Adult Carpet takes down Jumbo Rat - Page 2

NennaMeerkat · 03-15-11, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max713

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

I know people don't like to do it but feeding him multiple food items would make it last longer and you even get to see it from start to finish twice.

vendettaseve · 03-15-11, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sapphyr

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

Im picturing rabbit shaped holes in your wall lol

I dont really like killing mice, I tend to want to pet them. if I had to tho I think Id use the head/tail pull as mentioned above.

Hope your snake has a quick recovery and Im glad its doing well

Max713 · 03-15-11, 08:35 PM

I'd say that's a full belly

NennaMeerkat · 03-15-11, 08:39 PM

Aww I love the bulges they have after they eat. They look all fatty XD And I would have to say it is a nice bluge

BTW how old is your Carpet?? And is that about as big as the get or...?

percey39 · 03-15-11, 08:43 PM

There is a thread that i started, its called "angry but full scrubby" That will give you an idea of what prey size a carpet can handle. The bulge is easily 4 times the head. Mate im not being rude but i can see a lump in your snakes gut, but its not that big.

Max713 · 03-15-11, 08:45 PM

She does look fat and happy!

I was told she is 5 years old, but I only recently got her.
Average female coastal carpets are around 8-10', she is 6.5' at the moment, I'd be very happy if she stopped at 8', although 10' won't be a problem.

Max713 · 03-15-11, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by percey39

There is a thread that i started, its called "angry but full scrubby" That will give you an idea of what prey size a carpet can handle. The bulge is easily 4 times the head. Mate im not being rude but i can see a lump in your snakes gut, but its not that big.

That lump in your "angry but full scrubby" thread is absolutely massive...

Maybe I should try some larger prey items...

NennaMeerkat · 03-15-11, 08:49 PM

I hope I am not changing the subject to much but I keep wanting to know about the different snakes people keep...if I am annoying or drawing away from the subject let me know.

How are they temperamental wise? And are they a dry environment snake or a humid one?

A little more on subject

I want to say that some lumps I have seen here on the forum and other pics of people's snakes makes me concerned. I have seen pics of snakes split open because of to large food items eaten. I would be terrified if that happened to mine. So I stick with the rule I have always been told that no bigger (or a little bigger) than the width of their body. Even if that means feeding more than one food item. Its just better safe than sorry for me.

Max713 · 03-15-11, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NennaMeerkat

I hope I am not changing the subject to much but I keep wanting to know about the different snakes people keep...if I am annoying or drawing away from the subject let me know.

How are they temperamental wise? And are they a dry environment snake or a humid one?

It's fine

As hatchlings/juveniles, they have a tenancy to be very nippy, but usually calm down quickly with handling. As adults, they tend to be as well mannered as a ball, just 10x the handful! Scarlett NEVER sits still when out of her enclosure, she wants to know what everything is, and climbs everything in sight.
Scarlett has never bitten anyone as an adult, not even the inexperienced Petco employee that grabbed her firmly by the neck when she asked if she could pet her... not even today when I had to hold her down to clean her fresh bite wound. She is an absolute sweet heart, and from what I've heard most adult carpets are.

Carpets come from a humid environment, but any successful breeder will tell you ~50% humidity is perfect for day to day life, with a higher 60-70% during shedding.

I would also be concerned with giving her too large of a prey item, not to mention I have 7 frozen large rats in my freezer that will be feed before any change is considered

totheend · 03-15-11, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sapphyr

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!

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

Cervical dislocation works great on mice and small rats, but not to be used on larger rats.

Glue traps suck! I live in the country and get unwanted mice (unless they are in the freezer, they are not allowed in my house!). So a few nights ago my boyfriend put a glue trap down. Around midnight I heard the mouse. So I went and got the trap..all happy to have caught one..then realized the mouse was alive.........LOL. So I had to do the dirty work. Not the traps for me. I want the trap to do ALL the work.

blindfireak40 · 03-15-11, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by totheend

I want the trap to do ALL the work.

