Been a while

jd23_82 · #1 (**permalink**) 01-17-2008, 02:06 AM

Its been a while since I visited and have some news. Traded my 7-8ft female and got two baby redtails (one female and one male). We had the two babies in the same twenty gallon reptile. They had lived in there since June till just a few weeks ago. The age of them was about 10months old when one day I tried to pick up the female(Miley) when she moved away from me. I tried again and she darted fast in front of the male (King) and King struck her on the head and the two of them rolled into a death ball. I couldn't get them seperated for almost three hours because of never experincing this before I didn't know how to split them up. When I finally found someone who could help King was dead and Miley was stuck in his mouth. After removing her from his mouth and moving his body out of the tank she is doing ok but has not been picked up since. I have tried to pick her up since but she would start to breath really fast and pull back as if to strike. Is it safe to keep her as a pet to pick up or is she going to be dangerous from the experience?

thanks Jamie

danktat · #2 (**permalink**) 01-17-2008, 02:10 AM

Any hurt or sick animal can be unpredictable. I would say if you see any open wounds to get them cleaned up and get that aniaml to a vet right away.

Not as an admonishment to you in particular, but those newbies (or even experienced keepers) who think it is OK to keep snakes housed together. Please let this thread serve notice to you that it only takes one mistake to loose a dear pet or expensive showpiece.

If you have any pix of the damage it may be beneficial in both serving notice and for some of us to give advice on how to follow up the care of the survivor.

Thanks for posting this.

VexalUntil · #3 (**permalink**) 01-17-2008, 02:20 AM

Sorry to hear about the death of one of your kids. Just another reason to have one snake per cage.

For future reference if you have a snake wrapped around you, a friend, or another snake use hot water (cold water does work, just not as fast) for as long as it takes. Believe me they will let go, even after what seems like an eternity. If water is not available, then put a small bit of alcohol (either rubbing or drinking) or hydrogen peroxide on a q-tip and rub it on the inside of the mouth. If it's a large snake you can also stick your finger it its trachea.

IMO she should "forget" the experience in a small amount of time. Just let her alone for a couple weeks then start holding her again. Young snakes will breath rapidly when held it's just a normal reaction to being picked up by what seems like a predator. With increased handling, they will get accustomed to your touch, smell, and possibly voice.

jd23_82 · #4 (**permalink**) 01-17-2008, 02:52 AM

Thanks for the response guys. I don't have any pics but I can take some for you of her now. It has been a couple of weeks though. There wasn't any real cuts or damage to her. Her head did turn grey for a day or two but went back to normal after about 36 hours. She stay's in her house alot now but is still eating her normal diet of to small mice once a week. I am getting ready to step up her feeding to one small rat instead of the small mice because the mice are to small for her to wrap up properly. She is about 24 inches in length now. She was about 18 when we got her. We are saving now to get her a bigger tank in the next month also.

danktat · #5 (**permalink**) 01-17-2008, 03:21 AM

The next thing besides housing boas together....I HOPE YOU AREN'T FEEDING LIVE!!! If so, that is the next "accident" waiting to happen...............READ THIS THREAD>>>>>>

http://redtailboa.net/forums/feeding...ight=live+pile

I only say that because you are talking about "wrapping" it up properly. If it is already dead there would be no issue there. If you are feeding live I would beg you to please swith over as soon as possible.

waltah! · #6 (**permalink**) 01-17-2008, 05:55 AM

I can't agree with Danktat enough! When I originally got into snakes I fed live. After hearing many horror stories, I decided not to wait until something bad happened so I did p/k. I now only feed f/t. I'm of the belief that if they won't eat f/t, then they don't get fed again til next week. I believe that most snakes will switch pretty easily with patience and research. My Colombian female was fed live til I got her, and she never misses a f/t meal

I don't think I really need to say anything about housing snakes together that has not already been said. People are not making this stuff up! Best of luck to you and your snake.

Eric H · #7 (**permalink**) 01-17-2008, 06:45 PM

Well since the boa is only about 24 inches, he/she will probably still coil the f/t. Mine has never been fed live (doesnt touch mice though) but coils his meal every time, as I have to dangle it, it wont ever touch it if it doesnt move.

They should outgrow the dangling/coiling phase and eventually will go for dead prey laying down in the cage after a few years.

My BP was a differenty story though, it took 7 months to get him on f/t. Had to go from live (one small live mouse, then p/k small rat), to f/k rats, to eventually f/t rats, was long and wasted quite a few f/t rats, but well worth the work.

Hope this helps

danktat · #8 (**permalink**) 04-04-2008, 08:18 AM

Is there any followup on this? I would like to hear the outcome if possible.

jd23_82 · #9 (**permalink**) 04-04-2008, 01:48 PM

Here is the update! Man has she grown. The last time I posted she was about 24 inches, now she is close to like thirty.

She is still eating very healthy and had her checked out a few weeks ago and everything looks good. We are thinking that maybe we will find another male to breed her with when she is older. Unfortunatly the rest of the family seems to be losing interest in her and the possability of maybe selling her has come up once or twice. They like to watch the bearded dragon more because it is a more active animal. But for now she is a member of this family and is treated with love and respect.

morti · #10 (**permalink**) 04-04-2008, 02:31 PM

I like this thread. I need to keep this bookmarked for referring people to when they tell me that it is OK to keep multiple animals together in the same cage.

Ranger · #11 (**permalink**) 04-04-2008, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morti

I like this thread. I need to keep this bookmarked for referring people to when they tell me that it is OK to keep multiple animals together in the same cage.

You said it, brother.

boaterr · #12 (**permalink**) 04-04-2008, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jd23_82

Here is the update! Man has she grown. The last time I posted she was about 24 inches, now she is close to like thirty.

She is still eating very healthy and had her checked out a few weeks ago and everything looks good. We are thinking that maybe we will find another male to breed her with when she is older. Unfortunatly the rest of the family seems to be losing interest in her and the possability of maybe selling her has come up once or twice. They like to watch the bearded dragon more because it is a more active animal. But for now she is a member of this family and is treated with love and respect.

She is eating and growing fine but the idea of selling her has been put on the table because she is not as interesting as the other pet?

jd23_82 · #13 (**permalink**) 04-04-2008, 03:18 PM

Well we have talked about it because I'm the only one in the family who takes care of her and the others are the ones that really wanted her. We have not come to any decisions yet but if I was to sell her I would sell her back the breeder that I got her from so that I know she is well taken care of.

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