A dream made real, Mira the Vietnamese blue beauty rat snake

After 2 years of waiting and planning, the opportunity presented itself and I acquired my dream snake at last. Say hello to Mira! :D
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...506&height=675
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...506&height=675
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...506&height=675
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...506&height=675

Those were the clearest pics I could get, she's blazing fast. :bolt:

The breeder wasn't Zerkle as I was initially planning (really wasn't looking like he was going to produce any this year), but I chanced upon one from Florida (Vinnies Bees) on MM selling a clutch for a decent price compared to the bloated numbers everyone else is asking. They were extremely communicative and helpful during the process and she arrived safe and healthy so it was a good choice. :gj:

That's alotta snake, or it will be. Congrats.

Congratulations Snagrio! I know you’ve had your heart set on a VBB for awhile now. I love to see people achieve their goals! Best wishes with your beautiful new critter.

Woo-Hoo! :dance: I'm very happy for you- Welcome to the BP-net family, Mira! Now slow down! hahahaha! :D

Congrats!

I can't wait to see all the updates as she grows

I attempted a feeding this morning just to see if she was hungry and, it didn't go well... It must be too soon because she was still nervous and didn't want anything to do with the pinky, coiling and tail "waggling" (rather interesting how it differs from how my corn tail rattles, more of a slow whip than a rapid rattlesnake-imitating buzz). I left it in there just to see if she'd eat it on her own time, but it's untouched. Should I leave it there overnight or try again with a fresh one in a few days/week? This is the first time I've had a genuine refusal so trying to get a feel of what to do here.

First, congrats on your dream snake.

Secondly, I would leave her alone for a few days to a week. Make sure temps are great and just let her be.

Then I'd offer again and yes, you can leave a F/T prey item in over night to see if she eats. I wouldn't leave it longer than overnight though.

I don't know much about these guys and what they eat at that size and how often. I also cannot advise on temps, etc.

Make sure you are offering exactly what the breeder was. If she was on pinkies, offer pinkies, etc.

It sounds to me that she's getting used to her new environment still.

Also, most of my snakes would eat anytime, but all are nocturnal and look for food at night. I'd be offering when she's most likely to eat, which might not be the morning.

Good luck and keep us posted.

What he said ^ ^ ^ ;) Most likely just too soon, snake is upset & afraid in totally new surroundings. Time of day can matter too. As stated, feed EXACTLY what the breeder or source did for best results. Agree that overnight is okay, at the most though- they get ripe quickly in warm weather/ & warm indoor temps. Mostly, just slow down- let this :snake:settle in.

She was on week old mouse pinkies with the breeder, so that's correct. Temps are where they should be (mid 70's with a warm side in the low 80's). I did offer in the morning because from what I've read VBBs are more diurnal so I figured I should offer in daylight hours, but given she's not even a month old and just moved here night time would make much more sense regardless.

Haven't been bothering her otherwise, at most a brief peek or two just to check on her occasionally but I haven't handled her at all.

If she hasn't eaten it by tomorrow morning I'll take it out and give her more time before offering again. I know it's best to take breaks between offering attempts.

The pinky was still there. Took it out and offered it to my hens (they'll eat anything). I'll give her several days to a week completely alone, hopefully that will be enough for her to adjust and regain her appetite. :please:

She did eat least 3 times before leaving the breeder so I have confirmation that she's eaten before, but I still worry.

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Originally Posted by Snagrio

...I have confirmation that she's eaten before, but I still worry.

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Welcome to the A.H.S. :gj: (Association of Hovering Snarents) :D (of which I'm a life-time member, by the way)

I offered Mira another pinky after waiting a week and, she still didn't take it...

I waited until sunset, warmed it up with a hairdryer just beforehand, and she still wanted nothing to do with it. I left it in her hide and quickly left hoping she'll eat it in private, but if it's still there by tomorrow morning I'm going to have to look for a live pinky because it's around two weeks since she last ate and I'm getting very worried. :(

I decided to carefully check again about 15 minutes later. SHE ATE! :D

I'm so relieved, the mental weight on my shoulders for the whole past week has finally been lifted. Guess I know how she's likes to feed now; in complete in total privacy. As long as it works, I'm happy.

