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 #2086069


Corn snake
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 What do you feed your red tails?

Hey I’m looking for an answer asap..I have somone selling 2 red tail boas..1 female 8ft and 1 male 6ft..With enclosure included..I can only care for 1 of them and I"m trying to get rid of the other...I’m keeping male and Possibly giving away female..But he says the 8ft female eats 3 big rats a week..or 1 rabbit..Is that to much? if the female doesnt need to eat that much there is possibly a chance i could take care of both of them..I always thought it was once a week with 1 animal that is fat as the fattest part of there body..Is that true But I"m located in Georgetown IN if anyone close to this area would be interested in a 8ft female red tail..Thanks for your help
10/19/09  07:19pm

 #2086124


Corn snake
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   Message To: Corn snake   In reference to Message Id: 2086069


 What do you feed your red tails?

Got rid of female but I"m getting my male 2marrow Will take pics for sure...



10/19/09  08:55pm

 #2086415


LizaB2008
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   Message To: Corn snake   In reference to Message Id: 2086124


 What do you feed your red tails?

You can feed large rats, small rabbits or small chickens. Best to feed only f/t feed. I myself prefer large rats becaus they are cheaper and you can buy them in bulk.
10/20/09  03:14pm

 #2086814


Tav13
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   Message To: LizaB2008   In reference to Message Id: 2086415


 What do you feed your red tails?

My 8’+ female (just put pics up in "boa" section) is to girthy for rats. She typically gets 3lb rabbits. Collossal rats don’t even put a lump in her. well here she is again.




10/21/09  08:20am

 #2086878


Corn snake
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   Message To: Tav13   In reference to Message Id: 2086814


 What do you feed your red tails?

Well i got the male and a tank 5’x5’x21"...When the male is full grown what do you thank he would prly be eating? Right now he is 6ft and is eating large rats
10/21/09  11:21am

 #2086913


LizaB2008
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   Message To: Corn snake   In reference to Message Id: 2086878


 What do you feed your red tails?

At 6ft a male won’t grow much more then maybe 2 ft. Their girth doesn’t get as large as a females does so I can honestly tell you’ll be feeding jumbo rats or small rabbits. The jumbo rats would probably be cheaper but the small rabbits would be just a little bit bigger. Are you planning on feeding frozen or live?
10/21/09  12:50pm

 #2086955


Fairy Frog Mother
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   Message To: LizaB2008   In reference to Message Id: 2086913


 What do you feed your red tails?

Frozen/Thawed is much better health wise. Main reason...they dont bite!

You can probably feed it 2-3 Jumbo rats at full adult size ever 2 weeks, or a 2 lb rabbit, Guinea pig or chicken poult. (Basicly juvinile chicken)

Chickens carry Samonella- so either order from a reputable distributor (Like Rodent Pro...though Im sure there are others) or go with Rats or rabbits or gunea pigs F/T.

In Peru, Boas I’m sure chow down on Gunea pigs (as do people) being they are a natural prey item there.



10/21/09  02:27pm

 #2086959


Corn snake
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   Message To: Fairy Frog Mother   In reference to Message Id: 2086955


 What do you feed your red tails?

No..The guy i got the male fomr said That he will ONLY eat live..It has to be moving he says..Which is bad i hate feeding live..I always fed frozen to all my snakes or stund by he said it needs to be moving
10/21/09  02:29pm

 #2086962


Corn snake
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   Message To: Corn snake   In reference to Message Id: 2086959


 What do you feed your red tails?

He hasnt ate in 1 mounth so i was trying to feed him last night to see if hed eat..I guess he was to stressd so i had removd the rat..The guy also said he fed the snake in the tank...I didnt like that but had no other way to feed him..So i put rat in there with him for about an hour while i watchd made sure rat didnt try to bite him..He had every chance to get him several times and just refused..So i guess I’ll give it another day or 2 and attmep
10/21/09  02:32pm

 #2086971


Fairy Frog Mother
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   Message To: Corn snake   In reference to Message Id: 2086959


 What do you feed your red tails?

Yeah, Ive had people tell me that before. Its a load of bunk used by people who think that it is important for "enrichment". There’s other ways to enrich your snakes vivarium that dont result in bites, injuries, bacterial infections and vet bills or death. There are very few ( they do exist though) who are resistant to being moved onto Frozen/Thawed. And mind you, you are reading the words of someone who used to beleive Live was the way to go. I lost a snake because of it. All it takes is one bad strike, or one nasty rat/rabbit whatever...My snake refused to eat after. Ever try force feeding a 6 foot boa?

And, for the first few meals, while your big guy is getting acclimated...go with live. Its used to it, and you dont want to add another change right away. Let it get comfortable first.

