Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Mojo had his first hopper tonight(first one with me anyway). He ate with no problems, and I put him back in his viv. I know I can't handle him for 48 hours, but is there anything else I should avoid? I don't know how prone to a regurge he'd be.

A little background on him:

He's about 30" or so and 2 years old. He's extremely calm. He doesn't seem to be nervous around me, and he doesn't even hide when I walk over to the viv if he's out cruising around inside it. Since I'm in a dorm room, there's not that much free space. The viv is on top of a dresser in a closet with a sliding door on it. I keep the door open almost all the time so he's not shut in there in the dark. But even when I've had to keep it shut for a couple of hours, the temps still remain okay. So, should I keep it shut for the next day or so whenever I'm in the room just to avoid any extra stress or will he be okay leaving it like normal?

I know this sounds stupid, but this is the first time I've fed him (or any snake) and I don't want problems to come about when I could've avoided them by asking questions...so thanks.

At 30'' and 2 years old, sounds like Mojo can probably handle larger prey (adult mice). Do you know what the previous owner was feeding? A snake can comfortably handle a prey item that is the approximate girth of the snakes thickest part. A small bulge after feeding is OK. This normally recedes within a day or two.

Snakes can regurge for several reasons, the most common being handled too soon after feeding and temps that are incorrect -- too hot or too cold for proper digestion. I'm assuming you have correct heating in its cage. Withholding from handling for a few days is important.

As far as the doors remaining open or closed shouldn't really matter. Make cetain you have a couple of hides in the cage (one on warm side, one on cool side) and Mojo will use them at his/her convenience, based on it's preference.

Good luck and keep the questions coming. That's how we all learn.
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Ken Roshak
BlackSwampSerpents@toast.net

Definetly up the size....It should be able to take adult mice or rat pups just fine
A couple days off the handling sounds good though...

The breeder I got him off of said he was on hoppers, so that's what I got. They looked to be about the same diameter as the thickest part of the body when I fed him...but they said he was only being fed every 7-8 days so he may just be thin for his length/age.

I've got good temps and the appropriate hides, so I guess that'll do it. I just wasn't sure if there would be any added stress with me being in plain view all day (if he's not in a hide anyway).

Thanks