First Feed

As a potential f/t rat feeder, I'd love to have wizill elaborate on "smell the horror." :shock:
Thanks,

K

Try it out........
They get a wee bit gamey! Put off a funk all thier own......
MMMmmmmmmmm.....rat funk

Ah, but it smells like steak to a hungry BP!

One more question. I have handled him one time in the two weeks that I have had him. Should I wait till he eats his first meal before I start trying to handle him again? Thanks again,

Jeremy

Three days after he eats you should be able to. But not before that. If you stress him, he could regurgitate............now that's a pretty thing to see and smell!

Bet that's pretty! I actually meant that since he didn't take the rat, is it ok for me to handle him now or wait till the 3 days after he has eaten his first meal?......Whenever that may be.

LOL, you can probably take him out for 10 or 15 minutes. If he seems freaked, put him back. If not, enjoy your animal! He'll groove on the heat your hands are throwing and some nice mellow handling in a not too bright area will help him love you for the nice warm tree that you are! Take a little time to get to know him and read his body language. You'll know if he wants to get away are just rope around your hands and arms for some heat. I believe that if you do handle them often, they won't link your fingers as a threat or worse yet food. How much is too much? They'll usually tell you. Try 15 minutes at the later part of the day or evening. I seem to remember you saying you've had him for a few months now, right? If thats the case he's not a new arrival anymore so I don't see why you can't handle him. Sounds like he's just sending his dinner back to the cook! I doubt he'll starve, when he's hungry he'll eat. Can you post pics of your setup? That and temp/humid info would help any of us to assist you better.

I have only had him for two weeks today actually. I just always have to make sure things are perfect. I'm weird like that. Almost obsessive. I have gotten the humidity to stay between 50-60%. Thanks to some help on here, I put duct tape on half of the screen cover and it helped to bring the humidity up. During the day I keep the warm side at 87-90 and the cool side at 80-82. At night warm side at 82-85 and cool side at 75-78. He has been staying on the cool side a lot lately. He is now rubbing his head on his back. Almost like it was itching. I may be crazy but, I think he is going into shed. He has gotten very active all of the sudden this evening. And I still have his heat lamp on. I haven't noticed him getting that hazy look. He keeps rubbing his head on things. His hide and such. Should I mist the cage to get the humidity up? Sorry, I am new to all of this. So every little thing is pretty exciting.

yeah went back and re-read first post. two weeks. oops....read too many forums, details get sketchy....

Yup, I'd say most likely he's shedding. Explains the lack of interest in eating, anyway. Gotta get humidity to high sixty low seventy range. you can mist, give humid hides (look in DIY) and soak.... warm low to mid 80's on the water temp should be alright. Some people put them in lidded rubbermaids with maybe 2 inches or so of water. Or in the tub. Or a lid on your water bowl with a hole in it so snake can soak and hide.........love to hide and conspire..........
Hope this helps....and don't worry, LOL being obsessive and constantly checking environmental conditions are essential in proper bp care IMO :wink:

Monty has been doing some shedding. He also peed and pooped. He has had a big day. Ha! I sprayed the cage to get the humidity up to 75%. I know a lot of people probably have named their bp's Monty, but I must say it is a great name. Anyway, I just want to say thanks to everyone for all of your help.

Jeremy