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View Full Version : A feeding experience I thought was cute/odd


PopGoesAli
10-13-12, 04:39 PM
I have a hypo red tail boa and when feeding day comes, we pop a dead mouse in and I move it around entill she eats it.
(I freeze them sometimes so I let them thaw then feed her)

Well one say I took the mouse out of the freezer and held it a little longer than normal. (it was just so soft!! XD) So when it was finally thawed I put it in the tank and wiggled and moved it and she wouldn't eat!
But she knew it was good!

So after 15 minutes of trying and she refused to strike I just layed the mouse in the tank. And I sat and watched her.

She didnt attack but just pushed her nose against it. She hesitantly opened her mouth to eat, but stoped and pushed it really far with her nose. Then finally opened her mouth to eat.

She is a really sweet snake, and isn't skittish, like at all! I can blindly put my hand under her rock house and she hasn't bit me.
A friend of mine said she wouldn't eat the mouse because it smelt like her mommy xD.

Do you guys think this is true? If so it makes this story really cute!

millertime89
10-13-12, 04:42 PM
I've got a few snakes that will eat like that on occasion, not all that uncommon.

PopGoesAli
10-13-12, 04:44 PM
Lol ooh ok xD now I feel, sorta dumb x.x

Jay
10-13-12, 04:57 PM
Yes very dumb, snakes don't feel emotion.

Why are you feeding your Boa constrictor a mouse :s

Also it's not a red tail.

PopGoesAli
10-13-12, 05:27 PM
Fine I'm dumb. But I know what I payed for and I know how to feed her.
My snake is about a little bigger than a foot long. Im not going to feed her a rat!!

Also she is a Hypo red tail boa.

I maybe dumb. But I'm not a re-re . :)

Jay
10-13-12, 06:12 PM
Oh boy....

Still don't see a red tail.

Obviously you did not do your proper research, no need for that boa to be on mice.

bigsnakegirl785
10-13-12, 06:13 PM
Do you have any idea how many mice you will have to feed her when she's full grown?

And snakes can feel emotion, otherwise they would never get scared. Even basic emotions are emotions. They may not feel love, but they have emotion. Any animal with a brain has emotions, no matter how basic.

Jay
10-13-12, 06:15 PM
Do you have any idea how many mice you will have to feed her when she's full grown?

And snakes can feel emotion, otherwise they would never get scared. Even basic emotions are emotions. They may not feel love, but they have emotion. Any animal with a brain has emotions, no matter how basic.

Instincts....

Ivalynfyre
10-13-12, 06:16 PM
Your boa can take rats. My girl around that size took a small rat, and while it left a big bump she completely digested it within 9-10 days.

bigsnakegirl785
10-13-12, 06:17 PM
It's an instinctive emotion, it still counts. :P

Jay
10-13-12, 06:20 PM
It's an instinctive emotion, it still counts. :P

Endless debate :p

bigsnakegirl785
10-13-12, 06:21 PM
Endless debate :p

Yup. :yes:

Kaetlinv
10-13-12, 06:47 PM
Jay is the resident 'expert' on Red-tails and the like... Trust Jay on those matters, PopGoesAli, haha.

Your little friend is a beauty regardless.

For the feeding issue - if she can take an adult mouse (I'm guessing this is what you're feeding her?) she can take a rat pup at the LEAST.

My ball python took a rat pup at around 13 inches (this was so long ago, I can barely remember, it was about a month after I had gotten her.)

They can fit a surprising size of prey into those 'tiny' mouths.

shaunyboy
10-13-12, 06:58 PM
Do you have any idea how many mice you will have to feed her when she's full grown?

And snakes can feel emotion, otherwise they would never get scared. Even basic emotions are emotions. They may not feel love, but they have emotion. Any animal with a brain has emotions, no matter how basic.


what snakes have is INSTINCT not emotions.....

snakes do NOT feel fear,their brains are NOT equipt/wired for emotions...

re fear
they CANNOT consciously think to themselves,i am scared,or i feel fear,they have the instinct to survive,so INSTINCTIVELY they retreat,not because they're scared,but out of a primitive survival instinct

cheers shaun

shaunyboy
10-13-12, 07:02 PM
It's an instinctive emotion, it still counts. :P


INSTINCT and EMOTION are NOT the same thing

someone operating on emotion,is not the same as someone acting on an instinct.....

and we're talking about snakes,they simply do not have the brain requirements,to feel emotion

cheers shaun

brylecc1989
10-13-12, 07:24 PM
Jay why not identify the snake for us? Im sure the OP would like to know what she has, oh mighty boa master.

