They grow up so fast - Page 2

**Minkness** · 01-11-15, 12:15 AM

Snakes can have different muscle tone? (I am not being sarcastic I promise, just still learning lots!)

What causes good/poor muscle tone?

toddnbecka · 01-11-15, 12:48 AM

Overfeeding and being kept in too-small enclosures doesn't do their muscle tone or general health any good. Same as any other animal really, they need some exercise along with a proper environment.

**Minkness** · 01-11-15, 12:59 AM

How would you make a lazy snake exercise? You can't exactly put a rat wheel in their enclosure. Though wouldn't that be a sight to see!? Lol

CosmicOwl · 01-11-15, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minkness

How would you make a lazy snake exercise? You can't exactly put a rat wheel in their enclosure. Though wouldn't that be a sight to see!? Lol

They aren't lazy. It you give them a large enclosure to move around they'll get exercise. More so if they have stuff to climb or burrow in. In my opinion, a healthy NA colubrid will tend to have a body that is shaped like a loaf of bread in cross section. And you should be able to see the muscle lines along the spine. If the snake just looks like a shapeless tube, they're probably being over fed. Obvious this isn't true of all species, though.

**EL Ziggy** · 01-11-15, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sublimeballs

Your bulls make me want to get some colubrids. She's looking great EZ. Appears to have good muscule tone.

Thanks SB. It's amazing how sleek and powerful they are. I'd be delighted if I can get just one person to see/ experience the beauty and joy of keeping colubrids, or any snake, for that matter

. You can't beat colubrids though. They're so easy to care for, they come in phenomenal morphs, they get large but not gigantic, and theyre usually monsters at feeding time. What more can you ask for in a snake

?

Sublimeballs · 01-11-15, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

Thanks SB. It's amazing how sleek and powerful they are....they come in phenomenal morphs, they get large but not gigantic, and theyre usually monsters at feeding time. What more can you ask for in a snake

?

I think you just described my kalatoa Retics. I've liked bull since I was a kid just never got one. I don't usually see to many morphs at shows around me either. Are there a lot of mutations for bulls now?

Quote:

They aren't lazy. It you give them a large enclosure to move around they'll get exercise. More so if they have stuff to climb or burrow in. In my opinion, a healthy NA colubrid will tend to have a body that is shaped like a loaf of bread in cross section. And you should be able to see the muscle lines along the spine. If the snake just looks like a shapeless tube, they're probably being over fed. Obvious this isn't true of all species, though.

^ This

**EL Ziggy** · 01-11-15, 12:44 PM

[QUOTE=Sublimeballs;947268]I think you just described my kalatoa Retics. I've liked bull since I was a kid just never got one. I don't usually see to many morphs at shows around me either. Are there a lot of mutations for bulls now?

There are LOTS of bull, pine, and gopher morphs. I love the paint jobs on some of the retics. I don't know much about their husbandry or temperament though. I thought they were too big and a bit aggressive. I like animals that max out at 7 ft.

**Minkness** · 01-11-15, 12:57 PM

Retics are awesome from what I have heard, and apparently come in a super dwarf (i think) that taps out at 7 feet. My limit is 6 feet, even if I had the space. I may break my rule for a BCC/BCI some day, but my first boa/python will be a BRB. Hopefully next year if all goes as planed!

I do really pike the look of your bull though. She is so beautiful! Trying to stick to my plans however and get a hoggie at the repticon in march lol. We'll see how well that goes XD.

Sublimeballs · 01-11-15, 01:12 PM

Not to derail the thread but... Kalatoa locale Retics only get to around 4.5-6 feet for males and 7-8 feet for females on average and they're rather thin in build. My female is the sweetest snake I have. Look into them sometime they're a very different animal from the big Retics everyone thinks of.

**Minkness** · 01-11-15, 02:00 PM

Oh! That's the ones I was thinking of then lol

Thanks for the info Sublime!

TempestK · 01-11-15, 02:10 PM

Cool bull snake, for sure. Always loved the albino morphs on those, yours is definitely a fine example. I worked with those several years ago, and what impressed me about them was their seemingly high intelligence level compared to other snakes. Lots of different things they did beyond being aware when it was time to eat.