Rescued rat snake

raptile · 09-24-08, 11:06 AM

I need help. My sister had placed a glueboard in her garage and she caught a hatchling rat snake in it. I removed it carefully using vegetable oil and a q-tip. It appears to be dehydrated and I don't know if it is old enough to have had its first feed. Any advice about rehydration and feeding?

LadyParvati · 09-24-08, 09:58 PM

Give it a shallow bowl of water it can get in and out of. How long is it; what's its girth? Pinky mice might be OK, but the proper food really depends on its size. It might even accept frozen/thawed. Give it a couple of days to recuperate from your handling to rescue it from the glue, then try feeding it. You might want to start with live then add a frozen/thawed a few minutes after it takes the live bait. It could work. Good luck!

raptile · 09-25-08, 08:20 AM

It is about 6 or 7 inches long and not as big around as a pencil.

**Boots** · 09-26-08, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raptile

It is about 6 or 7 inches long and not as big around as a pencil.

That just sounds wrong.

LadyParvati · 09-27-08, 02:58 AM

Hmmmm. Raptile, it appears there may be a misidentification. Hatchling rat snakes are at least 10.5 in. long; some are up to 17 in. long depending upon the species. What color(s), patterns etc? Also, are you able to examine it and determine whether its anal plate is single or divided? You seem to have something other than a rat snake.

**Aaron_S** · 09-27-08, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Also, are you able to examine it and determine whether its anal plate is single or divided?

Quote:

It is about 6 or 7 inches long and not as big around as a pencil.

Hey Jason, this thread is full of "sounding wrong".

raptile · 09-28-08, 05:20 PM

Yeah, I was wrong about the length. I was just estimating and estimated wrong. It's actually close to 11 inches long and I'm assuming that it was so thin because of it's dehydrated condition. It has eaten since my last reply and is very active now. Thanks for all the help.

P.S.- What's up with the snide comment Aaron S? I'm apparently not the "expert" you are.

**Aaron_S** · 09-28-08, 06:51 PM

It wasn't a snide comment. It was a joke on the same level of Jason's. I'm sorry I didn't put some sort of smiley face at the end of it. Just go back and read it again and you'll see what I mean. Sorry for the confusion.

LadyParvati · 09-29-08, 06:19 AM

Raptile, I'm glad you've gotten the snake to eat and have a new measurement, which sounds somewhat more rat-snake-like. Having fun yet?

Aaron, No problem! I'm still learning the "in" style of joking here--I'm an old fuddy-duddy who doesn't always "get it." Even my "kids" (19, nearly 23, & 25) have to explain jokes to me sometimes. Thanks for explaining--you're a good guy!

raptile · 09-29-08, 10:30 AM

Yeah, I really like snakes a lot. I have a nuisance wildlife control business and get quite a few calls for snakes. It surprises me how ignorant people still are about the importance of snakes in the ecosystem. Many of them still have the attitude that "the only good snake is a dead one". So I like to educate people about them.

Aaron, now I see what you mean. I guess what I posted could have meant something different in a different conversation.