Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've recently bought 2 everglades hatchlings, to add to my collection of Kings and Pines.
I've read everything I can on the everglades but would like some in-depth advice from anyone who keeps them.

I've had my pair for 2 weeks, they're in separate tanks but compared to the other snakes I have they don't seem settled, they are about 8inch long and exstremely slim, I'm feeding them tiny pinkies but they won't eat unless the tank is covered and then they seem to take forever or they leave them completely (I've cut the noses & put the food right in front of them & left them with food overnight)Also when feeding they lift their heads, so about a quarter of their body is vertical whilst eating the pinkie.

They are also very nervy, I know hatchings can be jittery and a bit nippy, but I thought they may have settled down by now, 1 of my kings was like this but after 3 days she was settled right in & feeds from hand.

The male everglade shed a few days back, It was a bad one and I had to help him over the course of 3 days.

They also seem a little lethargic and dont move around as much as the other snakes I have, unless I take them out.

The Vivs , heat settings and over-all conditions are perfect
Is all this behaviour normal for everglade hatchlings and if not can anyone tell me what may be wrong with them?

Thanks

I have heard of folks having trouble getting Glades started. That said, I haven't had a problem. First, though, I want to make a point. If they are really only 8 inches long, they are tiny babies. I've found 12 inches to be more typical for hatchlings. Were they recent hatchlings? If so, its pretty late in the season which makes me wonder about their incubation. When you say there temps are "perfect" can I assume you mean they have a gradient of about 75-85 degrees (give or take a few degrees either way)? Are you attempting to brumate them at cooler temps or keep them up? Mine slow down a lot when the temp drops below 75. How about humidity? The bad shed implies it is definitely too low. I keep my Glades humidity levels at no lower than 55% There is a couple ways you can tasackle this issue. Give them a moist hide box as well as there standard ones or mist more heavily/frequently. Notice how wild snakes get active after a rain? It livens up the whole food chain. You can also increase humidity by minimizing the ventilation in their enclosures. Try taping up some of the open areas in the enlcosure. Glades are native to very humid areas. Unnatural conditions for a species can put animals off their feed. I suppose it makes them feel "uncomfortable." Now, on to feeding. Have you tried live pnks? Its more important to get them feeding then feeding on frozen/thawed. Its not uncommon for Obsoleta hatchlings to need to start on live and then transition to f/t. Finally, you don't describe what you mean by "nervy." Since you say they are also lethargic, I assume you mean they get defensive when you open the cage. This will change with time and successful feedings. Two weeks is a very short time for them to acclimate. two to three months is a very reasonable amount of time to wait befoere they get used to handling. Leave them alone as much as possible for a few weeks. It sounds like they may be getting too much attention right now. For the next feeding attempt, I would try putting them in a small "tupperware-like" container with a small live pinkie. Do it in the evening and don't even enter the room for an hour. If necessary, leave them in the container overnight. By morning, they should be back in their enclosure reeagrdless of feeding. Even if it isn't successful, leave them alone in their enclosures for 4-5 days before trying again. In short, it sounds like you need to increase humidity, give them more time alone and try live food. Keep us posted on your success.

Not sure how much help I can be. I keep my 'glades exactly as most all my others. While I have had some that were nippy and have kept that disposition for some time, most settle down very well and are rather quiet.
You say they are nervy but then say they aren't active?
As for the shedding, did you have a moist hide for him? Sometimes that helps.
I have cb and wc animals and you wouldn't know one from the other as far as their temperament.
Their feeding responses are as wild as my FL kings.
Are you offering them f/t pinks? Are they thawed until they are warm? Make sure the food is not still too cold.
See my post farther down to see what yours may look like in a few years.
Good luck.
:Mark

Kathy and Bill Love's Corn Snake Manual is a great book on the basics of keeping NA Corn Snakes but it also applies to Rat Snakes. They have a great section in there on "tease feeding." It's a way to entice reluctant feeders by holding them and touching a pink to the snake behind its head. the snake will strike out at the pink and (hopefully) hold on. I won't go into a lot of detail but they use pictures to illustrate the processs. The book is a valuable read at a great price.

>>my everglades is the meanest snake I have.
Never wants to calm down. I get him in April.
I thought I had him calmed down for a while but he musks and tries to bite every time I handle him.

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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes