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Venomous Novice Strikes Back...........
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by ginny on August 16, 2006
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Hi guys! Been a while since i visited this site so i thought i'd check in and let u know how my collections coming along. I started off in march after i got my licence with a Vipera ammodytes juvenile female followed two months later with a neonate Crotalus vegrandis. Both are doing well. In the last 5 weeks i have added a 2 year old female Agkistrodon c. contortix, a three year old male Crotalus molossus and on sunday i picked up a 2 month old male Crotalus atrox. Seems i am specializing in rattlesnakes and am having lots of fun observing their behaviour. I fed the WDB for the first time tonite with a f/t fuzzy mouse and he gobbled it straight down. I watched him search his enclosure expecting to find more food for about an hour afterwards, only my Vipera ammodytes behaves like that and it always makes me laugh! He has been specially bred from vividly patterned parents and he is stunning, looking better than any i have seen in books! Any way the Urocoan Rattler shed for the first time since i've had it last week, being the second time it has shed in its life adding its second segment or first segment after the button depending on how you look at it and while it was feeding on a f/t fuzzy mouse it began rattling its tail (inaudibly ofcourse) for the very first time as i approached its enclosure to check on it. It was so cool seeing that for the first time. I am very much enjoying this hobby and look forward to raising my vipers to adulthood and giving them long and happy lives!! I do have a question concerning the Crotalus molossus though. I've had him for two weeks now and he spends all of his time hidden under his cork bark hide never basking in full view or roaming his enclosure. He is housed in an enclosure 90cm x 60cm x 50cm. On the left side on the top is a ceramic heat lamp which i have set to 28 degrees c. and on the cool side on the right it is about 25 to 26 degrees c. His hide is on the cool side and thats where he stays. The temp remains constant 24 hours a day via a pulse proportionate thermostat and he fed on a large f/t mouse 3 days ago. I'm guessing that maybe this individual snake is still getting used to his new enclosure and is too timid to come out much so i need to be patient with him. Is this normal for this species? Has anyone else observed this behaviour with new captive Crotalus. Prior to me aqquiring him he was in my local pet shop for about 3 weeks and going through the pre molt stage. He shed the day before i took him home, fed a large f/t mouse several hours before i took him home and regurgitated it 5 days later. The next day he was fed again and regurgitated again 3 days later.Fed again 3 days ago.
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RE: Venomous Novice Strikes Back...........
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by Cro on August 16, 2006
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Mark, sounds like the collection is coming along quite well. Thanks for the update.
As far as the Crotalus molossus, I would not worry as long as he is feeding.
Many of the molossus I have found were somewhat under cover, like under a rock ledge, or sotal bush, etc. They seem to like hiding.
Best Regards JohnZ
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RE: Venomous Novice Strikes Back...........
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by thenovice on August 16, 2006
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this subject is in no way associated with me, i am not venomous and i'm not stricking back..... lol
all of my snakes tend to stay hidden when they are in small cages but i'm not sure how big your molossus is so i really don't know
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RE: Venomous Novice Strikes Back...........
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by ginny on August 17, 2006
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My Crotalus molossus male is 3 years old and approx. 24" long.I know that snakes are not showy animals in general but all my juveniles are always in full view. Be nice too see him once in a while thats all!! Thanks, Mark.
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RE: Venomous Novice Strikes Back...........
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by thenovice on August 17, 2006
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i have made a small pepp hole for one of my monitors who spends all his time in a box, try cutting out a 1inch wie hole and put it up against the glass so that you can peek in on him
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RE: Venomous Novice Strikes Back...........
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by Rob_Carmichael on August 18, 2006
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We keep over 32 species/subspecies on rattlers on display at my wildlife center it seems like over time, nearly all of them become desensitized to people and even our shiest animals will stay out in the open during our public drop in time. We just do a gradual build up to get them used to it. Despite providing intricate and secure hiding areas for each and every rattlesnake, most if not all of them spend a good deal of the day out in the open basking, foraging, etc.
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
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RE: Venomous Novice Strikes Back...........
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by ginny on August 18, 2006
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Thanks Rob, that sounds very encouraging. He probably just needs some time to get used to his new enclosure. I have the cork bark hide at a slight angle so i can just see him hidden, but not too much too invade his privacy. I believe in leaving my snakes too live how they want so i just leave them alone, if they want to hide i allow them too do so. I'm sure he will eventually come into his own. The collection you tend to sounds very impressive, i wish i could see it! Thanks, Mark.
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