I was asked a question about the rodent size I feed our royal.
This is a 5 year + old female. She is a bit over 4' long and has a history of going off food. F/T was accepted for a time, but then that became a money wasting game. I prefer F/T'd but when it comes time to get this girl into action, she likes live and she likes large rats.
This snake is not particularly thickset but she has zero problems dispatching and eating a larger rodent.
When she's not into it she refuses these too, but normally I time it so the boa constrictor, carpet python and now (when he gets older), the retic will eat a refusal.
Here are a few snaps
Because she waits so long between meals she is usually VERY hungry and prepared.
She instinctually keeps most of her body in her hide until she makes contact and wraps. I'm always on my toes a bit because large adult rats are very capable of doing damage.
There is some luck involved, but she is so explosive and accurate. She easily dispatches prey as quickly as my larger snakes do.
This was the first time she dragged her meal into water.
I've been guilty of calling these animals boring. However to fully appreciate the species, you have to know the biology. As with most snakes, hiding and using cover to their advantage is the key to survival. Utilizing the least amount of energy in the most efficient way possible is what works.
This girl does what she does, and I can only marvel at it. I certainly have more active snakes but I know this girl will live a long life by regulating her own food intake and eating on her terms. A royal being shy and hiding away is a smart, successful python!
Off to the warm spot for a day or two then back into the hide she'll go.
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