Jay
10-13-12, 07:36 PM
I did....Read.

Wildside
10-13-12, 09:18 PM
What I want to know is why you are using your hand to thaw the mouse?

Jay
10-13-12, 09:28 PM
What I want to know is why you are using your hand to thaw the mouse?

I know that's absurd I use my microwave, much faster.

Wildside
10-13-12, 09:32 PM
I just wouldn't be able to stand my hand smelling like dead rat

jaleely
10-13-12, 10:03 PM
jay, why are you always being so rude? You're not even pulling it off smoothly like mykee or aaron, you're just kind of being obnoxious. You can tell you're trying, but, kid, you're not even close.

To the original poster, you're fine. You can thaw your rat or mouse however you want. I wouldn't recommend microwave as that can sometimes over-heat and cook the rodent. Warm water is fine.
Snakes can determine scent, so for all we know the snake was indeed curious or shy about eating the food because it smelled like you. I have many that eat like that, and usually they are being lazy ;) but, they may also just be being curious or unsure if their situation is different than the norm.

Usually feeding a snake a larger prey item less often is a good policy. Snakes can eat up to twice their body width. I have a dumeri's boa that only recently moved to rat pups, and was on mice, because though he is a boa, he was *small*. so no worries. Getting the snake on rats soon will benefit it though : )

Grim
10-14-12, 12:12 AM
Wow, that was really rude to flat out call her dumb :(
I know next to nothing about snakes, but I'm sure she didn't post here to be called ignorant and ridiculed.

I hope there aren't a lot of jerks on this forum.

I like the idea of her knowing her mommy's scent, even if it isn't feasible.

PopGoesAli
10-14-12, 12:22 AM
She does have a red tail, and I know the breader and personally have seen both of the red tails. Here is a better pic.

And I feed her adult mice. Every saturday she gets fed.

Also I had a very tramatic event happen when a rat had attached my ball python when I kept her at my grandmothers house and it had eaten chunks out of her. She got a respiratory infection and had to be put to sleep. I understand I can kill them. But I would like to keep away from them for a little.

This thread is driving me nuts. I just wanted to post a story. And now I have someone on my butt telling me my snake isn't a red tail and she isn't being fed correctly -.-"

I don't mean to complain but do understand when I say that I am getting offended.

Is this Red enough for you?. Maybe you should do a little more research before telling someone they are wrong.

PopGoesAli
10-14-12, 12:23 AM
Also. I said it was thawed. I'm not scared of holding a dead mouse or rat.

PopGoesAli
10-14-12, 12:27 AM
Also. It's nice to see there are somenice people in this thread. Thank you for sticking up for me >.<"

PopGoesAli
10-14-12, 12:32 AM
I know that's absurd I use my microwave, much faster.

It can cook and possibly burn your snake.
-_-

rmfsnakes32
10-14-12, 12:51 AM
I think its a pretty red tail

PopGoesAli
10-14-12, 01:00 AM
I think its a pretty red tail

Thank you very much :")

Kaetlinv
10-14-12, 01:10 AM
PopGoesAli, Jay is notorious for being picky about the true names of red tails. People will often mislabel or sell BCI (boa constrictor imperator) as true red tails, when they aren't.
She has a gorgeous red tail, however. We're not trying to tell you the color of your snakes tail! hehe :)

As for the rat eating chunks out of your past Ball python, yes that can be very scary, but that can happen if you don't watch the snake when live prey is in with it. You should NEVER leave live prey in with a snake if you are not there to watch! If the snake doesn't eat it within a few minutes it would be best to try again next week, rather than risk your snake getting bit. Yes, nips can happen within those few minutes but if you are there watching you can intervene before it gets too bad.

People are just trying to inform you of what would be best for your little girl there - it can be difficult to switch a snake from mice to rats because some snakes can get very picky. When your girl gets bigger it will take a lot of mice to provide a substantial meal. Even now, she probably could eat a second or third mouse (don't quote me, I'm just going off of what i know, listen to the experts not me, if they say something that contradicts me, follow their advice not mine.).



To respond to Grim, yes while we would like to believe our snakes recognize our smell and dont want to bite 'us', it might be that our smell is covering up the prey's smell and they're not quite sure of how to react when it doesn't smell like prey.

As for the microwave method burning the snake, I hope not. So long as the prey item is only warm to the touch it should be safe, if it is too hot when you take it out then let it chill a little before you feed the snake, like you would with your own food.


