Meet Toaster Strudel

New pictures!

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First, she looks great!

Secondly, I think mediums every 14 days are fine assuming she's been handling small rats for a while and the mediums aren't more than 20% of her body weight. From the picture, I think it will be fine.

Beautiful snake! Had to get my shades...:cool:

Great looking critter. They can definitely handle a medium. I wouldn't worry about what the rat weights as far as percentage of snake's weight. If a medium looks too big once consumed then go back to smalls for a bit. You'll be surprised what a carpet can handle. Share pictures of this animal more. Myself and at least one other Morelia friend here certainly wouldn't mind. I may even feel inspired to share updates on my carpets...

How is she to handle? In all the pictures she seems very calm and curious

She took her first medium rat with no problem. Thank you everyone. I’ll definitely share more pictures.

plateOfFlan she is super chill. She is a bit shy but I recently moved and haven’t handled her much so I think once I start handling her more that will get rid of her nervousness. She’s never bitten me and the only time she tries is as a feeding response when I first take her out of her cage.

(Sorry if this posts twice, the first time I got an error message).
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/SednRyA.jpg

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Originally Posted by widget

She took her first medium rat with no problem. Thank you everyone. I’ll definitely share more pictures.

plateOfFlan she is super chill. She is a bit shy but I recently moved and haven’t handled her much so I think once I start handling her more that will get rid of her nervousness. She’s never bitten me and the only time she tries is as a feeding response when I first take her out of her cage.

(Sorry if this posts twice, the first time I got an error message).
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/SednRyA.jpg

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Yafe is the same way; a dream when out, but can be a little hissy or worse when I reach in. That's why he's hook trained like my other food crazed constrictors - See all my boas.

I let him get most of his hisses out with the hook and gentle rubs. Then I can pick him and he's not expecting food and is not startled.

Do you hook train? If not, I'd recommend it. I can post instructions/a thread I wrote if interested.

I've seen Yafe's teeth and that would not be a fun bite.

I know I should but I haven’t. I have a hook. Lately I’ve been almost getting bit in the face changing her water. She’s worse than my king snake but only in her cage because her top perch where she hangs out is at eye level.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by widget

I know I should but I haven’t. I have a hook. Lately I’ve been almost getting bit in the face changing her water. She’s worse than my king snake but only in her cage because her top perch where she hangs out is at eye level.

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Can't say enough how helpful hook training is. Better for all involved. Your snake doesn't want to nail you any more than you want to get bit.

It also doesn't hurt the snake at all. There is really no downside.

Either way, good luck and keep us posted on Toaster Strudel.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by widget

I know I should but I haven’t. I have a hook. Lately I’ve been almost getting bit in the face changing her water. She’s worse than my king snake but only in her cage because her top perch where she hangs out is at eye level.

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Just don't take it personal- many snakes that are comfortable being held by us are afraid & defensive until they get more "clues" to reassure them that they do in fact know us. In my experience, snakes do not recognize us visually- at least not with any certainty- & they need our scent &/or touch to reassure them. That's why so many snakes may try to bite when we approach them in their home- (it can also happen when they're expecting food). You do NOT want a face-bite. ;) A hook (or a sleeved/gloved arm/hand) makes for a safer approach, because that serves as cues so they recognize & remember that we're not an unknown predator (or prey).