs with out upsetting him.) suggestions?

I am open to all your suggestions. I really want to do what is right by the animals, and the person who is going to purchase them! Thanks!

-dollymama

First the Cal King- Many Kingsnakes have voracious appetites and it is usually just a matter of not enough food, frequently enough. In a pet store situation, the shop owners usually don't want to spend a lot feeding the snakes, since it takes away from the profit. A baby Cal King may want food every 5 days or so give or take. It may also take a while for him to get over the reaction of wanting food all the time. He has been conditioned to being always hungry, so he acts like he's starving even though he may not be exactly. Some snakes never seem to get past this but most calm down after they get fed frequently for a period of time. You should notice a difference after a while. He may even skip a meal or two? I also put my hand over the snakes head when I pick him up. It seems to put him in a more submissive stance, but if he is hungry, he will just re-group and bite regardless.
The Ball Python- I don't have extensive experience with them but I have had to deal with them in the past. Some respond to African furry rats, or Gerbils. The draw back is that if he doesn't eat it you wasted a Gerbil or AFR. Placing the snake and the food and snake together in a dark quiet place under a secluded hide works many times. You may have to do it at closing time and leave it till the next morning? Maybe others will have better advice, good luck!
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
Jorge Sierra

My Site > www.Sierrasnakes.com