Guys, I'm new and need help.

Forkliftdriver · 12-05-14, 09:19 PM

I work in Omaha NE, I unload semi trailers from Georgia daily. Today a 2 1/2 foot Black Rat Snake came in on one of the trucks, freezing to the touch and nearly dead. I infact thought it was dead until I saw movement in the tail as I was about to throw her in the trash. So I packed her up in a box and set her in the break room where it was about 72 degrees, instead of the 35 ° shop temp. So anyway I don't know how to care for a snake but I'm sure this snake wouldn't survive release in NE winter. So I'm keeping her in a ten gallon tank I got when I first bought my water dragon. No lamps just the heat pad under the hide log.. I know this isn't ideal but I also don't want this to be a long term pet. Also bought her a mouse, live white lab mouse and she seems totally uniinterested, is this from the stress of today? Should I remove the mouse and reintroduce it in a week?

**Boots** · 12-06-14, 01:19 AM

Do not leave the mouse with the snake. Give the snake time at adjust. Going from nearly freezing to death to captivity will take some time to adjust to if she makes it. Please give her some time.

Jason

BIGT FROM F.B. · 12-06-14, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boots

Do not leave the mouse with the snake. Give the snake time at adjust. Going from nearly freezing to death to captivity will take some time to adjust to if she makes it. Please give her some time.

Jason

Agreed. Strange place, nearly frozen, may even be the first time it's seen a person. Only time will tell.

pet_snake_78 · 12-06-14, 09:48 PM

I would try to find someone to take it from you. Maybe post an ad in fauna classifieds or find a local pet shop who could take it? Ultimately, it needs to be setup in a large enough enclosure to have a range of temperatures. Since you're not wanting to spend a lot on the setup, a large plastic box with 1/8" ventilation holes drilled into it, a rheostat, and a heat mat made for reptiles might work. You'll use the rheostat to control the basking spot the heat mat produces. For my snakes, I generally have a hot spot of around 85-90F. Note that you need to measure directly where the mat is sitting as heat mat's don't change air temperatures much. Also the cage must be large enough that the snake can move completely off of the heat mat when it wants to be cooler. Finally, in plastic boxes sun coming through a window can quickly raise temperatures to a lethal level. Even in late winter, my PVC cages shot up to 90F from sunshine coming through a window. If you cannot control that, a large tank with a screen top will allow heat to escape better. It probably needs to be warm and have access to a basking spot for at least a few days before it will eat. remember to remove the mouse if the snake does not eat it and try again a different time. The mouse will otherwise attack the snake when it's inactive.

**Minkness** · 12-06-14, 03:07 PM

I'd suggest also to keep the tank in the dark or mostly covered (cardboard, black paper, a towel) so she isn't too intimidated by such unnatural surroundings.

Likewise, if you don't want to keep her very long, I'd reach out to a local reptile/snake community as there may be someone more knowledgeable about how to nurse her back. If that doesn't work, try not to stress out too much over her not eating. With being that cold she may have gone into a hibernation state and will probably not be very active or hungry for a while even after she's no long stressed.

Thank you for stepping up to take care of her. I hope your care helps keep her going.

=)

Zoo Nanny · 12-07-14, 05:43 AM

Why not ask the other drivers if any of them are heading back to Georgia and have them release him down there. While I realize that rat snakes are found near by, you have a snake that is not acclimated to Nebraska weather.

Forkliftdriver · 12-07-14, 11:05 AM

It takes for ever for my posts to show up, but yesterday I found out that the local exotic pet store would take my nippy little friend off my hands, they said they cannot sell her because of her wild caught status and they won't know if she'll feed in captivity, but they will donate her either to the Omaha Zoo if they'll take her, or to some of the local snake collectors they know personally and can take the challenge of a stressed snake. This seemed like such a great idea to me, so I took her in yesterday and now I hope she's on her way to finding a good home. Such a young snake I'm glad she didn't meet an untimely end. When I lived on the east coast I saw 6 foot black rat snakes in the wild, if they can get that big I'm sure she was only about 2 years old.

Forkliftdriver · 12-07-14, 12:28 PM

I would also like to thank everyone for the advice and kind words, She was a beautiful snake and very active when she finally warmed up. I called her strike force, she was very nippy which really put my girlfriend off. Which really meant I couldn't keep her. I know with time and attention they tame I used to keep bull snakes as a kid. Which were much more aggressive in the beggining

**Minkness** · 12-07-14, 12:55 PM

Glad to hear that things have worked out so far! Thank you for joining us here and maybe we will see you around. =)

**EL Ziggy** · 12-07-14, 01:12 PM

Great save FLD. I really hope the little critter makes it. Thanks for taking the time to help a being in need. Hope you'll stick around. Be well.

Forkliftdriver · 12-07-14, 08:51 PM

I'll probably use this forum still. I've got lizards and there is a lizard sub section..

MDT · 12-07-14, 10:54 PM

Forkliftdriver....strong work dude. Most folks would've just let it die. Kudos to you for taking care of the little guy.

CrotalusR#1 · 12-07-14, 11:20 PM

I didn't read the replies but that snake almost certainly should be brumatimg which means it will not eat.. I would slowly slowly warm it up over a period of a few week and then try feeding it... Give it a very secure hide to where it can go into it and not see you and you can't see it.. Always have a water dish in the cage.... It's just a matter of slowly warming it back up..stay hands off for a good while. Brumation is basically hibernation incase you don't know... Good luck!