Jack the Russian Rat Snake/elaphe schrenckii (progression)

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Originally Posted by hilabeans

Sweet Jack!! I've been hoping for an update on him. 😊

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Oh I'm glad! haha not much to update it seems though, I wish he grew about 10x faster. :please: The tiny brown noodle stage is taking awhile LOL

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Originally Posted by zina10

He looks wonderful !!!

I do think he grew quite a bit :)

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Thanks!! GOOD! I think I got used to how quickly my ball pythons grow.

happy to see the lil guy again [emoji4] he looks great!

Finally got some more interesting pics and a gif too! WOOHOO.

32 qt growout enclosure. He's 9 months old and I deem him too small still for a 4 foot enclosure, especially since he burrows in the coco chip. Don't want to lose sight of him and accidentally hurt him when I'm scooping poop!

These snakes do everything don't they... Burrow like a dumeril's, climb, curl up and sprawl out on branches. Really interesting!

Jack still doesn't strike when I offer him food though. He will only eat if I leave it in front of him and close the tub lib. LOL

And I'm always so lazy to take out the big camera for him nowadays, especially since he's so small! Bad iphone pics for awhile. :D

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...32zso1_400.gif

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Great shots and info!!

does he ever go off feed or in spells..? What about around shed and how many times has he shed for you?

i ask because he seems similar in size an age to my mandarin who I know is a diff type and all but his behaviors and actions sound a lot like jack. He was eating weekly and up to two large pinks or small fuzzies then just stopped. He shed over the weekend and he’s back to being all active but still won’t eat.

He will defensively strike the food but then run. I leave it for him like I used to and notta

hoping he just needs to shake the shed cobwebs and get back to it

Omg, I love him! I love rat snake's little faces :love: Tell him I love him :bow:

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Originally Posted by Phillydubs

Great shots and info!!

does he ever go off feed or in spells..? What about around shed and how many times has he shed for you?

i ask because he seems similar in size an age to my mandarin who I know is a diff type and all but his behaviors and actions sound a lot like jack. He was eating weekly and up to two large pinks or small fuzzies then just stopped. He shed over the weekend and he’s back to being all active but still won’t eat.

He will defensively strike the food but then run. I leave it for him like I used to and notta

hoping he just needs to shake the shed cobwebs and get back to it

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He's never missed a meal, even in shed. I don't keep track of sheds since it's a thing they'll do whether you like it or not, but I'd say around 6 times since October maybe? :S I'm just guessing.

I think mandarins require a lot of cover and hides in order to feel secure enough to eat, kind of like ball pythons, especially young ones. You mention yours is all active, which might be a sign that he is feeling insecure in his setup and is looking for a place to hide or burrow. I'm pretty sure mandarins normally hide most of the day, like ball pythons.

russian rat snakes are more easy and bold snakes in that they don't particularly need hides and "cover" and will eat anyway, even hatchlings.

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Originally Posted by GpBp

Omg, I love him! I love rat snake's little faces :love: Tell him I love him :bow:

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hehe thank you!

I love seeing updates of Jack! Makes me super pumped about getting my girl, especially when I get to see pics of him being active! Photo where he's chilling on the branch with lunch is my fav!

I love Jack! I want one, but I'm getting a Morelia first. :P

Yes, I put him on the door handle for no reason. And then the unexpected happened: russian rat snakes can defy gravity.

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Okay, he's actually climbing down by pushing against both sides of the door crack using muscles left and right, all the way down his body. But still, it surprised me when he started going for the door crack and making his way down. I even offered him a hand, but he refused for awhile. (Eventually he took my hand... how sweet :P )