Last two hold-out non-feeders eat :)

[Bruce Whitehead]

I have a male rescue that was rehabbed after being burnt from his chin to his vent.

When I got him it looked like someone had taken a jack knife and carved him end to end. Open sores, scars, horrible sheds, hadn't eaten in 8 months, etc. etc. etc.

He was being fed gerbils, and after limited attempts to get him on feed, I began giving him gerbils. I wanted to get him healed, kick start his metabolism and get some weight on him.

He is almost scar-free, has good sheds now, and is just a sweetheart. And he's up over 500g in weight, and he's a big boy. He is just under 2000g, and if he doesn't hit 3000g I'll be surprised.

I was maintenance feeding him, and offering alternate prey items that he would always refuse. Once I got his weight up and felt he was doing well I stopped the gerbil train.

He hasn't taken a meal in six months, but lately he's been lurking... so I haven't offered a meal in close to 3 weeks, and tossed an ASF today and he hit it immediately.

I only gave him two juvie ASFs, and will offer again in about 9 days. So here's hoping this will be enough to kickstart his metabolism and get him back on food with consistency.

As well, my last holdout WC female, Katherine, hasn't taken a meal since I got her. I got two at the same time and the other has been on feed for about 3 months now and is doing great.

But today Katherine took two juvie ASFs as well.

I'll do the same with her, give her a chance to digest and offer again in about 9 days.

I really hope she stays on feed. It is getting close to the season where WCs infamously go off of feed, so I hope I can get some weight on her in case she does decided to go off and not eat.

She has been in a separate rack, tons of aspen, and draped with a black cloth since I got her. Her other mate has been moved into a non-draped rack and has stayed on feed without any concerns.

Thanks for reading this WORDY monologue.

Bruce

Madga the day the gerbil train ended...



And Katherine the week I got her.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

You are doing such a great job with those snakes, you can be VERY proud of yourself Bruce

[Holbeird]

I'm glad to hear it bruce, we need more people who are willing to go the extra mile to take care of these wonderful animals.

[frankykeno]

Oh I was hoping I'd hear soon how these three were doing. Wonderful job Bruce! I'm glad those ASF's are helping to get those snakes another step down the road to complete recovery.

[kurgan]

What is an asf?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

What is an asf?

African Soft Fur Rat http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=70828

[kurgan]

Thanks, I have heard of them vaguely before but not the acronym

[WizzySRT10]

I love hearing resue stories that go good for the animal after they get in a good home. Congrats on getting him back to snuff! good Job! He's a big boy!

[Bruce Whitehead]

You are doing such a great job with those snakes, you can be VERY proud of yourself Bruce

Well... I hate to be a dog, but yeah, I am really pleased. Long ago I learned that every new challenge benefits all the animals in a collection, so these have been nice milestones.

I keep these snakes because I respect them, so getting a troubled BP on track is always a great feeling. Especailly with Magda, that poor snake was just brutalized by his owner.

I remember driving home with him in a pillowcase next to me in the car and hearing all the things in my head that this individual had done to him.

I.E.... `when I found out the snake was burned I applied 1st Aid... by putting her into a sink full of ice water and scrubbing with antibacterial soap till I had all the dead and burned skin off`

I really thought I had just picked up a snake I would have to euthanize within the week.

To see him doing so well has just been a great feeling.

And yes, he is *just* a normal male.

we need more people who are willing to go the extra mile to take care of these wonderful animals.

Thanks H, appreciate it. I had a lot of support over the last year and a half getting him to a good space. So he owes a lot to a lot of great people.

I'm glad those ASF's are helping to get those snakes another step down the road to complete recovery.

Yeah, as much as the haters like to slag them. Those shifty little demons have been a blessing.

Magda, Katherine, and Therese can attest to that.

As well as 3 holdout males (when breeding season ended) all took an ASF that kick-started their feed responses and all of them are taking rats with consistency now.

My little assist-feed female Tuesday, same thing. She`s a half and half eater. Mice and ASFs, but her first unassisted feed was an ASF. She`s a year old and JUST came in at 250g, but she`s eating like a cochon and isn`t looking back!

I love hearing resue stories that go good for the animal after they get in a good home. Congrats on getting him back to snuff! good Job! He's a big boy!

Thanks W.

He is going to be a HUGE boy. He is longer than my female that went into this season at 3kg. At 2kg, to hold him up he was still a rakish looking boy. I am curious to see what he`ll get up to. No rush though, as long as he`s taking food and being a groovy snake that is the important part.

Thanks (again) all for listening. I am still pleased with his progress and a bit giddy.

Buddy boy is still lurking. I had to change his water last night and even got the gloves on just in case. The whole time he was tracking me, S-shaped and hovering.

I just kept pointing out... `I bring the ASFs... if you kill me... that means no more ASFs. Look in this hand NO ASFs! Look in that hand NO ASFs... that`s a good snake.`

Then I slam the tub shut and run away.

Bruce

[kc261]

Buddy boy is still lurking. I had to change his water last night and even got the gloves on just in case. The whole time he was tracking me, S-shaped and hovering.

I just kept pointing out... `I bring the ASFs... if you kill me... that means no more ASFs. Look in this hand NO ASFs! Look in that hand NO ASFs... that`s a good snake.`

Then I slam the tub shut and run away.

LOL!

I am so happy to hear such a positive update on these. I think maybe you've had them for longer than I've been on the forum, because I don't remember threads about you acquiring them, but I've seen occasional updates.

It is especially nice to see people taking the time to rehab "just" normal males, and WCs as well because they can be so hard to bring around.