I've been a slacker with regards to forum involvement for far too long. Time to share a few (crappy phone camera) pictures and update on my pair of FL Easties. They just turned 2 this summer, are pushing 5', and continue to be a lot of fun. I just started working them into outreach programs too, and they've exceeded my expectations with regards to temperament. Tame coachwhips as education animals...who would have thought? We didn't start out that way, of course. It's taken 2 years of working with them on their terms to get them to this point and we still have a ways to go.



They currently live together in a large "Reptarium" enclosure. These things are great because they allow for maximum ventilation and the added bonus of moving outside on nice days. I moved from aspen chips to paper as a substrate once they outgrew their baby tanks, and have the entire bottom of the cage piled with several layers of bark flats for them to cruise between.




Here's a rare shot of one taking down its dinner. Usually they grab and hide with it. This is an older photo, and they're both eating large adult mice now. It's so cool how they kill by thoracic compression using their mouth. They follow the mouse and plan their strike before executing, grabbing the mouse right behind the forelegs and hang on until the struggle stops. Sometimes the poor dinner gets bashed against the wall or floor a few times, but I've never seen them use a body coil to help subdue prey. They'll take live mice off tongs from me, but still give me the stink-eye if I try dangling a thawed mouse in front of them.

Lastly, here's me with one of my little buddies.

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