Not a Giant

**Minkness** · 01-09-17, 12:36 PM

So yeah, he shouldn't get big at all as he is 'apparently' a high % super dwarf/dwarf cross, but...he's still a retic! I can totally see why people fall in love with these snakes! Quickly became a top favorite in my collection. He is active, but not in a 'get away' type of mannor. Often times I will put him down or on something and he will actually come back towards me! He is slow, so not as crazy to handle as my colubrids, but has an amazing muscle tone under his omg sooooo soft scales! People have talked about their intelegence but I honestly never saw it in the photos I looked at...but in person? Holy cow! The way he looks at things, watches it, THEN makes a move is just amazing! Also, he is super ultra mega laid back (for now). While he was being held at the store for a few weeks while I paid him off, I'd visit every Friday and take him out. No hissing or striking and was just super easy! At one point there was an afterschool program in the store and when I took him out 10 kids between the ages of 6-14 were suddenly crowded around me. They asked to pet and hold him, and he seemed cool, so I allowed it. Turned into an hour long educational experience for them (and their teacher), and though the kids were...well...kids...he was a perfect gentleman the whole time. Even when one or two freaked out around him lol. Then, the store let me feed him at the end of the night before they locked the doors, and without hesitstion, NOM! Haha. So even with all the noise and manhandling, he never stressed and proved to be an excellent feeder!

Well, now he's home. Actually got him home last Friday after I left work early due to some pretty bad weather. The store is on the way home so I just hopped over, paid, packed him up, and headed home. I fed him a single rat wean in saturday night, but my gopher didn't eat her small rat, so I gave it to him on sunday morning. Even with a full belly and the smell of rat in the air, he remained calm...but watched...and watched. Again their intelegence took my breath away!

He was in 2 ran weans every other week, but I was thinking of iffering either 1 wean a week or 1 small rat biweekly. Thoughts on this?

He also needs a name still. Was thinking of Apollo but something about it makes me go 'meh'. So suggestions are welcome!

**EL Ziggy** · 01-09-17, 01:05 PM

Looking good Mink!

dave himself · 01-09-17, 01:06 PM

Welcome to the club Mink mate and it's amazing how quick these snakes will steal your heart. You've a beautiful boy there and I'll not make a name suggestion you've seen what my snakes are called

**Tsubaki** · 01-09-17, 01:17 PM

He's beautiful Mink, congrats

**Minkness** · 01-09-17, 01:20 PM

Thanks everyone! I am pretty smitten myself!

Any words about the feeding schedule?

bigsnakegirl785 · 01-09-17, 06:15 PM

He looks good! I'd probably do the small rat or medium rat myself, whether weekly or biweekly. He looks rather big for weaned rats, and if you wanted to wait to put him on mediums he should be big enough to handle mediums soon. I didn't start River on mediums until she was over 5' but she was immediately put on larges because medium were too small. She had been eating two small rats since she was 4.5' so she grew really quickly - hasn't grown that quickly before or since her double feedings even when eating really large meals.

**Minkness** · 01-09-17, 06:40 PM

He's still on the small side actually. Like 3.5 feet. But the weaned rats didn't leave much of a buldge at all, the small rat left a pretty good buldge though. So I'm thinking a small rat biweekly should do him better. =)

Thank you for the info!

bigsnakegirl785 · 01-09-17, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minkness

He's still on the small side actually. Like 3.5 feet. But the weaned rats didn't leave much of a buldge at all, the small rat left a pretty good buldge though. So I'm thinking a small rat biweekly should do him better. =)

Thank you for the info!

Ah. He looked a bit bigger than that in the arm photo, he looks about 4' in that photo. Sounds like the smalls are a good match then!

**Minkness** · 01-09-17, 06:56 PM

I have pathetic tiny hands lol.

bigsnakegirl785 · 01-09-17, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minkness

I have pathetic tiny hands lol.

lol Me too! I'm just used to seeing others with large/average hands on forums.

trailblazer295 · 01-09-17, 07:48 PM

He looks amazing, so jealous. Glad he is a good feeder.

**Minkness** · 01-09-17, 07:56 PM

I don't mean to make you jealous TB.

Thank you for all the compliments everyone! I haaaate to admit it, but this guy may have me on the look out for a female SD suntiger lol.

So far (and since he's new, things could change) this is guy is one I can see myself interacting with daily. As a fairly nervous person, I am pretty amazed that I am made more nervous getting my Boa out of his enclosure! This guy really is just so chill. <3 <3 <3 ^_^

Maybe his name ahould be Chillbert.... lol

Gunna wait and feel him out a bit ore to dind his name. =)

**EL Ziggy** · 01-09-17, 08:49 PM

He looks like a Dorian, Neo, or Spencer to me Mink

.

trailblazer295 · 01-09-17, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minkness

I don't mean to make you jealous TB.

Thank you for all the compliments everyone! I haaaate to admit it, but this guy may have me on the look out for a female SD suntiger lol.

So far (and since he's new, things could change) this is guy is one I can see myself interacting with daily. As a fairly nervous person, I am pretty amazed that I am made more nervous getting my Boa out of his enclosure! This guy really is just so chill. <3 <3 <3 ^_^

Maybe his name ahould be Chillbert.... lol

Gunna wait and feel him out a bit ore to dind his name. =)

I'm not sure how much I believe that

Enjoy the new addition.

MartinD · 01-09-17, 09:03 PM

That is one gorgeous snake. I'm waiting for my SD suntiger to be dispatched, can't wait to get him in my collection. As he is 'chilled' how about Frosty