ThunderCougarFalconBird said:

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O.G. said:

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No....just....no.

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"Need to get him some toys or something. It's like meowschmitz in there."

Madman said:

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Teddy Roosevelt kept a badger in the Whitehouse.

But then again he was a badass. Not sure most people could do that or have an Ocelot

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talk about something with a pungent odor...

Sorry for the thread derail, but did you have to rub the rodents on toads? I've heard switching hognose snakes to rodents involves scent masking.

citizenkane06 said:

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Sorry for the thread derail, but did you have to rub the rodents on toads? I've heard switching hognose snakes to rodents involves scent masking.

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No and yes.

I raise tadpoles every other year and freeze them when they become froglets. Then, when I feed my eastern, I soak the mouse in warm chicken broth (to reduce mousey smell), and then put the froglet on the mouse's nose to trick the snake into smelling frog (because they can't see real well). Has worked for 4 years; occasionally have to feed a frozen thawed frog/toad (I keep several in the freezer).

It took me years to figure this out. Previously, I had an Eastern hog that I feed bullfrog tadpoles to. I would either freeze them or keep them in one of my aquariums, since it takes them 2 years or so to fully develop. Bought them at the bait shop - was very easy. They don't sell them here, which is why I use my current method.

Interesting!

citizenkane06 said:

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Interesting!

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Yeah, my fascination with Easterns is that I had one as a kid. We kept it for a year or so, and living near Houston, had tons of frogs/toads around. Same here (tons of amphibians); but of course, I try to limit using wild caught, which is why I raise tadpoles I buy online.

"Severis" (my wife named him) is 5 now. Previous Eastern I had 20 years ago - I released due to it having "Stargazers disease", a viral infection that causes snakes (usually boids) to raise their heads constantly, in effect looking like they are looking at the celing.... it was untreatable at that time... don't know about now.

I've kept every type of global hognose (including the Madagascan Giant Hognose and the Madagascan speckled hognose) except for the South American Tricolor (Lystrophis) and the Southern Hognose, which most consider a subspecies of the Eastern due similar habits.

I'm looking to get a tricolor or maybe a Mexican Hognose (subspecies of the Western, but more of a lizard eater).

I had Hognose snakes as a kid in the Houston area. Including one that had a very orange pigmentation. Just a beautiful snake. As you said, it was easy to provide it toads. They were everywhere including under every outdoor light at night

That said, toads have become a much rarer sight where I live in Spring. I saw a rapid decline after the Houston area switched to surface water and Chloramines. I know Chloramines are highly toxic to amphibians and fish, so I guess that landscaping water must have done a number on them. I wouldn't be surprised if the population has decreased 75%. Not sure I could feed a Hognose with wild caught now.

Kinda sad really.

OB.... I am sadly disappointed in you... this was a prime opportunity that was just squandered... SQUANDERED!

TheEyeGuy said:

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OB.... I am sadly disappointed in you... this was a prime opportunity that was just squandered... SQUANDERED!

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Haha. Funny thing. I said I didn't want to spend too much money, and now I am taking Apache's advice and shopping for a Savannah cat. I'm literally sitting trying to decide dropping coin on a feline or buying a thermal and AR from you.

Shame upon your house for even considering a cat over a gun

I'll probably just tell my wife that cat costs twice as much as it really does and get both.

vmiaptetr said:

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I'll probably just tell my wife that cat costs twice as much as it really does and get both.

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And then you can accidentally shoot the cat later! Two birds. One stone!

vmiaptetr said:

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I'll probably just tell my wife that cat costs twice as much as it really does and get both.

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ThunderCougarFalconBird said:

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O.G. said:

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No....just....no.

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Apache said:

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Get a Savannah Cat. They look kinda the same & are legal.

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This is the right answer!

Get a manx of a Maine coon cat! Both are cool animals buy manxs are much cheaper.

I bet a single neutered/speyed Asian Mongoose could keep the area around your house completely devoid of life

zooguy96 said:

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1 - the feds wouldn't let you. They are highly endangered. Like under a couple hundred in Texas endangered.

2 - exotics of any type are not anything like even a barn cat. Lady on one of the boards of directors I worked with had a mountain lion. A metal bowl dropped, and her cat bit her thigh (it was startled). She had to go to the ER and said it was a pit bull (she had it in city limits - illegal). The only exotics I keep are snakes.

