Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My beautiful BRB is approximately 6 months old; a bit cage defensive, but usually docile in my hands. If I put her down, she gets nervous, but always okay when handled. Today, I was bit in the arm as she crawled up while handling her ( didn't even draw blood, lol), but then handled well right after. My question is, when individuals talk about the nippy stage, at about how many months does it normally end? A few weeks after birth, few months, within a year? Just wondering. Cute nips now, but at 5 feet, not as cute. At what age does a BRB not considered a juvenile anymore? Input is appreciated in advance.

My experience is more in colombians than brazilians, so I would defer to some of the others here with more knowledge and experience than my own when it comes to these...

I don't think any rainbows as babies like to be reached down towards and picked up hardly. I don't know if their natural instinct is "there's something coming out of the sky, it's a bird and it wants to eat me!" or what, but the just don't seem to like it...and that's true I think of a lot of boa's and pythons in general. Now when I do reach down to grab one, I reach in quickly with my hand totally covering its head, and kind of hold it down firmly but gently for just a couple of seconds, then scoop it up. I think this changes it's current mentality from the agressive defense mentality, to a kind of more submissive mode. Most of the time this works...occasionally it'll just piss one off even worse and then they're really determined to show you how big and tough they are and become extra fun to hold...lol.

What you described though about how you got bit, unless I'm just reading it wrong, it sounds more like it was crawling along your arm and just decided to have a taste? When I think of "nippy babies" I think more of the agressive defense than just random "I wanna see what this tastes like" type of bite. Was it due to be feeding time, or how often are you feeding? Any chance you smelled like something tasty?

Charlie

This BRB in particular has always been nervous, compared to my former sweetheart BRB. Always shy and never strikes at prey ( drop the F/ T and leave type of deal). She's not overly aggressive in the cage either and if she's moving around, is much easier to pick up. I fed her a hopper six days ago, which seemed too big because it took five days for the bump to competely disappear. I plan on waiting until the tenth day to give her a rest and plan to give her something a tad smaller. She tends to refuse meals every 7 days, and usually takes them on the tenth day regularly. Her heat is off currently because her cage is measured between 78 and 81 degrees in the summer heat, with a humidity in the 70's and 80's. Sheds are fine.

I was just a little shocked that she bit while in my arms, which she has never done. No big deal, since her teeth can't really break skin yet. I'm restarting my collection, after owning many different varieties of snakes in the past. After life happened, and I'm stable once again, I chose to focus on BRB's and Woma pythons ( talk about a feeding response!).

Interestingly enough, I once owned a Hogg island boa that would bite me in the back of the arms at 5 feet after two years of no aggressive behavior at all. Shy eater too, so maybe I'm just making a comparison. He would draw blood, though. Lol.

I'm going to continue taking her out because she's a lot more fun than the "wet noodle" Woma I currently own when handled.

Two suggestions...

1. I would definitely go down on the rodent size if it was that noticeable for that long. When I feed, food lumps are usually gone in two days, definitely gone after three...most of the time there is a major change even after the first day to day and a half.

That said though, it might be helpful if you could post a picture of your animal with something in it for size reference...a nickel or quarter maybe? I'm just being a little confused at a hopper mouse being too big for a six month old brb for some reason.

2. I would bump up the hot spot to closer to 85f, even if not all the time, during the daytime to help with digesting meals...you can get a decent on/off timer at walmart for just a few dollars and put the heat on a 12 hour cycle to be on during the daytime and off at night.

One other thing I'll just throw out there...personally I believe in the idea that less hair/fur, equates to being easier to digest. If your animal will eat (some may not) and you have access to rat pinkys, I would consider trying that instead and see if that seems to help the digestion process a little also.

Again, my experience with brb's is limited, so if Cliff, Dave or one of the others here who are much more knowledgeable and experienced think I'm off some, I would definitely lean in the direction of what they suggest instead of what I've told you.

Charlie

I will try to post a reference picture soon. My girl was a runt when I bought her and would only eat every ten days ( nothing before). She also does not eat during the entire stage of shedding. She's long, but slender. I've always fed a little larger because she doesn't eat as often as I like, which is every 7 days for my other snakes. My other female would strike and eat whenever offered. She would take about three days for the lump to fully disappear. At the time, the heat was at about 84-86 on the warm end. I'm hoping she does not have any digestion issues. She did relieve herself today and there are always urates every 1-2 days.

I handled her this morning with no issues. Took her outside for about ten minutes. No aggression and I removed her from the cage easily. Hate to compare her to my other female, because the other is completely docile and an aggressive feeder.

I will try and post pics of her tomorrow.

Thank you for the help. I've owned snakes (and many species) for quite a while, but sometimes, one stumps you.

On a side note, when I first got her, she was in shed. She had a complete shed ( humidity was in the high eighties to nineties). Yet strangely, the tip of her tail had dropped. I had read that it could have been attributed to retained sheds on the tip of the tail. She healed up well, but I'm wondering if I purchased a lemon.

Here is the BRB next to a quarter for size comparison. I purchased her mid April,so she may be a little younger than 6 months. A large fuzzy seems too big for her. Am I mistaken?

