Rasputin the Scheltopusik

[dragonmetalhead]

This is Rasputin, the scheltopusik I picked up at the Reptile Super Show on Saturday. It was love at first sight and I think he's awesome. He was exactly what i was looking for to replace the Mexican black kingsnake I am getting rid of. So far Rasputin seems to be doing well. I have him set up in a quarantine tank in the guest bedroom, which is on the first floor of my house (my reptiles live in my room on the second floor). He ate a bowl of Zoo Med canned crickets and I'm going to offer him some snails tomorrow.
[attachment=6112][attachment=6113][attachment=6114]

 

[bombadierboom]

Congrats man! Legless lizards are so cool and fascinating.

 

[laurarfl]

I got one a couple of months ago and they are so cool! I've been wanting one for years! I'm having a problem with nose rub though. He has escaped twice (from me forgetting to lock the lid) so now he keeps trying to pry the lid open.

 

[Murkve]

That's really cool. Time to go look up prices!

 

[got10]

I had one that escaped from my reptile room a few years ago and have not seen hide nor hair of it since but i noticed there were far fewer field mice around my home each spring . I really was impressed by it for the time it was allowing me to think it was in my custody

 

[laurarfl]

lol got10, that pretty much sums it up. We give our animals little voices and make comments about what it looks it they're saying. This guy has such an attitude about him.

 

[Skeetzy]

Those creep me out, and I'm not sure why. Something about a snake with a lizards head lol. And to top it off, they're escape artists?!

 

[chitodadon]

Creeps me out to

from Samsung Galaxy S3

 

[laurarfl]

Mine sure is. And we find him peeking out behind the book case or the indoor tegu cage. He looks at us like, "Oh drat...it's you. Ok then, catch me and let's get this over with." He's awesome and very watchful of us.

 

[chitodadon]

Re: RE: Rasputin the Scheltopusik

Mine sure is. And we find him peeking out behind the book case or the indoor tegu cage. He looks at us like, "Oh drat...it's you. Ok then, catch me and let's get this over with." He's awesome and very watchful of us.

So do u ever catcg him

from Samsung Galaxy S3

 

[dragonmetalhead]

So far, Rasputin spends most of the time buried. He's eaten everything I've put in the dish so far. laurafl, how often do you feed yours?

 

[Deac77]

These just look wrong I mean looking at it you can tell its not a snake but its not a lizard either bah! I know what they are but when I look at them my brain says WTF?!?

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That being said he looks awesome

 

[laurarfl]

Sure we catch him. He just sits there and lets us catch him. Once he's found, he sort of surrenders. Sort of. The really weird part is when he hisses and then alligator rolls. That's funky!

Mine is waaaay active, but a really picky eater. I can only get him to eat F/T pinkies, scrambled egg, and crickets. I feed him about 4x week right now. He turns his nose up at earthworms, canned snails and shrimp. I'm going to try superworms tomorrow. Mostly he just wants to get out through the lid. I think he is a recent import.

 

[chitodadon]

U have to get a video

from Samsung Galaxy S3

 

[laurarfl]

OK, I just got a new video thing. I'll figure out how to use it so I can get a video uploaded.

 

[chitodadon]

Cool

from Samsung Galaxy S3

 

[dragonmetalhead]

So far mine's eaten everything I've offered: canned crickets, canned snails, red wiggler earthworms, and a silverside. I was told by the fellow I bought him from they'd been feeding him crickets and dubias and that he didn't like mealworms. Turns out Rasputin's stool is full of parasites (not surprising for a wild-caught specimen) so I have to take him in for treatment once a week for three weeks.

 

[laurarfl]

I was wondering about parasite load. I haven't had a stool check done yet, but my ferrets are going to the exotics vet next week so I can drop one off then.

 

[dragonmetalhead]

I was wondering about parasite load. I haven't had a stool check done yet, but my ferrets are going to the exotics vet next week so I can drop one off then.

I'd do it sooner rather than later. One of the parasites Rasputin's got, strongyloides, is contagious to humans, and it wouldn't surprise me if other scheltopusiks had it too. I'm minimizing my handling until he's done with his treatment.

 

[laurarfl]

Thanks. It'll be Wed or Fri and he isn't handled much right now. But I will definitely heed your warning.