If you only take one thing from this post however, I hope it is this; People on this forum are NOT out to get you! While some of us are more blunt, it is because they have cared for snakes for a very long time and know what needs to be done, and they don't feel like sugar coating every single response they give to new people who come asking for help. They answer a lot of questions, give them a little slack (only a little! flat out name calling is just rude...). We have great admins on here who will intervene and reprimand people who are flat out disrespectful or purposefully trying to make another person miserable. If you feel like you are being harassed, message one of them and see if they can help, rather than making the issue worse. :)

that was just a bit of personal advice. I will say again.

She does have a lovely red tail :P

rmfsnakes32
10-14-12, 01:13 AM
I will chime in and say with experiance buy some frozen rat pinkys/fuzzies soon I have 7 different boas the dont stay tiny enough to live of mice for very long at all. Not trying to pick on you just sharing a little wisdom with you! Good luck my friend cant wait to see pics of her growing!

PopGoesAli
10-14-12, 01:23 AM
I think its a pretty red tail

PopGoesAli, Jay is notorious for being picky about the true names of red tails. People will often mislabel or sell BCI (boa constrictor imperator) as true red tails, when they aren't.
She has a gorgeous red tail, however. We're not trying to tell you the color of your snakes tail! hehe :)

As for the rat eating chunks out of your past Ball python, yes that can be very scary, but that can happen if you don't watch the snake when live prey is in with it. You should NEVER leave live prey in with a snake if you are not there to watch! If the snake doesn't eat it within a few minutes it would be best to try again next week, rather than risk your snake getting bit. Yes, nips can happen within those few minutes but if you are there watching you can intervene before it gets too bad.

People are just trying to inform you of what would be best for your little girl there - it can be difficult to switch a snake from mice to rats because some snakes can get very picky. When your girl gets bigger it will take a lot of mice to provide a substantial meal. Even now, she probably could eat a second or third mouse (don't quote me, I'm just going off of what i know, listen to the experts not me, if they say something that contradicts me, follow their advice not mine.).



To respond to Grim, yes while we would like to believe our snakes recognize our smell and dont want to bite 'us', it might be that our smell is covering up the prey's smell and they're not quite sure of how to react when it doesn't smell like prey.

As for the microwave method burning the snake, I hope not. So long as the prey item is only warm to the touch it should be safe, if it is too hot when you take it out then let it chill a little before you feed the snake, like you would with your own food.


If you only take one thing from this post however, I hope it is this; People on this forum are NOT out to get you! While some of us are more blunt, it is because they have cared for snakes for a very long time and know what needs to be done, and they don't feel like sugar coating every single response they give to new people who come asking for help. They answer a lot of questions, give them a little slack (only a little! flat out name calling is just rude...). We have great admins on here who will intervene and reprimand people who are flat out disrespectful or purposefully trying to make another person miserable. If you feel like you are being harassed, message one of them and see if they can help, rather than making the issue worse. :)

that was just a bit of personal advice. I will say again.

She does have a lovely red tail :P


Thank you
And yes I knew about taking the rat out but my sister didnt :/ but that was the past and I will always miss her.

I do plan on feeding her rats soon.

I get that they are not out to get me. But calling me dumb and straight out telling me I'm wrong is rude.

But thank you for your compliments, :)

PopGoesAli
10-14-12, 01:25 AM
I will chime in and say with experiance buy some frozen rat pinkys/fuzzies soon I have 7 different boas the dont stay tiny enough to live of mice for very long at all. Not trying to pick on you just sharing a little wisdom with you! Good luck my friend cant wait to see pics of her growing!

I will feed her rats soon :")
She just shed also c:

rmfsnakes32
10-14-12, 01:42 AM
Good its best to start when they are young they get fussy the older they get

SnakeyJay
10-14-12, 03:35 AM
It is best to get them on rats as soon as possible like everyone said... However rat pups aren't really available here, just large weaner and upward. So I'm stuck using small mice out of necessity for my cb12 myself. Just try and switch real soon or you may have problems later..

Jay is right, it's no redtail... It is however a lovely hypo bci (common boa).. Nothing wrong with that but the "redtail" bit is given by breeders who want to make it sound cool to buyers etc. Only pure Bcc are "redtails" and I'd love one myself aswell :D

Just like a ball python isn't a ball, it's a royal python bit that's another discussion eh :)

Jay
10-14-12, 07:16 AM
She does have a red tail, and I know the breader and personally have seen both of the red tails. Here is a better pic.