BUT!!! Tongs are your friend. Boas are generally fairly Voracious feeders. If you have the right set up climate wise, and you have a long pair of tongs ( I use barbecue tongs actually, they work great!)
You thaw out the prey item and heat it up in warm water, paper towel to dry it off, and then grab their tail, dangle it about oh...8-10 inches from the snake to get its attention and WHAM they usually hit it NO PROBLEM. Sometimes you need to wiggle it. Sometimes you need to leave it in the enclosure and walk away for a couple of hours. (I put it on top of a log generally, out of the substrate) It varies snake to snake. You dont want to wiggle it too close to the snakes nose.

Sometimes it does not work the first time you try. Wait a week, then try again. Boas can miss a couple of meals if they start off in good condition without issue.




10/21/09  02:43pm

 #2086976


Fairy Frog Mother
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   Message To: Fairy Frog Mother   In reference to Message Id: 2086971


 What do you feed your red tails?

ahh ok, just read the second note there. I responded after the first reply.

If it doesnt eat next week, have it checked by the Vet. Be sure there isnt an impaction issue making him constipated. Perhaps try giving it a soak in the bathtub in warm ( not hot, baby bottle temperature like!) water. Then put it back in its enclosure and leave it alone a week, then try feeding again.

Sounds like you may have one of those very few that are difficult feeders, I mentioned.

Good luck, and I hope all turns out ok!



10/21/09  02:47pm

 #2086979


LizaB2008
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   Message To: Corn snake   In reference to Message Id: 2086962


 What do you feed your red tails?

Thats a bunch of crap, when I rescued boo, I was told she would only eat live, she had bite marks all over her, The first time I fed f/t she took it, didn’t even hesitate. Don’t listen to people like that they make no sense and don’t know what they are talking about, I personally feed my larger snakes in their cages because it’s hard to move them when they smell rats, but my smaller snakes get put in a toat when I feed them.

Some snakes have different methods of eating f/t. Boo and ginger will take the rats no prob bite and constrict. Romeo however I have to lay the mouse in the toat and close it, come back in half an hour and it’s gone. I would try that. Buy a large toat and put him in there, unthaw the rat and lay in in there. Leave him alone for about half hour and go back, you may be surprised. Some snakes like to eat in private. I thought romeo would never eat f/t and thats how I got him to do it. You can also try rolling the rat in rat bedding to make it smell a little more apealing to him. There are all kinds of things you can try. I don’t do live because my two rescues ginger and boo both have nasty bite marks on them. I don’t like it at all.



10/21/09  02:49pm

 #2086981


Fairy Frog Mother
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   Message To: Fairy Frog Mother   In reference to Message Id: 2086976


 What do you feed your red tails?

My female when she was a juvinile was like that...she wouldnt eat if I watched it turns out.

I switched to feeding her in her tank, and walked away to give her privacy and she started eating again. Now, 6 months later...hasnt missed a meal, and she smells it and is after taking it out of the tongs before I can get it fully inside the enclosure!

There is hope. Keep trying.



10/21/09  02:51pm

 #2086991


LizaB2008
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   Message To: Fairy Frog Mother   In reference to Message Id: 2086981


 What do you feed your red tails?

Here is a little insite of what a rat can do to your snake

Link
Link


Just think, if a rat can chew through a steal pipe, what can it do to you snake..... time to switch to the safer method.

Here is a link that may help you
Link
10/21/09  03:09pm

 #2087026


Corn snake
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   Message To: LizaB2008   In reference to Message Id: 2086991


 What do you feed your red tails?

I have a rat in a tank now that he dindt eat last night...In your opinion should i just Get him frozen and try to start him on frozen? I’ll just try out first with putting the rat in the tank after being in hot water and dried off...IF that dont work I’ll try holding him 10 inch away and letting the snake see him...Then if it dotn work I’ll try the Tuna trick lol...I hop the first one works tho...How should i go about fezzin a live rat? A big live rat...
10/21/09  04:08pm

 #2087033


LizaB2008
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   Message To: Corn snake   In reference to Message Id: 2087026


 What do you feed your red tails?

You could pre kill it by flicking it in the head, I wouldn’t just freeze it. When you try just laying it in the tank, cover the tank with a blanket and leave it alone for about 30 minute to an hour.
10/21/09  04:16pm

 #2087043


Corn snake
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   Message To: LizaB2008   In reference to Message Id: 2087033


 What do you feed your red tails?

I really really hate rats...I had a hard time getting my self to grab him by the tail to get him out last night...But i guess i can..So when i flick him in the head he should be stund/knockd out....Cause i dont want to do that then he gets pisdd off cuase i didnt do it right lmao..All my other snakes i got fomr babies and wre always f/t



10/21/09  04:27pm

 #2087118


LizaB2008
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   Message To: Corn snake   In reference to Message Id: 2087043


 What do you feed your red tails?

You flick it at the base of the head and it dies..... it explains it in that link I posted for you :)
10/21/09  06:40pm


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