Very Good News!

Hi as most of you know I aquired an adult female that was 1100+ grams when i got her. I got her a month ago and hasnt atref or 7 months! Well last night i left a live hopper rat( actually was a little smaller) in her cage. I woke up this morning and BAM it was gone. She must have ate and you know what, I cant wait to feed her in one week! But I am kind of having a hard time believing it IS a female. It looks like i saw a sperm plug or something that was sticking out its vent so i pulled it out and it looked like one side of a sperm plug. Well I will get IT probed by someone else. I have to get going now Just thought i would share the excellent news.



-Andre

That's wonderful that she/he ate, however, I have to make one comment.

Don't leave live prey with your reptiles no matter the size of the prey in relation to the snake. There could be severe consequences.

Again, I'm happy she/he ate, but I would suggest not doing this again.

Smaller than hopper rat? Im guessing it didnt have its eyes open? In that case I don't see the problem with leaving it in the cage overnight with the snake. That size of a rat is no threat to the snake, and I did the same thing to get one of my females to eat.

People with more experience can correct me if I'm wrong, but a live baby rat that doesn't have its eyes open and isnt chewing on solid food yet shouldnt pose any threat.

I've always been under the impression that it's not a good idea to leave ANY prey item, no matter the size, in over night. Whether they could be harmful or not. Just something I've always thought.

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Originally Posted by Melicious

I've always been under the impression that it's not a good idea to leave ANY prey item, no matter the size, in over night. Whether they could be harmful or not. Just something I've always thought.

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I would agree in most cases, but if its alive, most baby baby rats will survive overnight just fine, and be harmless to your snake. I dont see what harm could be done in this case, and Ive gotten at least one female who wasn't feeding to eat this way.

I think it is a general rule that almost all of the time it is a bad idea, but I think this would be an exception.

Its eyes were open. Just opened but still nursing. The snake didnt get bit and I am just happy she ate.

its okay to leave an unweaned rat in the cage with your snake, but once the rat is able to start biting and clawing your snake is when you need to monitor feeding.

Congrats on the feed =)

Thank you! Now its time to go feed the other snakes and clean rat cages!



-Andre