"Just get like 5 Corn Snakes and let them wander around"

Who all's heard that one from one of the poor souls in our lives who don't get the whole snake thing? lol

Back on topic, I agree with Nenna, from where I am right now, I am WAAAAY to worrisome to try feeding something as relatively large as that rabbit that's in your Scrubby, Percey...I'll have to bite the bullet soon though, 'Celli's ready to move up to fuzzies. /Gulp.

NennaMeerkat · 03-15-11, 09:50 PM

Thanks for all the info Max

Seems like a cool snake to have. Though I do prefer calmer snakes that do like to chill on you, around you, and the like. Guess that is why I enjoy hognose so much. They generally are laxed and don't mind just chilling in your lap or on your hands.

And yeah I would be wanting to rid my freezer of any rats before moving to something else...maybe a bunny would be okay, or a younger rabbit than that. Would have to look at different sizes feeder rabbits come in.

percey39 · 03-15-11, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max713

That lump in your "angry but full scrubby" thread is absolutely massive...

Maybe I should try some larger prey items...

Yeah its only a yearling so its long, but does not have the head size. Scrubbies are just another carpet, so im sure when your freezer is empty you will be right to go a rabbit that is larger than the rats you are feeding. Especially considering rabbits do have a lot less fat and are a higher protein meat. Your snake will love them and you will see the growth rate climb.

Also snakes know when a prey item it too big, they will not go to eat anything they know they can not handle. I have seen a few pics of wild snakes splitting but this is due to being attacked by another predator.

Max713 · 03-15-11, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blindfireak40

"Just get like 5 Corn Snakes and let them wander around"

Who all's heard that one from one of the poor souls in our lives who don't get the whole snake thing? lol

If only it worked like that! I'd have a house full of free roaming snakes haha.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NennaMeerkat

Thanks for all the info Max

Seems like a cool snake to have. Though I do prefer calmer snakes that do like to chill on you, around you, and the like. Guess that is why I enjoy hognose so much. They generally are laxed and don't mind just chilling in your lap or on your hands.

And yeah I would be wanting to rid my freezer of any rats before moving to something else...maybe a bunny would be okay, or a younger rabbit than that. Would have to look at different sizes feeder rabbits come in.

Absolutely

Like I said, I only recently got Scarlett, she may slow down as she gets to know me better, but at the moment she is so active! I can't say I dislike it, I love my active girl!
Maybe talk to some owners who have had their snakes for years at a time to get a better idea how they act after years of constant interaction with the same individual?

I may try some rabbits in the future, but as you said, there is many weeks of rats to come first.

Quote:

Originally Posted by percey39

Yeah its only a yearling so its long, but does not have the head size. Scrubbies are just another carpet, so im sure when your freezer is empty you will be right to go a rabbit that is larger than the rats you are feeding. Especially considering rabbits do have a lot less fat and are a higher protein meat. Your snake will love them and you will see the growth rate climb.

Also snakes know when a prey item it too big, they will not go to eat anything they know they can not handle. I have seen a few pics of wild snakes splitting but this is due to being attacked by another predator.

Are Scrubs a Carpet sub-species? Although a "mean" one

I think I will try some larger prey as I run out of rats, although it will be a sloooow increase in prey size over time.
I'm aware snakes have general knowledge of their feeding ability, although I have seen pictures of captive snakes who have perished from attempting to take prey to large... I'm a bit of a worrier when it comes to the safety of my animals, although I have nothing against experimenting with a better food source for them

percey39 · 03-15-11, 10:35 PM

Yeah mate the scientific name for the Aussie scrubby is Morelia Kinghorni, so they are a carpet species. I have found they can settle well but also have a couple that try to kill me on a regular basis.

I understand your concerns with feeding large items, but it will increase their growth from my experience, save you money as you will only feed monthly, they will be more active for a longer period of time compared to feeding fortnightly.