ATB Questions

[AmandaLynnS1]

What is the average size for a 7mth old ATB?
I feed 2 lrg. mice pinkies every 7 days is this appropriate?
I am new to arboreals and any insite will be appreciated.
Resources?
Links?
Thanks

[Janiman]

I have a 9 month old that is currently eating a rat pink or hopper mouse about every week or so (sometimes she's a bit fussy). She has taken 2 rat pinks on a couple of occasions but is not normally a big eater. The size of your snake should dictate the size of the pray item, not it's age as some are much more aggressive eaters and grow much faster than others. I certainly wouldn't be afraid to move up to fuzzie mice or rat pinks at this point as pinkies are pretty tiny. Just for comparison, mine was about 37" and about 80 grams at 7 months.

Hope this helps...

[AmandaLynnS1]

My Atb is alittle over 2ft, I think he was the runt of the litter and I picked him not for his looks but he was the only one in the bunch that didn't bite me. I've had him for 5 mths and he is great. I see you have a Taiwan Beauty I was just checking them out last night there name says it all, beautiful snakes... Do you have any pics of your ATB or TBS?
Thanks

[Janiman]

Actually, I don't have any pictures yet... although I am planing to have some shortly.

Two feet is pretty small for a 7 month old snake (although, if you haven't actually measured it, you might be surprised at how long it actually is... it can be very deceving). If it really is only 2 feet, you should stick with small food items, but you might try it on fuzzies as they're still pretty small.

And yes, my Taiwan is a really nice snake. She's extremely well mannered as well and even when she's hungry (which is often) she never tries to bite. If you are thinking of getting one, be sure you are prepared for an 8 foot snake that eats a couple of rats at a time... every week to 10 days. Mine is a 4 foot yearling (10 months actually) and already eats 3 adult mice per week.

[AmandaLynnS1]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Janiman
[B]Actually, I don't have any pictures yet... although I am planing to have some shortly.

Right on let me know when you have some pics. Also I found an old store jewelery case and I'm going to use plexiglass in the front for the sliding doors and drill wholes into the plexi glass for ventilation. Would this be suitable for TBS. Also you were right about the ATB length being deceiving he is 2 1/2ft. Should I move him up to fuzzies the store doesn't sell rat pups. Should I feed him one or two a week? I feed him 2 pinkies a week as I said. Thanks for all your help.

[Linds]

ATB can take a hopper mouse from birth. 2 mouse pinks is definitely too little for a 7 month ATB, or any ATB for that matter. A great site for arboreals is http://www.corallus.com ;)

[Janiman]

I hate to disagree, but hoppers are too big for a newborn ATB. My ATB was only 15 grams when I got her (she'd taken 3 pinkies by that point) and she was an average weight for a neonate. Considering that hoppers are abount 10 to 15 grams, that would mean it was supposed to eat a prey animal almost the same size as the snake.

???

[Linds]

You would be surprised how large prey items these snakes can take down. They don't have the sensitive digestive system common to ETB. They aren't nest raiders in the wild, and being up in the trees you don't find too many pinkies running around :p Sometimes they need an item with fur on it to get feeding in captivity. Although I am not familiar with breeding ATB, I've spoken with people experienced in starting ATB babies that swear by small hoppers. Small hoppers are less than 10 grams. They are equivalent in weigh to fuzzy mice.