Mandarin Ratsnake

[Byron]

I was surprised to see so many breeders selling Mandrin Ratsnakes in Daytona over the weekend. After walking back and forth between a few booths, I settled on this little girl. It was close to impossible to get a decent pic of her. I haven't attempted a feeding yet. I'm sure it will be a challenge.

[telefrag]

very pretty!

I am guessing its just on the gravel for picture purposes, but they like a deep loose substrate, so give him/her about 2" of aspen.

I never had problems with feeding mine, they tend to stick with very small prey items, even into adulthood, so stock up on fuzzy mice!

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[Marco Chalupa]

Nice looking Mandarin.

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[Byron]

yes, just for the pix. she has about 2" of Desert Snow. It works great for making tunnels. I've also thrown in a few hides including a humidity hide. I have my fingers crossed for feeding success when I try it.

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[Sliding Scales]

Awesome looking snake! I just fed my new baby, so I wish you luck. That head pattern is the bomb!

What is Desert Snow by the way?

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[Byron]

its a shreded paper pulp product. clumps and tunnels great. Because its white, it makes spotting messes easy.

T-Rex

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[Byron]

Originally Posted by telefrag

very pretty!

I am guessing its just on the gravel for picture purposes, but they like a deep loose substrate, so give him/her about 2" of aspen.

I never had problems with feeding mine, they tend to stick with very small prey items, even into adulthood, so stock up on fuzzy mice!

I've read that they are very secretive eaters and placing the prey on a plate covered with a paper towel under the substrate may be necessary. Did you have to do this?

Most of the care sheets are a few years old. Has the general opinion on how to sucessfully keep these changed much?

I have:
10g tank (until she grows up)
2" of substrate
warm side set at 85
ambient temp is mid 70's
humidity hide (mostly hidden in the substrate)
warm and cool hides
humidity is staying around 60%


should anything be different?

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[telefrag]

They are actually pretty simple to care for, aside from being very shy.
2" aspen bedding, a moist hide, a dry hide (which they didn't really use either, they just stayed buried).
I'd get rid of the heat, they don't need it.
I had a heat strip under their cage set on 73, which hardly ever went on, and they never used it.
They prefer cooler room temps.
I put their food on a deli cup lid, and left them alone, and usually in an hour or two it would be gone.

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[Snake18]

Nice I want one now.

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[telefrag]

you should get one!
they are fairly affordable now.

my first pair cost 1200.00.... ouch!

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[Snake18]

Originally Posted by telefrag

you should get one!
they are fairly affordable now.

my first pair cost 1200.00.... ouch!

wow!!!

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[Byron]

Originally Posted by telefrag

you should get one!
they are fairly affordable now.

my first pair cost 1200.00.... ouch!

wow, I saw cb for as low as $150 in Daytona, but the colors were washed out or faded looking.

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	Captive Born Captive Born

[telefrag]

Yeah, I have considered getting another pair or two now that they are pretty reasonably priced.

When I got them back in 1998, they had still only been bred in captivity in the US a handful of times.
I had them for a few years, and eventually sold and/or traded them off for other things.

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[John]

That's a great looking snake. Best of luck feeding it.

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[Byron]

Tried the f/t pinkie on a deli lid last nigh. Without any luck. Next attempt in a few days.

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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]

Beautiful snake! My house is not eva gonna be cool enough to keep these happy, so I'll just have to silently drool over yours!
Good luck with her!

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[telefrag]

did you drop the temps?

They sometimes will refuse to feed when they are over 80 degrees.

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[EricIvins]

A 10 gallon tank is too big.........You need something like a shoebox or you'll have problems with it being a consistant feeder........

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[telefrag]

good point, I never even dialed into the tank size.

I'd keep it in something smaller and darker at least until its well established.

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[Byron]

temps were mid 70's. temps were staying 74-76. I'll drop them a few degrees and try again.

I'll be blocking off about 1/3-1/2 of the tank and blacking out the sides. will that be work or should I buy a small tub today?

Thanks for the advice and input.

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