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Originally Posted by Snagrio

I decided to carefully check again about 15 minutes later. SHE ATE! :D

I'm so relieved, the mental weight on my shoulders for the whole past week has finally been lifted. Guess I know how she's likes to feed now; in complete in total privacy. As long as it works, I'm happy.

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I'm not surprised that she wanted maximum privacy & I'm very glad you've crossed that hurdle now. :gj:

Mira had her first shed with me. Never even knew she was in blue due to leaving her alone. But thankfully the humidity in her tub was already sufficiently high so she had a complete go at it. She also ate 2 pinkies (though again only after I left completely and checked back later, but whatever suites her best).
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...506&height=675
Going to wait until another one or two feedings and then I will actually take her out for the first time.

Well, just had my first handling session. Tons of tail waggling, bit me twice (second was enough to make me wince and draw a tiny amount of blood) and she musked. So, about as I expected. :rofl:
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...506&height=675
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...506&height=675
There were some periods where she was calm though. Those crystal clear pics are proof. Also like Hoco before her, I made a point to keep holding her for a little while to make a point that biting me wasn't going to let her get her way, and that I'm not something to be feared.

Such pretty eyes & facial markings!

Handling session #2.
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She flung nearly her entire body out of the tub when I was trying to get her in my hands. Can't underestimate that speed. :O I think we're making a bit of progress otherwise though. Only bit me once this time and didn't tail waggle quite as much. She's also not terribly flighty once I actually have her out. Nervous sure but not full panic mode.

She did get me good right on a knuckle though, but I knew the challenges going in (in fact it was because of them that I got her) and don't hold it against her whatsoever. In fact she slid over the bite at one point and I was relived when it was just my blood on her scales and not hers, that's how much I don't mind. :rofl:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...729_185516.jpg

I think you'll live- :D Snakes that like to "launch" are fun- they make sure we pay attention.

Wasn't sure where to put this kind of update, but I guess here works.

After a ton of time, money and work, her permanent enclosure is finished. Going to wait until she has some more size and confidence to her before I put her in it though, since I'd have a hard time finding her at her current size. That and testing the parameters and letting the excess moisture from the newly mixed substrate out.
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Oh yeah, she's gonna LOVE that! You did a beautiful job! :gj:

:gj::gj::gj::gj::gj::gj:

My young queen. :aww: Feels weird to have a snake that's more likely to be out in the open during the middle of the day after what I'm used to. :rofl:
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On another note, when I had to handle her for the decor cleaning debacle (and the rest of the tub because might as well by that point), she didn't bite me. Granted I also kept her head away from my hands until she calmed down enough, but still. I'm surprised at how fast she's taming down.

You never know, some snakes stay really hyper & snappy, but if you're patient & considerate, many do calm down despite their dreadful reputations- I hope yours does too- it makes handling more pleasant for all, & I believe that when snakes aren't so stressed they stay healthier too. I've known plenty of snakes that didn't live up to their bad reputations at all, so always keep an open mind, & try to understand where the snake is coming from. ;)

Another time out with me, and I don't think she even musked and it only took her a minute to calm down once she recognized it was me. She's tamed down to the point where she's about as easy to handle as my corn, I'm in disbelief at how fast she's accepted me. All this time I was prepared to have a snake that would be moody with me at the best of times but no, she's a dear.
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...506&height=675
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...506&height=675
Except when it comes to getting her picture taken, she doesn't like that. :rofl:
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She's home! :D
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SWEET! :gj:

Look at her go, the young queen's surveying her new domain already. :love:
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Oh yes, colubrids know how to check things out- they're not snakes that hide all the time. Enjoy! Rat snakes are addicting- :D

A "happy accident" of sorts; I was initially annoyed while setting up that I didn't have any singular slabs of cork bark big enough to make "solid" platforms and had to jigsaw puzzle pieces around, but it turned out to be exactly to her liking as she can hide under them. Also going to try and figure out a sky hide for her, one that I can easily access and remove if needed. I've got some ideas on how to go about that though.
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...506&height=675

Yeah, that worked out great! Happy "accident"-:D

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Originally Posted by Snagrio

Also going to try and figure out a sky hide for her, one that I can easily access and remove if needed. I've got some ideas on how to go about that though.

