Two snake bites at once!

[drec91]

Well just want to share a story with you guys. About 3 months ago i was hired as the assistant reptile keeper at the pittsburgh zoo. The job consists of feeding all of the constrictirs. I had been feeding the Green Tree Python rats once a week. And was getting used to the routine. This past monday a sencond GTP was brought in and for some reason i was told by the senior keeper to put them both in the same tank. This turned out to be a bad thing because later that week i opened the tank and was bitten by both snakes. One on the thumb and the other on the chest. And as you all know GTP bites are some of the worst. Do you think putting them togther could have stressed them out? I had not touched any type of mammal before opening the tank so i dont see ho how it could have been a feeding response.

[Aaron_S]

Could have been a feeding response still, because they thought opening of the enclosure was bringing food.

Another reason could possibly be you simply startled the snakes. It happens. Especially with nocturnal snakes who may have been awakened suddenly.

Also, if you work for a zoo, and your "senior keeper" tells you to put a NEW animal into an existing enclosure with an already healthy one, why would you not question if you should quarantine or not? Was it WC?

Lastly, to my knowledge, and I may be wrong, Green Tree Python's aren't very active and their metabolism is slower than most snakes, so why would you feed a rat once a week? Seems to me, and again I may be wrong, that it's over feeding.

[drec91]

No, they would never bring a wild caught animal into a display exhibit in the first place, and especially not with another animal. I did quarantine. Maybe it is over feeding but thats what I was told to do.

[gonesnakee]

As for "overfeeding" one would have to know the size of the snake & the size of the prey as well. In young speciemens once a week is probably appropriate depending on the prey size. For subadult or adult specimens 1 meal every 2-3 weeks would be fine if it were a larger meal. Frequency would depend on prey size. If older specimens are fed less often they are less likely to have a feeding response every time the enclosure is opened though. As for group housing it is not recommended of course (ask anyone that deals with snakes, even newbies) & yes the presence of a new one in the old ones enclosure can contribute to stressing both of them out yep. What is it about Zoos always wanting to group house animals anyway? Most all snakes are best off kept alone as they are solitary predators, not "herd" or "pack" animals. Mark
P.S. how long was the quarantine period? You have only been there 3 months right? A proper quarantine for a Zoo animal should be at least that or even longer I'm thinking.

[Aaron_S]

Mark I can always count on you when I'm being lazy and don't want to ramble on about everything :D

I suppose group housing just looks cooler. The visitors have a chance to actually see the animals.

[Herpkid101x]

i thought green trees were nocturnal? and if they are shouldn't u feed them at night since they'd be more comfortable then? not that i'm saying ur doin bad or anything

[Aaron_S]

Most zoos and people still feed their nocturnal snakes during the day. It doesn't really seem to affect things. Sometimes, I'm sure keepers(zoo or private) will do as you say, if the snake will only feed at that time.