Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Recently I've even began teasing my indigos a bit. First, I let them get really hungry. Then I use a laser pointer in the cage to let them chase a red dot around. They'll chase the motion likes it's a mouse. Sometimes I'll try to get them to lunge towards my hand (opposite side of the cage so they don't actually strike the glass). I figure getting a powerful hunting reaction and getting a little bit of a chase has to be a good thing for these guys.

Once they're good and aggitated, I'll offer a rat on tongs to them and make them tug and pull the rat away from me. These guys are so strong too.

It does require a little care to make sure I don't get tagged myself, but it looks like the snakes are getting some fun out of it.

Doug T

I'm a big fan of enrichment for indigos. We will hide prey in various places in the cage to make them actively forage for their food (although some of my indigos need to eat "moving" dead prey and in this case we allow them to actively chase us around a bit....as you said, one needs to exercise extreme caution....I'm still amazed by the speed and ferocity that they will pursue prey and that includes the person hanging on to it!). We will even bury their food in pvc pipes under 10" of bedding and I was surprised to find that these snakes are pretty good burrowers.

Will definitely have to invest in some long tongs once my indigo is 4 foot and over!!! LOL!!!

Zee

Be careful, not only for yourself, but for the snake too! My male almost fell out onto the floor once. About 4'. He would have if I hadn't caught him with my hands. Iv'e since lowered the cages a couple feet...lol.
Tony.