Need some quick input on the subject, I've got someone looking to rehome one because they're not able to care for it properly. I'm interested in taking her in to provide a stable environment to help provide her with some regularity. However I have a few quick questions and if anybody on here could help it'd be great. First using lizard scented mice how hard would it be to get her to transfer over to frozen thawed, is it even possible or am i going to be feeding her 2-3 anoles a week? I know she's venomous but I'm not worried for an adult human of my size or my wifes size. I am however worried if one of the cats got in and aggravated her while I was working on handling her if they got bit would it be dangerous for them? In humans it causes muscle cramps for a couple hours normally and up to a couple days in severe cases unless they're allergic. I know they're rear fanged so it lowers the chance of a venomous bite but I don't want to put my currents pets into a dangerous situation while trying to get a better set up for her as well. The owner has a set up for her and is willing to give it to me as well so I'm not worried about that. Any further input would be greatly appreciated before I make the decision because I don't want to pick her up only to have to relocate her yet again. He says her temperament is good and she's never struck at him or the previous owner but it's always safest in such situations to assume that she may one day. Thanks for the help guys.
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Asian Vine Snake
- Thread starter yojoe05
- Start date
Tavia
Elemental Exotics
I don't own one, I've just researched them a bunch as my husband loves the looks of them. But from what I've read, a few people have had success at getting them switched to mice but it seems rare enough that I wouldn't count on being able to switch one over. Buying anoles can get pretty expensive, so you could also pick a smaller, prolific species of lizard/gecko and breed your own food, which would probably have less parasites than the fresh caught anoles the pet sores sell.
Don't feel I know enough about their venom to comment.
Don't feel I know enough about their venom to comment.
BloodyBaroness
Captain Titsworth
They rarely if ever switch to mice, not even scented ones. This is a very hard species to work with, unless you can fully meet the food needs. House geckos and anoles are much the only thing they will eat. Most people set up an anole colony, or feeding will get super challenging. They are highly visual hunters and almost require live prey, or they won't eat.
You have to keep the humidity high (80% is the minimum.) Many will not drink from a water dish and you need to mist the cage daily or have running water. They dehydrate very quickly. They are also prone to mouth infections.
I would class this as a very advanced species to keep. The long-term success with this species in captivity is not great. Other pets getting close it's tank would be a bad idea. They stress easy and can roll for seemingly no reason.
Personally I wish this species was not in the pet trade because they do so poorly in captivity.
You have to keep the humidity high (80% is the minimum.) Many will not drink from a water dish and you need to mist the cage daily or have running water. They dehydrate very quickly. They are also prone to mouth infections.
I would class this as a very advanced species to keep. The long-term success with this species in captivity is not great. Other pets getting close it's tank would be a bad idea. They stress easy and can roll for seemingly no reason.
Personally I wish this species was not in the pet trade because they do so poorly in captivity.
Chip
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒ&
Hear, hear. Do not take in this snake -the owner isn't prepared to care for it properly -because it's a vine snake! No one that doesn't have colonies of lizards they don't want is prepared to care for one. Everything that Autumn said, plus they are FULL of parasites. Always. My advice is stay far, far away.
It's to bad I find them incredibly attractive snakes but parasites was already a big concern with eating anoles. I checked into it and most of the pet stores around here are selling anoles as pets for $8 a piece and it's recommended due to their high metabolism to feed them three times a week and I couldn't handle starting to raise anoles and then use them as feeders that would kill me so I think the $30 a week feedings for one snake may be what has me decide no. The arboreal set up and misting I wouldn't have a problem with I worked with veiled chameleons at a zoo and am used to the daily mistings and such. I also hadn't heard about the proneness to mouth infections. Thanks for the heads up everybody I hate to see the snake keep getting shoved off onto person after person but after looking into it I think I'm going to pass.
Chip
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒ&
Ha ha. Red tailed green rats are a special kind of evil. Perhaps I shouldn't make such a blanket statement, I only owned two (though for several years). I used tongs to handle them, and I'm not terribly adverse to getting bitten. Some snakes just *hate* being handled, and I'd put those near the top of that list. Again, two specimens is not enough to base the personality of a species on. I could find someone two corns that would make them call them a bitey species!
They are small, but perhaps keeled greensnakes would appeal to you? Again, they have a few special needs, but I LOVE greensnakes! And they relish garage spiders and hairless caterpillars -the first of which is usually available year round. Don't feed too many crickets, they often stop eating on an all-cricket diet. But you can set up an arboreal viv and have an awesome bright green snake with this species. Just a thought. Outside of that, Kunisar Island Rats would be the next "greenest" snake I can think of that is somewhat tractable. A word of warning, an aggressive one is a lot of fast mean snake with one HELL of a bite. I only had one mean girl, but I dreaded cleaning her cage. My other two adults I could hand to a child.
In case it comes up, this is my photo of my animal.
They are small, but perhaps keeled greensnakes would appeal to you? Again, they have a few special needs, but I LOVE greensnakes! And they relish garage spiders and hairless caterpillars -the first of which is usually available year round. Don't feed too many crickets, they often stop eating on an all-cricket diet. But you can set up an arboreal viv and have an awesome bright green snake with this species. Just a thought. Outside of that, Kunisar Island Rats would be the next "greenest" snake I can think of that is somewhat tractable. A word of warning, an aggressive one is a lot of fast mean snake with one HELL of a bite. I only had one mean girl, but I dreaded cleaning her cage. My other two adults I could hand to a child.
In case it comes up, this is my photo of my animal.
Thanks for the recommendations Chip! Yeah pretty much most people say red tail green rats are evil incarnate and will bite you just because. I read several had some that for months wouldn't bite and were great then would have a mood swing and latch on to them. I'll have to give it some thought thanks for the alternative ideas.
GillianC
Herpetologists' offspring
I actually acquired an adult red-tailed green rat within the past year as I was looking for arboreal/climbing rat snakes for a project. I found him at the Northwestern Berks show in Hamburg, PA, and kind of purchased him on impulse without knowing too much about their temperament. Quite frankly he's one of my favorite snakes. He's been surprisingly good-natured over the past 7 months, considering he's a wild-caught adult. I have, however, been incredibly careful while handling him since the moment I picked him up (which actually, the vendor refused to do).
On the negative side, I believe the vast majority of those sold in the pet trade are wild-caught and thus have parasites. Mine had mites (story here: http://iansvivarium.com/viewtopic.php?t=9105), which I managed to get rid of, but I was told by the vendor that most die within the first few months due to stress and poor health. These snakes, while beautiful, can be a pretty risky purchase. I was lucky enough to find one with a decent temperament (he has yet to bite me), without any major health problems (that I've been able to detect), and that eats readily (frozen/thawed, even).
On the negative side, I believe the vast majority of those sold in the pet trade are wild-caught and thus have parasites. Mine had mites (story here: http://iansvivarium.com/viewtopic.php?t=9105), which I managed to get rid of, but I was told by the vendor that most die within the first few months due to stress and poor health. These snakes, while beautiful, can be a pretty risky purchase. I was lucky enough to find one with a decent temperament (he has yet to bite me), without any major health problems (that I've been able to detect), and that eats readily (frozen/thawed, even).
What about a nice green barons racer? I have no idea what they're like, but they're very pretty.