And I feed her adult mice. Every saturday she gets fed.

Also I had a very tramatic event happen when a rat had attached my ball python when I kept her at my grandmothers house and it had eaten chunks out of her. She got a respiratory infection and had to be put to sleep. I understand I can kill them. But I would like to keep away from them for a little.

This thread is driving me nuts. I just wanted to post a story. And now I have someone on my butt telling me my snake isn't a red tail and she isn't being fed correctly -.-"

I don't mean to complain but do understand when I say that I am getting offended.

Is this Red enough for you?. Maybe you should do a little more research before telling someone they are wrong.

Why are you getting offended, thi is the Internet.
Ill try one more time. You do not have a red tail boa, just because you bought it as a Rtb doesn't make it a Rtb. If you're feeding adult mice your boa can handle a rat pup.

Hey if I sell my 2008 rsx as a 2013 Porsche think you'll buy it and tell people it must be a Porsche, that's what I bought it as.

To Melissa, sorry I'm not more like your pals.

PopGoesAli
10-14-12, 08:15 AM
Why are you getting offended, thi is the Internet.
Ill try one more time. You do not have a red tail boa, just because you bought it as a Rtb doesn't make it a Rtb. If you're feeding adult mice your boa can handle a rat pup.

Hey if I sell my 2008 rsx as a 2013 Porsche think you'll buy it and tell people it must be a Porsche, that's what I bought it as.

To Melissa, sorry I'm not more like your pals.

It maybe be the internet but when someone is calling you dumb and ect. I do get offended internet or not.

Question. So if you breed two red tails you.get a normal boa?.

(Because like I said before I know who owns the parents and she has been breeding for 20+ years :/ so do understand when I say I have a pretty good idea.)

Is her tail not as bright or something?


Not arguing i would just like to know.

shaunyboy
10-14-12, 08:40 AM
if i'm being honest.....

imo using the " it's the internet " as an excuse,to be blatantly rude to someone is a cop out

imo there is NO need to be cheeky to people,just because your safely tucked away at home on a key board

a bit of civility goes a long way

you catch more with honey,than you do vinegar mate ;)

cheers shaun:)

p.s.i'm not bering cheeky,merely pointing out how i feel;)

Jay
10-14-12, 09:06 AM
It maybe be the internet but when someone is calling you dumb and ect. I do get offended internet or not.

Question. So if you bread two red tails you.get a normal boa?.

(Because like I said before I know who owns the parents and she has been beading for 20+ years :/ so do understand when I say I have a pretty good idea.)

Is her tail not as bright or something?


Not arguing i would just like to know.

My apologies.

You fell for a marketing ploy. Bci (what you own) do infact have a slightly red tail, but they are not "red tailed boas." In the pet trade common boa constrictors, Colombians to be exact are referred to as red tails for a number of reasons. The most common TRUE red tails sold in today's pet trade are bcc Guyana/Suriname.

So what you own is a hypo boa constrictor, a boa constrictor imperiator, not a red tail. Bcc's get larger, they require a little more experianced last but not least they have a MUCH brighter red tail.

Not saying that your hypo bci is anything less the a true red tail, frankly any boa is a nice boa in my books.

As for calling you "dumb" it was insulting, I just thought it was better then uneducated.

Feel free to pm me if you don't understand the concept of bc imperiator and bc constrictor.

PopGoesAli
10-14-12, 11:38 AM
Okay, thank you for helping me out a bit.
Sorry for throwing a fit xD
I'm not like that normally.
But when it comes to my little one my claws come out.

Knowing that she gets larger and all that. I will probably ask alot of questions. I was prepared for a red tail. Lol!

How large can she get? O_o"
Big or not she will always be my "little girl" lol.

Wildside
10-14-12, 11:47 AM
Okay, thank you for helping me out a bit.
Sorry for throwing a fit xD
I'm not like that normally.
But when it comes to my little one my claws come out.

Knowing that she gets larger and all that. I will probably ask alot of questions. I was prepared for a red tail. Lol!

How large can she get? O_o"
Big or not she will always be my "little girl" lol.

Good Job Jay! Now you've really managed to thoroughly confuse her with your tail color copping :rolleyes: Honestly I don't know how you could tell what color the tail is from those pictures.

PopGoesAli All the care and information, etc. that you've found in your research is geared for BCI. Not that the husbandry varies that much from BCC. BCI's are called "Common Boas" because they are what is commonly kept, plain and simple

Aaron_S
10-14-12, 11:56 AM
She'll still obtain a fairly large size. 7 or 8 feet most likely and weighing a solid 15 - 20 pounds.

