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Rattlesnake Venom
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by caverdude on November 7, 2003
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How long does it take a WDB to replenish its venom supply after it has been depeleted? I ask since my 3.5 ft WDB doesn't seem to have enough venom to kill the rats I offer, even after 2 weeks without killing any prey.
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RE: Rattlesnake Venom
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by herpingmike on November 7, 2003
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Try feeding pre killed rats to your snake,personaly I think it is better on the rat, and takes the risk out of your snake being injured by the rat biting it.
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RE: Rattlesnake Venom
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by Wollers on November 7, 2003
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Rattlesnakes will not deplete their venom by striking at a single prey item, rather only by milking the snake could you deplete its current venom supply. Then I think it does take something like 2 weeks to be back to full capacity, but I'm really just guessing. As far as your WDB's bite not able to kill or otherwise have little effect on a rat, how long has this been a problem with your snake? -Mike
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RE: Rattlesnake Venom
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by caverdude on November 8, 2003
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I've only noticed this problem when I fed my WDB a rat 3 days after it ate a mouse. When it tried to kill the rat, it took 4+ strikes to inject enough venom, but it still took about 2 hours for the rat to die. It wasn't a pretty sight. I then waited 2+ weeks before giving it another rat. It apparently struck this rat, due to visible blood in the cage, but it wasn't able to kill the rat. I eventually removed the rat and killed it. I have since offered it the dead rat, but it hasn't eaten it yet.
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RE: Rattlesnake Venom
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by LarryDFishel on November 10, 2003
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Maybe he thinks the rats are too big to eat and he's just biting them to scare them away (and giving dry bites to conserve his venom for actual food). Does he pursue them and then bite or just sit coiled and strike when they get very close?
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RE: Rattlesnake Venom
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by caverdude on November 10, 2003
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She usually pursues the rat like she's interested in feeding so I don't think she's saving her venom.
I did have success feeding her a mouse, so maybe she prefers smaller prey?
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RE: Rattlesnake Venom
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by Wollers on November 10, 2003
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A sm. rat has about 4x the body mass of an adult mouse, therefore taking much longer to drop dead. My juv. C. atrox recently switched from mice to rats and its kill time has gone from around 30 seconds to more than 2 minutes, which is perfectly normal. Still, I'm puzzled at your dilemma. What is the length of your snake again? Also, I would just like to add that its always a good idea to have your snake in a good size cage when feeding larger live prey items like rats to prevent an akward situation of the dying rat stumbling all over your snake and putting itself in danger of receiving a bite. -Mike
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RE: Rattlesnake Venom
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by caverdude on November 11, 2003
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My snake is 3.5 ft long and I have her housed in a large cage 3ftx2ft. Maybe it has broken a fang and is now delivering only half a load per strike? The mouse it ate last night died pretty quick, so it may be the whole body mass difference between the rats and mice. Other than that she seems very healthy and happy.
Pat
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