Mandarin Ratsnake

[Byron]

how can something so beautiful be so annoying...oh wait....its a female. hehe

I'll be trying again friday evening. fingers crossed.

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[HERPHAPPY]

Originally Posted by Byron

how can something so beautiful be so annoying...oh wait....its a female. hehe
I'll be trying again friday evening. fingers crossed.

Just for that, I've passed her a note to keep holding out...bwahhahahaahhha!

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[Byron]

Originally Posted by HERPHAPPY

Just for that, I've passed her a note to keep holding out...bwahhahahaahhha!

Like she needs any encouragement to make my life any more difficult than it needs to be this week.

When I took the rest of the snakes to FL, I left her here with me so I wouldn't disturb her and thought that she'd be ready to eat. When I peeked in on her Monday to feed, she was striking at me through the lid.

She has until Friday to decide to eat. If she doesn't eat by then, then she gets shuffled to FL to start all over.

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[HERPHAPPY]

Yeah, it seems there's always ONE snake that has to torture us?
Mine is an OLD rosy boa...he was w/c & rescued/changed hands a few times, I've had him quite a few years; he will often refuse food for quite a while (even in summer?) then pig out just about the time I think his days are numbered? Strange little snake!
I think in part he misses his mate (or at least, mating)...she was quite old & finally passed away.

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[Bluerain]

Your lucky they are so readily available here, we hardly see them at any of the shows!...One or two breeders working with them now and as there are more captive bred offered for sale...They should become easier to keep.
Gorgeous snakes...love them!

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[Byron]

well, a month into having her and she still hasn't eaten. I've tried live and even brained a f/t...and still nothing.

tongue flicker, I see her out and about a few times a week, temps are in the mid 70's, she's been spotted in her water a few times, shoebox size bin, humid hide, dry hide, 2" substrate and fairly active the 2 times I've had her out. she spends 90% of the time in the humid hide. humidity is kept around 50%.

I'm at a loss. If I try scenting, will a gecko or anole work?

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	Frozen/Thawed A rodent or other prey item that is frozen and then thawed to be fed to a reptile or other animal.

[HERPHAPPY]

When you say "the 2 times I've had her out..." I take it you've handled her? I wouldn't...no snake should be handled until feeding strongly (multiple times!) IMO...You might try a PM to telefrag, see what he thinks about gecko/anole...I know these snakes are known for being difficult!? Hope it works out soon for ya! (You also moved her cage during this time too, right? That's another thing that may be working against you?)

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	In My Opinon IMO = In My Opinion and IMHO = In My Honest Opinion

[Byron]

yeah, handled during the move to FL 2-3 weeks ago. I knew the move would be an issue, but was hoping that she would have eaten by now.

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[HERPHAPPY]

Well the move/handling just a temporary set-back hopefully? Some handling hard to avoid under the circumstances...

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[Byron]

note to anyone that gets annoyed with the annual bp fasting or trying to switch any snake to f/t: do not buy a Mandarin Ratsnake....EVER!!!!

Talk about a pain in the you know what. After nearly 4 months and a few trips to see Dr. John Rossi, my Mandarin finally decided to eat tonight. I guess they know when they're hungry and will eat when they're ready. My fingers are crossed that this will become a weekly (heck, I'll settle for monthly for now) thing for her. She needs to hurry up and grow because her new AP will be here sometime today.

	Ball Python The Ball Python (Python regius), also known as the Royal Python, is a ground dwelling snake native to the savannahs and rain forests in western Africa, predominatly the countries of Ghana, Togo, and Benin.

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	Frozen/Thawed A rodent or other prey item that is frozen and then thawed to be fed to a reptile or other animal.

[HERPHAPPY]

Originally Posted by Byron

note to anyone that gets annoyed with the annual bp fasting or trying to switch any snake to f/t: do not buy a Mandarin Ratsnake....EVER!!!!
Talk about a pain in the you know what. After nearly 4 months and a few trips to see Dr. John Rossi, my Mandarin finally decided to eat tonight. I guess they know when they're hungry and will eat when they're ready. My fingers are crossed that this will become a weekly (heck, I'll settle for monthly for now) thing for her. She needs to hurry up and grow because her new AP will be here sometime today.

I am sorry for your suffering! I feel your pain, having known my share of such "impossible"/hard to please snakes! But maybe she WILL decide that eating is fun now? Hope so for your sake! (I envey you being within reach of Dr. Rossi!!! No such talent around my neck of the woods!)

	Ball Python The Ball Python (Python regius), also known as the Royal Python, is a ground dwelling snake native to the savannahs and rain forests in western Africa, predominatly the countries of Ghana, Togo, and Benin.

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	Frozen/Thawed A rodent or other prey item that is frozen and then thawed to be fed to a reptile or other animal.

[Beardo]

Good to hear she is improving for you......not sure why she went off feed for so long. I had a CBB baby Mandarin last year that ate like a pig on f/t pinks. They are gorgeous snakes though, and I always got a sort of satisfaction when I had a difficult snake that ended up thriving in the long run....makes it all worth it!

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	Frozen/Thawed A rodent or other prey item that is frozen and then thawed to be fed to a reptile or other animal.

[HERPHAPPY]

I agree Beardo...when you finally achieve success with a difficult critter you have found true satisfaction! And ya always learn stuff for the next one to come your way!

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[Byron]

Having Dr. Rossi a few miles down the road was a huge plus when I decided to move to Jacksonville.

It is a great feeling when you have small victories in your herp life but the build up to those moments are annoying at times. With my neglected bp, mites and refusing to swap to f/t issues with my IJ and the noneating madarin, I think I'm done with problem snakes...I hope. There's still my western hognose baby....fingers are crossed.

	Mites Mites, close relatives of fleas and ticks

	Ball Python The Ball Python (Python regius), also known as the Royal Python, is a ground dwelling snake native to the savannahs and rain forests in western Africa, predominatly the countries of Ghana, Togo, and Benin.

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	Frozen/Thawed A rodent or other prey item that is frozen and then thawed to be fed to a reptile or other animal.

[telefrag]

I'm sorry to hear you had such an ordeal getting the snake to feed, that has been pretty much the opposite of my experiences with mandarins, perhaps it wasn't an established feeder when it was sold to you, that is the only thing I can think of being the problem.

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[HERPHAPPY]

Originally Posted by telefrag

I'm sorry to hear you had such an ordeal getting the snake to feed, that has been pretty much the opposite of my experiences with mandarins, perhaps it wasn't an established feeder when it was sold to you, that is the only thing I can think of being the problem.

That's a good point, and the reason responsible breeders include feeding records with snakes they sell. (or sell them cheaper & advise the buyer of the risk) Shipping a snake (or just the process of being sold locally) can often cause stress that results in temporary feeding issues even with good feeders, so those not feeding at all are a gamble (and maybe not a good gamble without more experience or the desire to take it on?)...

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[Byron]

I bought her from a very reputable breeder but I'm pretty sure they are fairly new to Mandarins. Whatever the reason, she seems to be eating without an issue now.

Thanks again for all of the pointers and advice.

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[HERPHAPPY]

Originally Posted by Byron

I bought her from a very reputable breeder but I'm pretty sure they are fairly new to Mandarins. Whatever the reason, she seems to be eating without an issue now.

Thanks again for all of the pointers and advice.

Ha! She just wanted to move to Florida!? (good work!)

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[Byron]

After becoming a consistant eater, she finally shed for me. In true Mandarin style, it was buried in the substrate. It was a complete shed. She's still tiny, but I guess she's actually growing now that she's eating.

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[Ice]

Good luck, is a beautiful snake!

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