Hey guys i bought 3 females off a guy on a forum, and i also have 2 males, in the hope of getting some eggs this season(my first) Now im pretty happy with all my snakes, they pretty much do as the sellers said they would (IE how often they feed/wether they miss feeds regularly etc) Just this 1 girl, the smallest at about 1.5kg seems restless! I mean shes always outta her hide cruising about, night and day! Shes in a rack with the rest of em so im pretty sure they're evironment is OK as the rest are doing fine (they're in Ikea complement tubs 1oo x 50, 2 hides, water bowl, 92f hotspot 79 - 82 ambient.

Shes missed her last two feeds, which im not concerned about as the sellers said shes a little fussier than the other two. Last feed i left the rat in overight, no joy. I had work 6am the next day and forgot to get the rats out in the morning so did it wen i got in from work. 1 of my males also missed and i got his rat out first and noticed this little girl was poking her nose at the air gap and generally seemed to be going nuts for the rat.....so i slide her tub out and her rats still uneaten also.

I decided to rewarm the other rat and offer it to her, seen as she was showing interest in it. She followed it about when offered, looked real interested but wouldnt strike so i left it in overnight again. I had work 6 am the next morning so i left the other rat on the floor so i could dump it in work the next day.

Cut to 5 30am......Check snakes and the females tub is open frantically start looking for her, still half asleep and some of the stuff on the other side of the room looks like its been disturbed(theres a big pile of junk there as ive been decorating recently) so im carefully picking bits up like theres been a mini earthquake and im looking for the survivor lol, anyway, 30 mins later, no signs. Ive woken up by now and am starting to think rationally....check behind the other tubs in the rack and shes gone 1 shelf down behind the next tub LOL - to all the RUB haters mine escaped and actually found a smaller space to chill!!! The rat was still uneaten, as was the one on the floor so shes not hungry. Is this normal for a female? I thought only the males go on the hunt for a mate? And the tub he settled by was also a female (allegedly). I trust the seller, im still in touch with him via the forum i bought em off and am pretty sure he knows his onions and is not some rip off merchant, just wondering what you guys think of the behaviour. I dont really know any one in the real world who could sex the snakes for me - theres two places i get my rats from 1 of em doesnt sell reps/snakes and the other place say the wont sex snakes as "its too much hassle" whatever that means ?

How'd all you guys learn to probe your snakes?? I have a reptile vet locally who would sex the snakes, however its a £30 consultation fee, PER SNAKE so im not really willing to part with £150 to have 5 snakes sexed!! My cat needs vaccinating so im thinking ill try an get an appointment with the rep guy(theres loadsa vets at this practice) and ask him if he'll perhaps teach me on this one snake for £30 idk :S I havent actually spoken to him yet, only the girl on reception! Its something im gonna have to learn sooner or later i suppose - ive seen it done once but didnt really pay any attention as i didnt know what the hell was going on at that time lol. I have heard theres 'how to' vids on you tube but dunno about this, ive not watched any. What you guys think ??