Adult Carpet takes down Jumbo Rat

Max713 · 03-15-11, 06:26 PM

Picture Heavy!!!

Scarlett took down a size-able meal today.
She is on a frozen thawed diet, but when I went to pick up my frozen large/jumbo order, the breeder threw in a live large/jumbo as he had one left over from the days sales. I thought no problem, got home and gave the rat a good thump on the head. It appeared dead or at least unconscious... or so I thought, as soon as Scarlett struck, the rat jumped to life and gave her a good bite on the neck...

Lesson learned, if I ever get a live one again, I'm goin Mel Gibson Braveheart status on it!
After she was done feeding, I cleaned up the bite with some q-tips and rubbing alcohol. If anyone has any further suggestions let me know, I plan to keep an eye on it and clean it daily.

Max713 · 03-15-11, 06:27 PM

Lankyrob · 03-15-11, 06:28 PM

Thats why my guys will never get anything but f/t. Hope it cleans up well for you/her.

Great pics by the way!!

Max713 · 03-15-11, 06:28 PM

Max713 · 03-15-11, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

Thats why my guys will never get anything but f/t. Hope it cleans up well for you/her.

Great pics by the way!!

I know I feel terrible

Like I said, she is on a F/T diet, but I got a freebie jumbo and thought my knock on the head was good enough... hell I I swung it by it's tail on caught it's head on the side of an oak dresser!

Any suggestions how to care for it other than cleaning it up daily with some diluted alcohol?

Lankyrob · 03-15-11, 06:32 PM

Iwant to say Neosporin?? Dont take my word this time of night tho, my brain is drug scrambled this close to bed time, am sure otheres will give a better answer.

Sapphyr · 03-15-11, 06:45 PM

No idea on how to treat it but man it sounds like you had a field day trying to kill the fella! Should you ever get another live for whatever reason, I've seen this method used on mice. Not sure if it'd work for a jumbo rat, but if you attempt it, be sure to pull the tail one way, the head the other in one quick, strong motion to dislocate the spine and have a relatively painless death.

I've also heard of people placing the live prey item in a pillow case and slinging it against the wall. It's horrible, but I find this method to be funny. Whack-a-rat!

Just for dark humor's sake, here's this:

For the record, though, I don't support glue traps.

Max713 · 03-15-11, 06:54 PM

Wack-a-rat! Haha
I'm not squeamish about killing small animals in any way, I just didn't think I needed to wail on a rat that hard...

Sapphyr · 03-15-11, 06:59 PM

Well he is a big boy. I assume with larger prey, comes a larger beat down. I was contemplating buying live rabbits and killing them for my ferrets(it's cheaper to just buy chicken for them), and I figured that, since rabbits are larger, I'd either have to give a few good swings to the wall or just one -strong- swing. A swing so strong you'd probably hear the loud 'THWUMP!' throughout the house.

"What was that?!"

"Uh... Nothing! I fell." LOL

marvelfreak · 03-15-11, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

Iwant to say Neosporin?? Dont take my word this time of night tho, my brain is drug scrambled this close to bed time, am sure otheres will give a better answer.

Your right Rob.

NennaMeerkat · 03-15-11, 07:54 PM

Oh man I do love feeding pictures. I mean the faces the snake can't help but make is hilarious. Not to mention seeing the power a snake has to manage to swallow such a big prey item with no hands. At least the constriction holds them still, but it is still an amazing feat.

I hope that one day I can get a few pictures of my hognose eating since they don't constrict at all and still manage to eat ungainly items. Like I said simply amazingly cool. Then thinking about the really really big snakes taking out antelopes, pigs, gators, and what not its just WOW!

Sorry for the ramble, but I do love your pictures.

percey39 · 03-15-11, 08:01 PM

I would stick to F/T and i personally would upsize your prey items as your snake could easily handle a rabbit. Also this will reduce the amount of feeding you will have to give your guy.
I hope it heals quick and easy for you and your snake.

Max713 · 03-15-11, 08:02 PM

Thank you, I love watching her! It took her about 15 minutes from start til finish, wish it took an hour! haha

Max713 · 03-15-11, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by percey39

I would stick to F/T and i personally would upsize your prey items as your snake could easily handle a rabbit. Also this will reduce the amount of feeding you will have to give your guy.
I hope it heals quick and easy for you and your snake.

I plan on sticking to F/T.
Rabbits, really?

percey39 · 03-15-11, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max713

I plan on sticking to F/T.
Rabbits, really?

Well over here a xxxl rat is 750 grams which is similar to a small to medium adult rabbit. Your snake will be healthier as there will far less fat on the rabbit compared to the obese rat mate. I have fed carpets rabbits plenty of times and all take them down very easily.