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Well, if you're ever looking for a way to put in a sky hide that's kind of a pain to access and remove don't hesitate to PM me.

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Originally Posted by Homebody

Well, if you're ever looking for a way to put in a sky hide that's kind of a pain to access and remove don't hesitate to PM me.

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I know you can just screw the rims of a hide upside down on the ceiling, which is what I'm trying to avoid since you'd have to unscrew it every time if access is needed. I have ideas ranging from getting more lipped L brackets and putting them right at the edge of the ceiling and flipping a hide over to rest its rims over, with juuuust enough room to lift and slip the hide out if needed. Or have the hide right side up and have a shelf underneath it on drawer tracks so I can slide the shelf out and access from underneath. I'll figure something out when I have the time.

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Originally Posted by Snagrio

I know you can just screw the rims of a hide upside down on the ceiling, which is what I'm trying to avoid since you'd have to unscrew it every time if access is needed. I have ideas ranging from getting more lipped L brackets and putting them right at the edge of the ceiling and flipping a hide over to rest its rims over, with juuuust enough room to lift and slip the hide out if needed. Or have the hide right side up and have a shelf underneath it on drawer tracks so I can slide the shelf out and access from underneath. I'll figure something out when I have the time.

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If I understand you correctly, then I went the L bracket route and left aaaalmost enough room to lift and slip the hide out. I could make it easier to remove, but it would feel a little less secure. I only remove it during my monthly clean out, so adjusting it is not high priority.

Mira just keeps changing how I think with snakes. I'm so used to looking under things that the last place I thought to look was up.
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And another thing that I keep failing at is to not helicopter too much. Was so focused on finding her to see how she was doing after her first meal in the new digs that I (lightly) bumped one of the cork bark pieces on top of her, I felt so terrible... Shouldn't have been poking around the day after she ate as it is but my worry on where she was overtook rational. :sigh2:

Really should've expected her to be there anyway since that's the warmest platform right under the RHP, exactly where she'd want to digest.

That is a bit different from ground dwellers like BPs- many rat snakes are semi-arboreal & love to climb- that's partly what I love about them, including their more out-going nature & activity level.

Congratulations on your beautiful new girl! 😍

Had to make an adjustment. She had been inside the biggest bamboo stump for about 3 days and I was getting concerned that she couldn't get out, so I carefully took the piece out to tip over (really glad I made everything movable) and plugged it off with chunks of cork bark and super glue like I already did with the other two stalks for the same reason. She probably wasn't really stuck and just felt comfy/safe in there, but I was inevitably going to have to do this anyway because I'm sure it was only a matter of time before she truly DID get stuck as she grew in size, which she is doing, quickly.
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...506&height=675
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...506&height=675

On a lighter note, she and Hoco had their first hopper mice tonight (with bonus pinkies since I've still got all of those to go through).

Behold, a blue blue beauty. :rofl:
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My little queen out of a fresh shed. :wuv:
(There's a light reflecting off her cheek in the second pic in case it looks like scale damage, I thought it was an injury too when I first looked at it).
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She did bite me again, but it entirely my own fault. She was hiding in one of her floor hides which she doesn't usually do so I spent an inordinate amount of time trying to find her in the first place, and then I brought her upstairs so my dad could see her, and having another person in front of her got her upset enough. Lesson learned.

Worst part is I was explaining to my dad how calm and handleable she has been compared to her species' reputation, only for her to nip my hand seconds after as if to prove a point. :rofl:

That's kind of a "typical" Beauty snake nip- she still has a "shorter fuse" than other snakes, so she gets upset (defensive) easier. That's a "brat snake" for ya, lol.
She's looking good though.