Wildside
10-14-12, 11:58 AM
She'll still obtain a fairly large size. 7 or 8 feet most likely and weighing a solid 15 - 20 pounds.


Just don't sling her around your neck ;)

jaleely
10-14-12, 01:01 PM
Yes please PM jay with all your snake questions. He is the super duper out of focus photo expert. Not to mention he's so helpful with all of his information, why, I'd trust him over a book any day. How can you possibly think you can learn something without that wonderful beside manner of his, substituting one rude word for another and acting like it's okay? Clearly makes me think he knows what he's talking about, rather than wanting to dismiss him entirely because he's being snotty.
Clearly, we are always wrong, and must be informed by the best, most successful, sitting behind the keyboard at home nit-picking authority.

Let me just put it another way. No matter whom my friends are, my point is stop being rude or I'll report the next post i see from you because frankly i'm tired of your arrogance. And no, I will not PM you this, this will stay public since you are dragging out your rude attitude to the public. Flaming a newbie because you want to act smart over tail color is rude, weird, and completely pointless.
Just stop it. You are all over this website being rude to people.

Man up, or woman up, and either present information you think may be helpful in a nice and acceptable way, or don't say anything at all.

Revenant
10-14-12, 01:11 PM
Question. So if you bread two red tails you.get a normal boa?.

(Because like I said before I know who owns the parents and she has been beading for 20+ years :/ so do understand when I say I have a pretty good idea.)



BCI are often called/sold as red tails. Purists consider BCC 'true red tails' and BCI 'common boas' that should not be called red tails.

In the pet trade, both are called red tails most of the time and BCI and BCC are used to distinguish between them. It is kind of confusing, but BCI are are red tails, but not true red tails. If that makes sense...

I'd love to see more pictures as she grows. Hypos are beautiful, true red or just trade-name-reds. :p

Jay
10-14-12, 01:22 PM
Yes please PM jay with all your snake questions. He is the super duper out of focus photo expert. Not to mention he's so helpful with all of his information, why, I'd trust him over a book any day. How can you possibly think you can learn something without that wonderful beside manner of his, substituting one rude word for another and acting like it's okay? Clearly makes me think he knows what he's talking about, rather than wanting to dismiss him entirely because he's being snotty.
Clearly, we are always wrong, and must be informed by the best, most successful, sitting behind the keyboard at home nit-picking authority.

Let me just put it another way. No matter whom my friends are, my point is stop being rude or I'll report the next post i see from you because frankly i'm tired of your arrogance. And no, I will not PM you this, this will stay public since you are dragging out your rude attitude to the public. Flaming a newbie because you want to act smart over tail color is rude, weird, and completely pointless.
Just stop it. You are all over this website being rude to people.

Man up, or woman up, and either present information you think may be helpful in a nice and acceptable way, or don't say anything at all.

Down kitty, down. I apologized, and presented it in an acceotable fasion. This has nothing to do with tail color, it's a locality thing, that I'm passionate about.

SnakeyJay
10-14-12, 01:44 PM
If somebody came on with an Irian jaya carpet and claimed it was a coastal etc... They'd be put straight wouldn't they? This is the same isn't it?.....

Just put it nicely instead Jay :D

Wildside
10-14-12, 01:58 PM
If somebody came on with an Irian jaya carpet and claimed it was a coastal etc... They'd be put straight wouldn't they? This is the same isn't it?.....

Just put it nicely instead Jay :D

Not necessarily...

BCI are often called/sold as red tails. I don't believe this is the same case with carpet pythons Purists consider BCC 'true red tails' and BCI 'common boas' that should not be called red tails.

In the pet trade, both are called red tails most of the time and BCI and BCC are used to distinguish between them. It is kind of confusing, but BCI are are red tails, but not true red tails. If that makes sense...

I'd love to see more pictures as she grows. Hypos are beautiful, true red or just trade-name-reds. :p

PopGoesAli
10-14-12, 06:42 PM
I will be posting lots of pictures!
the images aren't in the best quality, its was taken with my phone xD
The end of her tail is like a cream color and the spots are more of a redish orange.

ill take some with my camera when I get a chance. :)

rmfsnakes32
10-15-12, 08:25 AM
Cameras always take much better pics

PopGoesAli
10-15-12, 11:53 AM
Yeah (:
When I get my computer working I will take pics x)