Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What is known about what wild neonate brbs eat, and where they can be found. High and dry, low and wet, in water, terrain, temps,etc.? Thanks,
Tony.

Tony,
...I have heard that little BRBs in the wild have diets like many other Epicrates. This includes small frogs, lizards, rodents and little birds. I have tried offering all of these to newborn BRBs from WC adults and they ate anoles and skinks and small baby birds as readily as rodents but would not eat green tree frogs. The Epicrates species from the Carribean and West Indian Islands are known to prefer small lizards but many of them will also eat Green Treefrogs. I caught little Colombian Rainbows in Panama and they would readily eat domestic mice but were would not eat frogs or lizards. In the wild Rainbow Boas spend daylight hours in moist tight dark hiding places and move out and about at night. In captivity little BRBs prefer temperatures from the mid to high 70s. In the wild they probably can only find those temperatures during the day in low moist hiding spots. I have never been in the range of BRBs but when I hunted for snakes in Panama the Colombian Rainbows were impossible to find during the day but were out on trails and roads at night.
Jeff

>>What is known about what wild neonate brbs eat, and where they can be found. High and dry, low and wet, in water, terrain, temps,etc.? Thanks,
>>Tony.

Would geckos, anoles, or frogs/tadpoles be a viable substitute for pinkies if a captive neonate refuses to feed. Also, has anyone tried minows, guppies, or goldfish? What types of small lizrds and frogs would a neonate brazilian be likely to encounter?

My indigos are notoriously finicky when young, and some keepers have resorted to these items, or at least scenting with fish. What would be the drawback to keeping a good suply of captive geckos, anoles, frogs or fish on hand for just such a porpose?

Thanks for helping out! Ive' been keeping all kinds of snakes for a long, long time, but I still have much to learn! This is my first attempt at rainbows. I aquired a gorgious pair from Jim Merli, { great guy, by the way!} It's nice to be able to come here and get answers to my questions from those with the know! When the day comes that I stand up and proclaim to know it all,...someone should slap me! Thanks for the help.
Tony.

Upon first inspection of your thread I was under the impression you were doing some kind of study.

I strongly admire you doing all the research possible before you get your new friends, but feeding should hardly be a problem. All rainbows I have ever had (Colombian or Brazilian) have fantastically strong feeding responses for mice. When you get your neonate... go straight to fuzzies or small hoppers, pinkies are too small!

Currently my little rain girl is in shed, when she is done, I will post some pics! I would to find a male to raise with her, unrelated, with great cresecents (I mean really great) and high high white sidings (colour doesn't bother me much).

Good luck with you pair, these snakes really do stand out in a crowd!
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-Iman
1.1 Sugar Gliders (Gizmo and Nema)
1.0 Ball Pythons (Spot)
0.1 Guyanan BCC (Ruby)
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow (Isaboa)

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Imans House of Herps

I thought you were researching too!
Anyway, brb's are not problematic feeders. They are easy to feed and will rarely refuse a meal. I wouldn't be worried at all about a neonate feeding. I have had more interest in live than f/t or f/k in neonates, but nothing I would call troublesome. If your set-up is okay, you need not worry.

Check out the JCark Forum Link at the top of the posts. It has been very helpful (and accurate) for me.

Linda
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"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance- that principle is contempt prior to investigation." Herbert Spencer