Why F/T mice(food)

[guidofatherof5]

It's not a garter but it brings the point home about not leaving live pray in with a snake. This Fox snake lost both its eye because the owner left the mouse in with the snake and didn't monitor the fed. This snake was brought to me today and will live out its life here on the Ranch.
I must admitt I too am captivated by constrictors when they feed. When I've had Bull snakes on the Ranch I have always fed them live mice. The person responsible for this injury could have avoided it if F/T were used. Seeing this snake brings home the reality of what live pray can do if not monitored.

[GarterGeek]

Wow, what a tragedy. It's a beautiful snake though. I'm guessing wild-caught?

[guidofatherof5]

Wow, what a tragedy. It's a beautiful snake though. I'm guessing wild-caught?

I'm not sure. I don't know much about its history. I only know I hope it has a good future here at the Ranch.

[sirtalis01]

im sure it will have a great future in the ranch...couldnt be in better hands..

[ConcinusMan]

That is tragic. But I must say, that's one surgical rodent. No other injuries? Just missing eyes? That's amazing.

[guidofatherof5]

That is tragic. But I must say, that's one surgical rodent. No other injuries? Just missing eyes? That's amazing.

There is some damage to the skull. I'll post a photo after the snake gets settled in. I guess she's been off food for about 3 weeks so I'm not sure, she might need a chill sometime soon.

[ConcinusMan]

That is a gopher, bull, or pine snake isn't it? I've kept a few over the years. If well nourished, (it appears to be) 3 MONTHS without food is nothing to worry about. The thing that concerns me is that she obviously can't see. My bull snakes have always been visual hunters. Movement is what has always induced a feeding response and they have always refused dead food.

[Snakers]

gl with him a fox snake is something ive always wanted to see reminds me of the milks at my house

[ConcinusMan]

I believe you are right. It does appear to be a fox snake. It's just so similar to certain pattern/color phases/ size of western "gopher" or "bull" snakes. In fact, I believe they are VERY closely related. Gopher snake, pine snake, bull snake, fox snake, whatever you want to call it, there's very little difference other than location/habitat. Fox snakes are an endangered species however, while western gopher and bull snakes are abundant and not protected. How you concluded that it even comes close to a milk snake, I don't know. There are obvious differences. milk snakes are more like King snakes than bull, pine, fox, or gopher snakes. Most milk snakes I have encountered in the wild were under 2 feet long, brilliantly colored, secretive, and not very aggessive. Gopher snakes I have encountered in San Diego county, CA were usually fairly large, around 4 feet long, very well camouflaged in their desert/semi desert habitats and extremely aggressive when handled/captured/molested. They retain the "attitude" even after years of captivity. Even captive bred individuals are aggressive. But heck, what do I know. That's just my experience.

[Stefan-A]

In fact, I believe they are VERY closely related.

They're all Pituophis.

milk snakes are more like King snakes

Yeah, they're all Lampropeltis and quite similar, with the exception of the Eastern milk snake and the prairie kingsnake.


Pituophis and Lampropeltis are Lampropeltinine snakes. In other words, they are closely related.