Just an little thing that had happened and I was mentally laughing at while checking in on my hatchlings.
They hatched out July 6th.
I went to try a second round of meals for them on Tuesday because they've shed and are starting to get feisty.
Pop by the local reptile shop. Ask about some feeders. Small pinky mouse and some fuzzy rats. All live.
The girl explained they were out of pinky mice, so I ask for the smallest pinky rat instead.
She comes on out with the bag and shows them off. The pinky is kinda borderline on size for the one I need it for, but smaller than the mouse fuzzies they had. I tell her it should do okay even if still a bit large.
Asks what I'm feeding.
'fresh hatched ball pythons'
"These will be fine then! Are you sure you don't want 6 fuzzies the pinky is small for a ball python"
'one of them is 29 grams.'
"Ball pythons eat hopper mice out of the egg."
'he's not a normal hatchling'
"It's fine. They eat hoppers"
For once it's the opposite of my usual complaints. Typically (I know because I worked one) the big box pet stores have guidelines and care sheets made up for the employees to learn that are somewhat correct...until you get to the part about what you're recommended to sell the pet parents. Or when it comes to feeding in store... they're a bit lackluster.
The usual complaint is that they tell you to feed something far too small.
This one was novel to me as I was now being told to feed something far too large. And the employee didn't even bother to listen to my concern. I kind of brushed it off as she hadn't seen me there before and she was young. She at least knows the basics...but I always know there's exceptions.
Even my partner was a bit put off by the Convo and he barely understands the difference between feeder sizes. He was just taken aback at how adamant she was that the snake would eat.
I did assist feed this little one a small pinky immediately after it dropped it's umbilical cord. It was on the weaker side and still did not absorb a large portion of yolk. They perked up and I'm planning on wait and see. I want them to eat on their own. (They haven't yet)
Here's the little one in question next to a clutchmate.
Still laughing at the idea of him trying to eat something that large. But also at the situation of a knowledgeable store and the info is a bit wrong because they know the care...as opposed to the usual store that doesn't know what it's doing unless the employees have hands on personal experience.
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