The Dragon, le sigh

Neptune, Neptune, Neptune...

Everything scares him half to death. Even the zombie dance. Maybe his previous owners only fed him every two weeks for a reason, or he got used to that, because he's very weird about when he'll eat and when he won't. If I try making the mouse dance he acts scared and swats at it the same way he will my glove. How he ever handled live is beyond me, it's no wonder he has so many scars if he's rat-phobic. He does eat, just not often.

Same if I feed him in his cage, same if I feed him in his tub. If I feed him in his tank, he'll sometimes guard the rat or bury it in the substrate (I dunno, he was canine in his last life?). If I put him in the tub, he ignores the rat and tries to escape for a couple hours. If it dances, he freaks out. He's the biggest stressball I've ever seen, snake or otherwise. Poor boy, what in the world has he been through to get like this??

We put last night's refused rat in the fridge to try again today, and he's being weird with it again. Then when I went to take the half buried rat out (not even opening the cage yet, just turning one latch) he struck at me against the glass so hard I was worried he'd knock himself out! Yeash. He looked terrified!

Meanwhile, I'm quite sure Ma-tsu's ready to shed, and she ate like a pro, sweet as ever too. Even shed doesn't make her grumpy! They're such opposites! I worry about the boy. Neurotic Neptune. :worry:

I think this pic sums him up beautifully. Peering out from between his coils like they're a defensive wall of armor.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...tune8peek1.jpg

Neurotic as he may be, he still poses and cruises throughout his cage, and is really stunning to watch.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ne-hammock.jpg

I caught him yawning, but it glared really bad. Curses! It does make it look like he's trying to devour the sun or something though, so that kind of makes up for it.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...uneeatssun.jpg

Sulk, sulk, sulk.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...coilbranch.jpg

We do love him though, even though he hates us and everything we stand for. Gomez and Ma-tsu more than make up for his attitude, they're so sweet and cuddly and our favorites. But shhh, don't tell Neptune, he has enough issues as it is. :rolleyes:

They are looking awesome!!!

Oh I love that last pic. :clap:

It sounds like he's just gonna be a moody fellow, but maybe he'll figure things out eventually.

I just can't get over how beautiful they are.. such fine specimens! I hope your dragon figures out you're not out to kill him.

i actually like that picture of him "swallowing the sun", lol. he is a great lookin snake.

I hope he figures out we're not out to kill him too! He *hates* those gloves especially, because he knows being picked up or my messing with his enclosure ensues :rolleyes: Erg. Poor boy. I try not to get frusterated or let his stressing rub off on me, but some days... oy. I just keep reminding myself that he's a special boy with special needs.

But yeah, gorgeous too! Thank you! His new enclosure really flatters him I think! Simply surreal to watch too, cruising all day long. :)