Cyclone Eastern Garter feeding...

[SnakeDoc]

Ok, I've tried every thing possible to get the Cyclone to eat something else other than local toads. I've tried guppies, night crawlers/earth worms, live ASF fuzzies and area lizards. The only and I mean ONLY thing it looks at is toads. It practically takes them from my hands. I have tried the ASF pinkies and fuzzies rubbed them on the toads...nothing. Its a very agressive garter and will take no thought to chase my hand around the cage. :D
Anyway here is the video of the Cyclone Eastern Garter feeding, also check out my other videos showing closeups. Enjoy...

YouTube - CycloneFeedingToad (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfafSNTUYQQ)

YouTube - CycloneFeedingToad2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R86YdJBnwwU)

YouTube - CycloneCloseup2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=217NmGyKfx0)

[guidofatherof5]

Great looking snake and videos.
Looks like she has a shout rubbing issue.
Is the problem toads aren't always available? Have you let Cyclone get really hungry and then introduce a toad rubbed pinky? Not feeding her for a couple of weeks might just break that finicky eating problem. It's usually harder on us then them. Just and idea hope it helps.

[Snake lover 3-25]

just a thought.. it you heavily run the mouse on the toad and make it sort of jump and look like a toad you might have better success?

on the nose rubbing issue..... it looks like it's getting pretty bad.... you can put bacitracin on it to make it heal up faster... and to make her stop rubbing you could go to a dollar store and fill her tank with lots of fake plants so she feels more safe.. good luck!

[bkhuff1s]

Is that a cane toad?

[Didymus20X6]

I thought cane toads were highly poisonous and could only be eaten by one particular species of Australian snake.

[charles parenteau]

Its a wild caught snake?? give her is normal food.frogs toad or worms.I can tell you by my experience and 2 pro ,Wild snake convert to rodent or aberrant food can develop lot of problem.In my opinion if shes wild ,keep feeding her with toad ,she worth the effort .I know its an inconvenient .Take lot of time to search for toad.this snake is one of my favorite of all time!so beautiful.

[drache]

she's a beautiful snake and obviously thriving on her diet
I've got a live lizard eating lizard and I just want her to take f/t, so I can have a bit of a cushion in food supply, and reduce the prey's suffering somewhat
so far I've gotten her to take live ones from feeding tongs - not consistently, but I think it's a start
so that's something you might consider working on unless you have a secure supply of toads

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Have you tried chopping up a toad and slathering a pinky in the juices of the toad? Make sure it's dead... and preferably thawed, garter snakes generally don't like live or prekilled mice nearly as much as f/t!

[SnakeDoc]

Well for on I'm pretty sure "She" is a "He" and I do have a normal female that is also wild caught and is gravid already. So my plan is to let her have her babies and release them into the wild. Then I will have a pair to do my proving out with.

As for the feeding issue I have yet to get nasty with the toads and do some cutting but I will give it a shot. This past weekend while a rain storm came up at night I took the spot light and went toad hunting, these are your normal eastern toads which I'm positive was the Cyclone's main diet before I caught him. I am always trying new feeding methods with some of the other picky ball pythons I have so I never give up. I have found access to live feeder toads online and if I need to I will order from them. Like I said I do what I gotta do to have the best for my reptiles. I will even try the f/t pinky soaked in fresh warm toad guts! LOL.:eek:

Now for the nose rub, he is doing better since I moved him into his new "grand" enclosure. After his first shed the rub has began healing and after the next two shed should be 100%. I will get some video of him chasing my hand as I spot clean his cage soon. It's too funny!:D

The name "Cyclone" actually will be his morph name IF he proves out genetically. Then once I've proved him out I will begin mixing with other morphs for something different. I'll keep you guys updated.

[Scott F]

Try washing a pinky/fuzzy with soap so to completely remove its scent. Then rub a toad on it.

Scott

[GartersRock]

What makes you think it's a boy?

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

haha, into naming morphs like the ball python guys are eh?! I considered calling my hypo female all sorts of weird things... but I think hypo is the best suited still!!! I am still convinced it's a girl my dear... its just so large and bulky to be a male!!! That snake is simply massive... the head on it is gianormous.... yes that's totally a word!! :D

[SnakeDoc]

haha, into naming morphs like the ball python guys are eh?! I considered calling my hypo female all sorts of weird things... but I think hypo is the best suited still!!! I am still convinced it's a girl my dear... its just so large and bulky to be a male!!! That snake is simply massive... the head on it is gianormous.... yes that's totally a word!! :D

Whats up Shannon!
Yea I'm pretty sure its a male. The normal female I've got that I know is gravid is getting thicker by the day and it's not from me feeding her..LOL! She is somewhat larger than him like you mentioned going by head size and the distance from her vent to tip of tail is about half of what his is, in fact his looks to be a good inch to inch and a half longer from vent to tip...LOL! Plus he's mean as hell!!!:D I really need to get video of his reaction when I go messing in his cage. He went nuts today when I tried offering him a pinky f/t rubbed in worm guts! Too funny! How have your snakes been? Expecting any babies this year?

[GartersRock]

I think it's a girl too. Based on the same things Shannon said. ;) There will always be females bigger then other females and females are usually the meaner ones.

[charles parenteau]

I saw the videos and all the pictures female 100/100 sure!

[snakeman]

Definitely female.Have you dewormed it yet?I would definitely take it to a vet and get the parasites taken care of.With the stress that the snake is going thru you will never get a chance to breed it.

[snakeman]

anyone know what happened to this snake?

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

He still has it alive and well

[Mommy2many]

Good to hear!

[SnakeDoc]

This girl is alive and very well. She is taking rat pups and strips of rainbow trout and of coarse the occasional toad. As long as the food item is wet and at room temps she'll eat it...even me! LOL.

[prattypus]

Her pattern and coloration still floors me- what a looker!

[SnakeDoc]

I will have to get another video posted. She is so hyper and thrashes around the tank so much I hate to disturb her. Plus with the meals she takes I don't need her regurgitating it. She has one of the nicest setups in my reptile room...LOL! She's the queen so to speak.

[snakeman]

finally figured out she was female?did you put any boys in with her?

[GartersRock]

I knew he was a she. :p
So glad to here she is still around and doing well! She is very pretty. :cool:

[SnakeDoc]

finally figured out she was female?did you put any boys in with her?

At the moment she is single. I really want a normal Eastern to go with her so I can find out if she's genetic or just a fluke. Believe me I would love to pair her up with something crazy but then I will not know the truth.

I really need to get her out in better lighting to get video or photos that will show you guys her true color. I'll get something up and post it here.

[ConcinusMan]

Have you tried chopping up a toad and slathering a pinky in the juices of the toad? Make sure it's dead... and preferably thawed, garter snakes generally don't like live or prekilled mice nearly as much as f/t!

I noticed that. All of my concinnus will readily take mushy bloody f/t pinkies, but most are reluctant to take fresh one's. I ended up freezing the fresh one's that weren't eaten and then giving them a little cut before thawing so they marinate in their own juices. Now my snakes really go for them.

[ConcinusMan]

This girl is alive and very well. She is taking rat pups and strips of rainbow trout and of coarse the occasional toad. As long as the food item is wet and at room temps she'll eat it...even me! LOL.

You eat them too? Gross!:p

[SnakeDoc]

You eat them too? Gross!:p

HAHA good catch, I actually meant the garter will go for my fingers, hand, face...heck anything that moves!