Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently added a male Taiwan Beauty to my collection and at the store he was feeding on live (or dead) mice weekly. I haven't fed him yet, but here is my stupid question. I have two mice in a cage (for my snakes I'll keep a couple on hand) and they are only a few feet away from him. He seems to love to sit and soak in the water dish and watch the mice. Should I move the mice or leave them. I didn't know if this was intimidating or teasing of any kind(?) Actually, I guess I'm not really positive that he is even watching them, just really seems like it though. Thanks.

That usually gets stressful on the animal(snake) after a while. I'd recommend moving them. Also, how big is he? Getting him on rats as soon as he's big enough really helps keep up with their metabolism..
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Hello, my name is Brie.. And i'm an addict..

DarkWave Exotics

Currently keeping:
1.2 southern scrub pythons
1.0 reticulated python
1.0 albino burmese python
1.1 jungle carpet pythons
1.0 irian jaya carpet python
0.1 blood python
3.0 ball pythons
1.1 cuban boas
0.1 green anaconda
1.2 amazon tree boas
1.2 colombian redtail boas
1.1 argentine boas
1.0 sonoran boa
1.0 cancun boa
1.1 hypo and superhypo honduran milksnakes
1.2 albino and het albino chinese beauty snakes
1.2 taiwan beauties
2.2 cornsnakes
3 sandfire bearded dragons
0.1 nile monitor
1.0 savannah monitor
1.5 leopard geckos

and lots of bugs, furry critters, fish and birds

Thanks for your reply, he is about 3feet long now and not quite ready for rats, but he annihilated a mouse yesterday within seconds and he acted like he wanted another one though! Who knows, guess I should already start looking for a bigger terrarium! I also have a Solomons Ground Boa who is an awesome docile male. Kenyan sand boa and that's it for right now. Thanks again for the reply! Cheers
Allen
Atlanta GA

At 3 ft, trust me he could take a weanling rat. Mine were at 3ft and 6 months of age, and took weanling rats with ease. They stretch unlike any other colubrid i've ever seen. My 8footers take jumbo rats, the big male occationally 2.. It just worries me when I hear of people feeding growing taiwans just a single mouse. They really are a big ratsnake and need big meals..
-----
Hello, my name is Brie.. And i'm an addict..

DarkWave Exotics

Currently keeping:
1.2 southern scrub pythons
1.0 reticulated python
1.0 albino burmese python
1.1 jungle carpet pythons
1.0 irian jaya carpet python
0.1 blood python
3.0 ball pythons
1.1 cuban boas
0.1 green anaconda
1.2 amazon tree boas
1.2 colombian redtail boas
1.1 argentine boas
1.0 sonoran boa
1.0 cancun boa
0.1 sunbeam snake
1.1 hypo and superhypo honduran milksnakes
1.2 albino and het albino chinese beauty snakes
1.2 taiwan beauties
2.2 cornsnakes
3 sandfire bearded dragons
0.1 nile monitor
1.0 savannah monitor
1.5 leopard geckos

and lots of bugs, furry critters, fish and birds

Actually...you'll know he is watching if you catch him with his binoculars out....(lol). Across the room won't matter. if they were close he might try to get out of his cage and that might lead to a lttle nose rubbing. But I doubt that result would be likey or even stressful on him (the biggest difference between snakes and Teenage boys...snakes can just watch without getting to excited.).
Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

Thanks Frank, I think you're right. I fed him the next day, and he thumped that big mouse within seconds. Quite a thrill to watch, and he acted as if he wanted more afterwards! Thanks again! Cheers
allen
atlanta

On feeding days I usually bring the rats into the snake room to defrost. When the rats are ready to be fed to the taiwans, I will open the lid of the cage and I will usually have to use a snake hook to keep them from getting out/going for my hand. They go crazy when they smell the rats! Usually, I open the lid to their cages and they look at me lazily, smelling the air... They have awesome feeding responses. It is always interesting to stare at a snake that can literally stand 3 feet in the air and comprehend it's thoughts saying, "Feed Me". Great snakes.

Anyway, I would move the mice. Like the person said below, your taiwan may get snout rub trying to find a way to those mice.

Thanks for the response. I think they were far enough away, but I moved 'em anyway! I offered him one the next day, and he nailed it in seconds, this one is going to be no problem at feeding time!!! What an awesome snake, he doesn't fool around! Thanks again for the help!
Allen