3 - yes, my user name checks out.

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My dad had a friend that had a mountain Lion when I was a kid. We have a picture of like 4 y/o me with the lion.

After we left town the lion ate the guy's arm.

zooguy96 said:

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citizenkane06 said:

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Sorry for the thread derail, but did you have to rub the rodents on toads? I've heard switching hognose snakes to rodents involves scent masking.

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No and yes.

I raise tadpoles every other year and freeze them when they become froglets. Then, when I feed my eastern, I soak the mouse in warm chicken broth (to reduce mousey smell), and then put the froglet on the mouse's nose to trick the snake into smelling frog (because they can't see real well). Has worked for 4 years; occasionally have to feed a frozen thawed frog/toad (I keep several in the freezer).

It took me years to figure this out. Previously, I had an Eastern hog that I feed bullfrog tadpoles to. I would either freeze them or keep them in one of my aquariums, since it takes them 2 years or so to fully develop. Bought them at the bait shop - was very easy. They don't sell them here, which is why I use my current method.

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zooguy96 said:

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citizenkane06 said:

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Sorry for the thread derail, but did you have to rub the rodents on toads? I've heard switching hognose snakes to rodents involves scent masking.

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No and yes.

I raise tadpoles every other year and freeze them when they become froglets. Then, when I feed my eastern, I soak the mouse in warm chicken broth (to reduce mousey smell), and then put the froglet on the mouse's nose to trick the snake into smelling frog (because they can't see real well). Has worked for 4 years; occasionally have to feed a frozen thawed frog/toad (I keep several in the freezer).

It took me years to figure this out. Previously, I had an Eastern hog that I feed bullfrog tadpoles to. I would either freeze them or keep them in one of my aquariums, since it takes them 2 years or so to fully develop. Bought them at the bait shop - was very easy. They don't sell them here, which is why I use my current method.

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Kids? I would have my friends come over and tell them they could have a popsicle, "go ahead, grab one outta the freezer".

WTF is this?

I follow a couple of crazy Russians on IG that have pet mountain lions raised from cubs that just hang out around their houses.

They seem pretty cool minus the whole they can eat you thing.

*of course if Steve Rinella is to be believed, you can eat them too....so....

Serval?

"Stryker the cat"

Quote:

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I was curious and did a bit of research.

will not pay attention to disciplinary commands and have a pungent odor.

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I mean, yes. It is still a cat after all.

Have you considered terriers? They are remarkably useful little ranch dogs, and they are good at dealing with rodents - without the bird issues of cats.

We had a Scottie for awhile. Bit hard to keep free of stickers/spear grass, but great at barking at venomous creatures, etc.

Terriers are irritating inside a house, but good outdoor dogs.

BlueSmoke said:

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I follow a couple of crazy Russians on IG that have pet mountain lions raised from cubs that just hang out around their houses.

They seem pretty cool minus the whole they can eat you thing.

*of course if Steve Rinella is to be believed, you can eat them too....so....

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I have eaten mountain lion several times. It is… OK. Like anything, probably all in how you care for it and cook it.

vmiaptetr said:

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I'll probably just tell my wife that cat costs twice as much as it really does and get both.

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Tell her the OB suggested you find a cougar.

TRIDENT said:

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Why not a bobcat instead? If you hand raise one from a kitten, they can make a decent pet and would keep the homestead free of snakes and rodents.

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I agree. Friends of ours have a bobcat and she is great. Friendly to family and friends as well as family animals. Absolutely murders rodents and non family animals that wander into the property.

ChipFTAC01 said:

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zooguy96 said:

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1 - the feds wouldn't let you. They are highly endangered. Like under a couple hundred in Texas endangered.

2 - exotics of any type are not anything like even a barn cat. Lady on one of the boards of directors I worked with had a mountain lion. A metal bowl dropped, and her cat bit her thigh (it was startled). She had to go to the ER and said it was a pit bull (she had it in city limits - illegal). The only exotics I keep are snakes.

3 - yes, my user name checks out.

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My dad had a friend that had a mountain Lion when I was a kid. We have a picture of like 4 y/o me with the lion.

After we left town the lion ate the guy's arm.

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Would you happen to have a picture of the guys nub?