As I said before...some guys with a whole lot more experience than myself with brb's, definitely stick with what John and Cliff told you instead of myself with the temps they're suggesting!

I would got with either a large mouse pinky, or a day old rat pink if you can get hold of them for feeding size for now though considering her size. I still think I would try to stick with food items that had little to no hair if she seems to be taking longer to digest.

Cliff did bring up a good point about the possibility of something internal with her. You might want to speak with your vet about giving her a dose of panacur and metronidazole (flagyl).

Then again, there are just those occasional oddball small snakes. I had a friend not long ago show me a small anery kenyan sand boa and ask me how old it was...I guessed about 4-5 months or so. It's three years old and still looks not much larger than a newborn. It eats great, there's nothing actually wrong with it, and the man who has it is as knowledgeable on ksb's as anybody in the country...it's just a midget...lol.

Charlie

Domingos,

Temperature and Humidity;

I would encourage you to rethink your temperatures that you keep your BRB. Typically BRB’s need lower temperature and higher humidity than most other species. I keep mine at a hot side of 78-80 oF with a cooler side at 70 oF. I keep this type of temperature gradient on all of my BRB’s and they all do great. I would encourage you to read a proper care sheet for BRB’s; I know that Dave Colling, Jeff Clark and myself have one on our respective websites. Though I am about to contradict myself with an alternative explanation I will say that the nervous behaviors you have described could be a result of stress caused by high temperatures and low humidity (70% is on the low end for a baby BRB).

Feeding;

I like to feed all of my babies/juvies rodents that are no bigger than the widest part of the snake. This allows for minimal stress and regular feeding habits. Remember that just because a snake can eat a meal much bigger than there own body doesn’t mean it good for them. Snakes in the wild may have to go for extensive periods of time before finding meals and thus need the ability to take on large meals. A captive BRB shouldn’t be stressed by larger meals, as there is no reason to go for long periods of time between meals. For my babies the size illustrated in your picture, I would be feeding pinky mice, maybe a very small fuzzy.

Biting;

I agree with Cliff on this issue however I will say that I personally feel that BRB’s are just as individual as we are. Your BRB may grow out of this nervous phase with time and it may not. It’s hard to tell/comment or advises on individual snakes, we can only generalize as Cliff has already done. The only advise one could say is to not be afraid, continue handling and hopefully this nervous behavior will go away as the animal matures. From the pictures you posted the snakes looks small for being six months old and is in no way out of the “nippy” phase. Nor is the animal mature to the
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John Wiseman
www.rainbowsbydesign.com

18.30 BRBs (as of 6-20-2012)
3.8 others

With my other female, I asked lots of questions and I followed Mr. Clark's advice precisely and was successful with her. I tried with this one, but she's been very finicky. I thought with an increase in heat a bit, it would stir an appetite. Totally failed and now following Mr. Clark's advice with her. Room temp is between 78-82 at the moment and humidity is up. She also spends the majority of her day in her humidity box filled with spaghmum. She is tiny, but is at least 4 months old. How does her size compare to a 4 month BRB?

I will get her checked for parasites. There is a reputable herp vet a few towns away. She seems to process food a bit slower. Would a parasite do that? She passes urates every other day and defecates a normal stool a week after she eats. She seems to be ready for food every ten days, instead of 7 days.

I truly appreciate everyone's time and input. My other female was a dream. This one is a tough one.

Domingos,

Honestly, it’s small but not ‘ridiculously’ small for 4 months old. It’s probable just a picky eater, it happens. If it was pushing a year old and that small I would say there is something seriously wrong, but I have had slow starters in the past that turned out to be some of the best adults I’ve owned.

If by “Mr. Clark,” you mean Jeff Clark I would be shocked if your snake had a parasite. There are some very obvious signs of parasite infections, of which you haven’t described over this tread.

It actually sounds like you are just aggravated that the BRB that you have isn’t like the one you previously owned and where happy with. At the risk of sounding cold/heartless… if it’s not what you want buy/sell/trade to get one that you will be happy with.

Best of luck!
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John Wiseman
www.rainbowsbydesign.com

18.30 BRBs (as of 6-20-2012)
3.8 others

In terms of parasites, I haven't seen mucus or blood in the stool, nor is it runny or "foul" smelling. Same thing with urates. No mites. No discharge or gaping mouth. Great sheds. Jeff Clark's advice steered me right with my other. She was such a dream. To be honest, I am comparing both BRB's. No problems with the other and she grew like a weed. Like you mentioned, they are individuals. My other snakes tend to grow quickly and have healthy appetites. We'll see what happens. Plans on breeding Womas, so no rush for this one. Just want her to be heathy.

I appreciate the comments and advice. I understand it takes a bit of forum members' time to read and respond ( and to care). Thank you!

btw...I like your choice of animals, woma's are great too!

I wasn't really thinking parasites so much, as something just being off with the little girls natural gut flora and fauna for some reason being why she takes what sounds like an extra long time to digest food. If that's the case, a small dose of panacur and flagyl would probably be a good shot at helping reset things inside her.

Obviously Domingos, you're the one with eyes on her that can really see and evaluate her best of all of us here...I do have faith that there is a lot of great knowledge on this forum though and really good people that are willing to share it.

Good luck with her!
Charlie