|
1-10 of 24 messages
|
Page 1 of 3
Next
|
|
timber rattlesnakes not eating
|
Reply
|
|
by wvslayer on June 13, 2011
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
I have 3 recently aquired yellow phase timber rattlesnakes I haven't sexed them yet but am having a hard time getting them to eat i have tryed live white mice but they only killed and left them i tryed dyed the mice the din't touch them i'm not sure how long since the last eat any advice would help thank you from wv
|
| |
|
RE: timber rattlesnakes not eating
|
Reply
|
|
by agkistrodude on June 14, 2011
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
Scotty, a little more info might help determine the problem.How long has it been since you got them? It can take awhile for them to acclimate to their new surroundings. What are the day/night temps they're in? Are they together in a cage or separate? How old are they, adults, or small, young snakes? How large is the cage? Are they W/C or C/B? Take care, Marty
|
| |
|
RE: timber rattlesnakes not eating
|
Reply
|
|
by CChadwick on June 14, 2011
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
I always have a hard time getting WC adult timbers to eat mice or regular rats. What usually works 99% of the time is "soft-fur rats" aka possum rats. They have a different scent and I'm guessing it's similar to the wild rats that timbers are accostumed to. Try those and I'll be surprised if it doesnt eat. Btw, I have 1.2 timbers that were WC last summer and cooled down over the winter. They didnt eat until recently and they would only eat "soft-furs". Hope this helps...
Chuck
|
| |
|
RE: timber rattlesnakes not eating
|
Reply
|
|
by Peter84Jenkins on June 14, 2011
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
I'll bet if you release them they will eat just fine.
With that said...in my experience gravid females will not eat, so try and determine their sex and whether or not they might be gravid females.
Try letting them acclimate.
Once acclimated get a live, colored mouse and see if that works. I have never seen timbers (denning timbers) eat very large prey Items. I witnessed young adult eating a small field mouse. They are cited as eating mice, voles chipmunks and other "small" mammals in the literature I have read.
You could also just wait it out. Timbers in the wild may only eat 6 to 12 times during their active months Jon Furman, "Timber rattlesnakes of Vermont and New York" University press of New England, 2007 is a good source.
I would tend to lean toward waiting. If you keep sticking prey in its face you are only going to stress it even more.
Are they wild caughts off of a den?
|
| |
|
RE: timber rattlesnakes not eating
|
Reply
|
|
by varivenom on June 14, 2011
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
If they are large enough. Try baby cottontails. Mine love them, but only given as treats. From time to time. Best of luck with them.
|
| |
|
RE: timber rattlesnakes not eating
|
Reply
|
|
by wvslayer on June 15, 2011
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
These snakes were wc ahead of a logging crew and in our area that spells out one thing for any snake in the way (dead snake)they will be turned back to the wild after the logging is done. I spend alot of time removing snakes from harmfull situations from yards and in roadways.I have only had the snakes for 2 weeks the they are all about 36 inch long one still has it's juvenile rattlers right now they are all together in a 2ftx4ftx2ft enclosure daytime temps are around 80-90 i have been keeping a heet lamp on them until about 11 pm thanks from wv
|
| |
|
RE: timber rattlesnakes not eating
|
Reply
|
|
by theemojohnm on June 15, 2011
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
This is pretty locality-dependent, but being from WV, I want to point out that many Northern timber populations in the Northeast do not seem to care much for white, domestic "lab" mice.
Actually, many of the WC timbers that I work with eat chicks (both quail and chicken) almost solely, with the occasional baby rabbit, or squirrel.
A lot of PA locality timbers don't even seem much interested in wild mice. They'll usually take small, wild rabbits, or small squirrels, but this isn't a real feasible option, and would require you to trap and/or kill many wild critters, to feed the snakes. Birds are easily obtainable, and pretty close to the same price as mice or rats.
While the scent of rodents seem to be very distinct, it is my experience that birds aren't as distinct to crotalids, scent-wise. I've had equal success with domestic quail and chicken chicks, and wild birds like sparrows and robins. I’ve found that the rodent-eaters that I work with are of equal average body-weight and health, as my bird-eaters. Although, the animals on the ‘bird diet’ usually feed a slight bit more frequently. It seems that many northern horridus populations may feed on birds as readily as they do rodents, and even more so, in some locations.
I have found that the southern horridus, or Canbrakes, that I work with, seem to be more fond of mammals than the mountain-dwelling timbers, from the Northeast.
If the don’t seem much interested in rodents, it can’t hurt to try a chick. Although, if they are going to be released and only kept for a short time, you may be able to obtain a supply of young rabbits or squirrel to feed them for the time being. If they are to be released, I would try to stick to native prey items, like wild birds and/or rodents. I will also second what Daniel said, and recommend giving them a little time if they don’t seem interested in food right away. Most timbers in captivity are overweight. Many northern timbers will actually eat less than their own body weight in food, a year.
Take Care,
-John Mendrola
|
| |
|
RE: timber rattlesnakes not eating
|
Reply
|
|
by Peter84Jenkins on June 15, 2011
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
@ WV it is good to hear that you rescued those timbers the way you did. Through my work I often acquire timbers through a rescue program I started last year. Believe it or not even our local DNR was killing timbers when they were called to private residence!
Anyway, I have to respectfully disagree with the recommendation of offering large mammals as prey. These are not the southern canebrake morph and so I would not suggest feeding rabbits.
Again, literature sites timbers as feeding on small warmblooded prey: chipmunks, rats, pocket gophers, mice, young woodchucks etc. In books such as Ernst's Venomous reptiles of North America you will find a list. The book mentioned in the my post above is an excellent read as well. And there is a little known pub by W. S. Brown, a leading timber rattlesnake expert, that is a great source as well. "Biology, Status, and Management of the timber rattlesnake".
Just give them some time and see. Remember they only eat 6 to 12 times on average per season, so I am sure you will be fine waiting it out. Wait for them to "act" hungry. You will see them move into a hunting position with their head propped on cage furniture or coiled next to something as if to conceal its self from prey. They are very easy to read. Good luck.
|
| |
|
RE: timber rattlesnakes not eating
|
Reply
|
|
by varivenom on June 15, 2011
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
The baby cottontails I feed my timbers are no bigger than a medium rat. I wasnt refering to lops or flemish or pet store bunnies. These are lil neighborhood pest that have lots of lil baseball sized youngns. I usually catch them in my garage or hiding in the drain spout base. As it goes though she also gets rats, mice , various chicks as well. Never the same meal twice in a row. This goes the same for my other locals of timbers. They all eat anything and everything. They just really prefer the cottontails to rodents. If they are around 3 ft. then they should have no problem eatn med rats. Same should go for cottontail babies then. This also rings true with wdbs and etbs. They both love the lil fuzzy bunnies too. My girlfriend just hates it though. Lol One of my medium sized timbers got her first cottontail last week. I had the photograph it. It settled right in front of her den. She stuck her head out and sniffed it head to tail for a min then grabbed it a pulled it in kicking and screaming. I never knew a rabbit could scream so loud! Lol If anyone wants to see the pics let me know.
|
| |
|
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to this topic.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
Check our help page for help using
, or send questions, comments, or suggestions to the
Manager.
|
