New Baby Care--Moquards Beauty Snake

Hi everyone! I posted something a little similar on the rat snakes forum, but I am not getting much back. I was wondering a little bit about the differences between taiwan beauties and moquards beauties, but I will save that for the rat snake board.

However, I also need help with how to properly care for a baby snake. I have two adult snakes (eastern king and a ball python) and I was just wondering how things differ between caring for a baby and an adult.

How often should I feed my baby? I have heard so many different things and I want to narrow it down. I want him to get as long as possible and be well-fed, but not obese or unhealthy.

Is there a particular way to handle a baby to make it trust you and feel comfortable? (Other than the basics)

How often and for how long should I handle my baby? I was thinking I should handle him at least once a day. I heard beauties can be aggressive, and though he has shown no aggressive tendencies at all I want to make sure he stays comfortable with people. I don't want to stress him by handling him too much though.

I just got him two days ago and at first he was a little skittish, but he seems comfortable now. He hangs out on his climbing logs or peeks out of his hides. He also seems pretty curious about everything and will slither around his enclosure (20 gallon aquarium) in an easy manner. He shed perfectly yesterday and ate a pinky today and he was the biggest of the siblings.

Feel free to share anything you know about caring for babies and if you want to give some name suggestions that would be great too!

Here are some pictures!

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tavers

Hi everyone! I posted something a little similar on the rat snakes forum, but I am not getting much back. I was wondering a little bit about the differences between taiwan beauties and moquards beauties, but I will save that for the rat snake board.

However, I also need help with how to properly care for a baby snake. I have two adult snakes (eastern king and a ball python) and I was just wondering how things differ between caring for a baby and an adult.

How often should I feed my baby? I have heard so many different things and I want to narrow it down. I want him to get as long as possible and be well-fed, but not obese or unhealthy.

Is there a particular way to handle a baby to make it trust you and feel comfortable? (Other than the basics)

How often and for how long should I handle my baby? I was thinking I should handle him at least once a day. I heard beauties can be aggressive, and though he has shown no aggressive tendencies at all I want to make sure he stays comfortable with people. I don't want to stress him by handling him too much though.

I just got him two days ago and at first he was a little skittish, but he seems comfortable now. He hangs out on his climbing logs or peeks out of his hides. He also seems pretty curious about everything and will slither around his enclosure (20 gallon aquarium) in an easy manner. He shed perfectly yesterday and ate a pinky today and he was the biggest of the siblings.

Feel free to share anything you know about caring for babies and if you want to give some name suggestions that would be great too!

Here are some pictures!

1174824_10151921094389714_440961555_n.jpg

1238753_10151921095004714_2076727755_n.jpg

1184974_10151916933184714_536596888_n.jpg

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I first hand know nothing about these species, but some people that I've spoken to regarding these say they shouldn't be kept at temperatures like ball pythons. I wouldn't do a hot spot over 85 degrees and I would make that the hottest part in the cage.

Rat snakes digest food fairly fast, so while you can do a weekly schedule, I would try to aim for 6 days and then skip every 5th meal to let them flush their system out. As far as babies go, like any snake species it's not necessarily trust. They learn to tolerate you and not be afraid or skittish on their own and it's usually when they calm down. Two identical snakes could have totally different dispositions so it's all going to be on a snake by snake basis. If your baby is skittish I would try to avoid touching his head or going in front of his face as so you don't frighten him. Until he grows a bit and acclimates well I would limit your holdings to once a week, twice max. Any snake that I've had that was aggressive as a baby calmed down once adult.

One way to look at it is like this: You're a huge potential predator to that snake, and while they aren't smart like dogs/cats or humans they only really know basic instincts. Snakes really don't enjoy being handled, though sometimes we all think they do. They tolerate it and they can learn to associate smell with no danger(my opinion). Sorry I couldn't offer you any additional advice as I have no personal experience with the beauty snakes but if you'd like I'll send you a PM the caresheets I found for all the different beauty snakes and they all seem to be consistent with nothing higher then mid 80.

Thank you for your help! His hot spot in his cage is around 82-84 right now and he goes back and forth between his warm and cool sides. I will make sure it doesn't get too hot!