More of my baby girl.
https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...506&height=675

Though she's quickly becoming not a baby anymore, look how long she is already. :O
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Each handling session I'm learning more and more how to work with her. This time the lesson was never be distracted with anything else and give her full attention at all times. Kind of had to dig her out to get her since she was in a floor hide for a change and that meant moving decor out of the way. Well I tried to put things back in place while she was in my one hand and she did not like that at all and gave me a tag in protest. I got the message. :oops: It's also a balancing act of keeping up with her movements without spooking her, which doesn't take much. But we do eventually reach a point where she slows down and we both can relax which is nice.

Overall, definitely a "look, don't touch" snake for anyone else but me, but that's what my other two snakes are for. ;)

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Originally Posted by Snagrio

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She's a stunner! Will she keep those yellows as she matures?

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Originally Posted by Snagrio

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That pattern on her side looks like mosaic tile. Unbelievable!

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Originally Posted by Homebody

She's a stunner! Will she keep those yellows as she matures?

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Both of her parents are the blue and white variety, so I'd say no. I did specifically want that type though as it allows the blues and steely greys to stand out more imo.

Father.
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Mother.
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Originally Posted by Snagrio

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Oh, my! That's a whole lotta beautiful snake. Will your current enclosure be big enough for her when she's full grown?

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Originally Posted by Homebody

She's a stunner! Will she keep those yellows as she matures?

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If you like the yellows/golden colors, you might prefer the Taiwan Beauty rat snakes, as I do. Much the same snake (size, markings & temperament-wise), just from another area that evolved slightly different coloration. (I used to keep some Taiwan Beauties- ;) -they get big too, but when you get them as hatchlings & work with them, I didn't find them to be very nippy- just restless, more like a "racer" than a rat snake.)

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Originally Posted by Snagrio

...Overall, definitely a "look, don't touch" snake for anyone else but me, but that's what my other two snakes are for. ;)

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I wouldn't say they're a "look, don't touch" snake- but you need to acquire them as hatchlings, & patiently work with them- then enjoy the rewards. When I raised some Taiwan Beauties (quite similar but sporting gold & black), I didn't get nipped once they grew up some. Like all hatchlings, they're defensive, & more like a racer-type snake (as well as some other types of rat snakes) they need close attention but with a light touch- not heavy restraint- so it just helps to have some snake experience. They're not inclined to sit still or move slowly so you can keep up with them easily- :rofl:They're very alert but not "mean"- at least not the Taiwans I knew. Needless to say, they're also "easy to feed" on f/t rodents too. (or chicks, if you like- I fed rodents)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Homebody

Oh, my! That's a whole lotta beautiful snake. Will your current enclosure be big enough for her when she's full grown?

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It's 6x3x3 (72"x30"x36" to be exact) so I believe it is. Will probably need to adjust her arboreal shelves when she's bigger though. An 8x4x4 would be the utmost ideal but the current one already just barely squeezed through the house.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I wouldn't say they're a "look, don't touch" snake- but you need to acquire them as hatchlings, & patiently work with them- then enjoy the rewards. When I raised some Taiwan Beauties (quite similar but sporting gold & black), I didn't get nipped once they grew up some. Like all hatchlings, they're defensive, & more like a racer-type snake (as well as some other types of rat snakes) they need close attention but with a light touch- not heavy restraint- so it just helps to have some snake experience. They're not inclined to sit still or move slowly so you can keep up with them easily- :rofl:They're very alert but not "mean"- at least not the Taiwans I knew. Needless to say, they're also "easy to feed" on f/t rodents too. (or chicks, if you like- I fed rodents)

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I meant in the context of like, family members and younger relatives, i.e. mostly kids. With her speed and agility I wouldn't trust her to not whip around and give a niece or nephew a nip if they tried to pet her at this stage. Maybe if she calms down enough with age I'd consider it with caution, but not now. Last thing I want to do is give one of them a traumatic experience when my aim is to endear young minds to these creatures. Part of why I first started with a BP.