retic problem - Page 2

kevyn · 08-01-05, 07:17 PM

There's nothing wrong with feeding live rabbits to a retic. Like I said most of the big breeders in the U.S. feed live. Are any of us prepared to argue the finer points of keeping with Mike Wilbanks or Bob Clark? I don't feed live because a) it's not convinient, and b) my wife would kill me. If someone what's to feed live that's totally cool with me. I do agree that I would be nervous with live rats, but that's just me.

steelnink · 08-02-05, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyDavid

You are correct. I wouldn't be happy at all if such thing happened. But i'm sure that bunnies can't do anything like that. On the other hand Rats, hamsters and other rat-like rodents are out of my live-feeding list. those are a real danger.

Are you serious?You wouldn't feed live rodents, but you feed live chickens/rabbits.
Everyone is entititled to their own opinions, and like Kevyn stated, i wouldn't get into a debate with Clark or Wilbanks[ SNAKE GODS], over feeding live rabbits, but i sure as hell wouldn't be saying rats/hamsters are more of a danger then chickens and rabbits.

lostwithin · 08-02-05, 08:44 AM

Rabbits are rodents and big ones, they have the teeth to do lots of damage, to a snake, chickens on the other hand I would consider safe, not much a chicken can do to peck its way through a snakes scales. rabbits get board and chew like any other rodent as well.

As for switching, let he go hungry, after a good week or so put the rat in a cage near hers so she can smell it over night, (just to really make her hungry) and then wack it and feed) if she doesn’t take it, let her wait another week.

Devon

ReptiZone · 08-02-05, 01:39 AM

The first thing ppl need to learn about this hobby is that once you take and animal out of the wild and placed it in a box like structure no matter how big. You have to take all natural elements out because you control the environment now and that is not natural.

You control the heat, the humidity, the space the animals does or does not have.
You see once these things happen it is no longer natural.
Think for a minute if you are controling everything how can that be natures way and if you control everything including the food type, the time it is introduced and temperature the snake is when it sees the food.

What is natural about feeding a retic a live rabbit in a box like enviroment in a temperature of 86*F in the midle of the day? You tell me.
(That was just an Example btw.)

The ReptiZone
Marc Doiron

JimmyDavid · 08-02-05, 08:46 AM

Steelnink, what do you keep? For how long?
I have had BIG constrictors for 7 years now and have tried it all (made my share of mistakes too, like everybody). I think i can tell the difference between bunnies, rats, chickens and so on. And believe me when i say that rats are much more of a danger than bunnies. I don't even believe you are questioning such a basic known thing.

Reptizone, You are right. In fact, i say the same thing all the time. But i don't want to make it natural when it is obviously no longer natural. I was talking about what carries my boat. I like to see them do the things they do, as close to reallity as possible (knowing, of course that it's not the same). As long as it works for me that way, i'll be happy about it. I would also like to take a trip to an african safari, but since that's out of the question for now, watching the animals on tv is the next best thing.

steelnink · 08-02-05, 09:12 AM

Steelnink, what do you keep? For how long?
I have had BIG constrictors for 7 years now and have tried it all (made my share of mistakes too, like everybody). I think i can tell the difference between bunnies, rats, chickens and so on. And believe me when i say that rats are much more of a danger than bunnies. I don't even believe you are questioning such a basic known thing.

I have kept burms, rocks, retic, countless boa locales,olive pythons, water monitors, colubrids and so on.
I got my first EXOTIC snake when i was 12, i'm 29 now.You do the math.
I know what a enraged rodent can do, i've been bit more times than i'd care to remember, but i also know what a struggling rabbit and chicken is capable of, my arms have been shredded to pieces numerous times killing the bastards.
I am in no way saying, i am as half as effiecent as killing these animals as a burm,rock, retic, etc, but if they could do that much damage to me in the time it takes to break their necks, how is it not possible for them to injure a snake?

My girlfriend has a pet rat, along with 3 ferrets,[much more powerfull bites], that all seem to despise me, and i can honestly say i'd rather take a bite from any of those furballs than deal with the talons of a chicken.

steelnink · 08-02-05, 09:27 AM

Another method you might want to try if your pateince is getting thin.
Dip the rat's head in warm chicken stock, then offer, slightly warmed, to your retic.
Used this trick before and had fairly good sucess.

kevyn · 08-02-05, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Rabbits are rodents and big ones

Not to be picky but rabbits aren't rodents, they're lagomorphs. They are more closely related to deer and other hoofed animals than rodents.

ReptiZone · 08-02-05, 09:55 AM

Well I just finishesd My Vet Assistance Diploma and we classified Rabbits as rodents.

daiyoukaii · 08-02-05, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReptiZone

Well I just finishesd My Vet Assistance Diploma and we classified Rabbits as rodents.

Fact: Rabbits are not rodents. They are lagomorphs. Other lagamorphs include hares and pikas.

http://www.rabbit.org/care/facts.html

ReptiZone · 08-02-05, 08:50 PM

I stand corrected I never realy took the time to study the indepth of my snake food i am to busy killing them. lol jk.. but i did learn something today thank you.

*But no no realy Lagamorphs. It sounds more like somthing you would use to insult someone with.*<--- Peter Grifin..LOL JK

*Lagamorphs eh?...Mmm sound Sexy* <--- Mayor West..LMAO hehe
I need to stop it's bed time lol.

jjpython · 08-02-05, 10:21 PM

ok so i tried to feed her the usual live rat, but now she is acting like she did when i offered the f/k very defensive, she bit the rat like 4-5 times but never coiled. then took interest in me, she struck the glass alot. luckly i got the rat out without any trouble, killed it and tried to feed it to my burmese(who is in shed) but he wouldn't take it so off to the freezer it went until my burm needs a snack(a really small snack like a chip to us) j/k
any other ideas i will still continue to try every week but i would really enjoy it if she ate soon its been 3-4 weeks.

steelnink · 08-02-05, 10:50 PM

Sorry about the hi-jacking earlier, your retic looks to be in great shape, so 3-4 weeks is nothing to worry about,[easier said than done, i realize].
I'll point out, i have no experience with rats/retics.My retic eats rabbits and chickens[frozen thawed], and can't get enough.
I would try to resist the urge of feeding him for a week or so, then warm a F/T rat, dip the rat in some warmer chicken stock, and give that a shot, and hopefully, that famous feeding response, will shine through.
Good luck

jjpython · 08-28-05, 02:45 PM

well i tried today to feed her again, it has been 2 or so weeks since ive tried last,
now she showed no interest in live so i killed the rat and tossed it in front of her, left her for an hour or so alone in the cage with it (lights off) and she ATE...FINALLY

im soo happy , i hope its not just a one time thing.........i will keep you guys updated on the next feeding and lots more pics to come...

kevyn · 08-28-05, 11:13 PM

Most of my retic prefer that I just lay the food in the enclosure so that's no surprise. Best of luck.