How long 'til they stop?

[vgibbens]

How old are Kings usually when they stop musking? Every time I try to pick ours up he pisses everywhere and starts flailing about. It's stinks and is downright disgusting! I'm the only one who will even try to pick him up, so I'm afraid he'll never be tolerant of handling.

[rabernet]

I'm not sure exactly how old mine was when I got him, but he was a little worm. Every time I took him out, I had paper towel ready and I loosely wrapped his vent until I was sure he was done to avoid getting musked (but he still got me some).

Then I'd hold him for another five minutes, just sitting quietly with him, and then put him back.

I got him October, and I'd say in the last two months, just one day he stopped musking. I didn't want to "reward" him with putting him up when he musked, which is why I would continue to handle him for another five minutes with very relaxed and calm moves.

Good luck!

[vgibbens]

thanks. The paper towel thing sounds good. I'm going to try that tonight.

[grammie]

I have milks, not kings, but our late '08 babies just now stopped musking me. I take them out and feed in a small tub, and today was the first time that two of the three didn't musk me. Big thrill, have to tell you!

[ev477]

I'm afraid my milk is going to start getting into the habit of musking again. I took it out last night to clean the cage, and it started its trend of flailing its tail about that typically occurs when it musks. Even though it had just crapped and peed all over the cage, I still think it released some liquids.

I'm not sure on the age, but it is about 30" long right now. I haven't done an accurate measurement recently because of this musking fear. I think it's more likely to occur at night though.

Before, it was musking and spraying urates and poop pretty much straight into a garbage can whenever I got it out. It did simmer down, and whenever its tail starts whipping around I hover over the garbage can like an alcoholic over a toilet. I wonder, does it bother them to have the contents of their bowels released so frequently and forcefully?