Re: Changed things up, snakes didn't eat...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
cchardwick
Actually I was feeding every 3-4 days, probably too often but I have so many rats and mice I'm getting over run LOL. I actually changed things up again, I reduced the hotspot temps back down to 88F (from 90F) and removed the Repitchip from the back of the tubs like it was before, I'm going back to the old setup. The other thing I realized is that not only did the temps over the hotspot change but the actual hide itself changed. When you move the Reptichip away from the hotspot it makes a sort of hide within the tub, so they sit in a deep depression with a ridge of Reptichip around them. Perhaps that gives them extra security. So maybe it was a combination of temps and security. I decided to go back to the original setup since almost none of my ball pythons have eaten for the last four feedings!
Also, my retic didn't eat his big ol rat on the last feeding. I'm thinking she reached a size to where her metabolism has slowed down, I was feeding her twice a week as well. Sometimes I would give her a big rat and sometimes she was getting one or two smaller rats left over from other non-eaters. This is the very first time she has never taken a rat. She went through some explosive growth though, I'm thinking I can cut her back to once a week or so. She is nice an hefty and has some nice girth on her. She used to eat a big rat and two days later she was super skinny again, not anymore!
I've also decided to feed once every five days instead of every 3-4 days. I have a wide range of ages from hatchlings all the way to adults, this is sort of a happy medium. I'd like to offer my youngers at least once every five days, if the adults miss a meal then they go to every 10 days.
It could be the time of year as well. As far as my ambient temps I actually increased my room temp from 75F to 78F in the last month or so, seems like the tubs dry out faster when the temps are hotter.
Also, I think some snakes were getting red spots from poor maintenance. I've decided to remove each snake from the back of the tubs, spray down the back with Chlorhexidine and wipe it dry at least twice a week to keep things a bit cleaner. I also clean the same way if I notice a real dirty tub or if I can smell my retic LOL.
3-4 days is too often unless you are talking a baby python and even then, that's pretty often. I fed Dottie every 3-5 days as a 90g baby until she hit about 6 months old. Then she went to 1 week. So really I don't find it surprising your snakes have quit eating lol. And even the retic, a large rat every 3 days!? Dang. Caesar is a garbage can of garbage cans but even at 5', he just moved up to large rats and the first one I gave him is last Wednesday is still working for him. He is still quiet 8 days later but I think he is going into shed too. If she is eating a large rat and 2 days later the lump is gone, its time to step up to gpigs or rabbits.
Every 5 days is still way too soon. Do what I do and keep a computerized post it note on your computer with dates for everyone. My snakes too eat on all different schedules. I've moved everyone to 10 days except Rosey and Vicky who I have moved to every 3 weeks. The babies can do ok on 5 days if you are talking BPs.
As for temps, like I said, I keep my snake room around 78-80F. I used to have to kind of work on humidity with aspen but since switching to ReptiChips with the AP cages, its freakin humidity galore lol. I actually have to fight to get the humidity down lol.
As for the depression with ring of ReptiChips, you don't need to actually move the stuff. The snakes will make their own hole. I call it a 'nest' and all my snakes make them over top of their flexwatt and usually on the cool side too. Heck they shove ReptiChips all over the place. I would just leave it and let them make their own 'nest'
No idea on the red spots. Could be the start of scale rot but without pics, who knows. I generally try and spot clean daily if needed and once a month, I throw out all the ReptiChips and F10SC the whole cage and replace the ReptiChips. Everyone except the retic are easy to take care of as they only poop like once or twice a month and piss about the same but their piss has the urate so its easy to spot what I need to pull out. The retic is different in that he pisses a lot of just liquid which makes it hard to spot on the ReptiChips. I switched him to paper towels which is working good but I do like the look of ReptiChips better so might switch back.
If the red spots are all over their bellies, I personally would switch everyone to paper towels and give them betadyne soaks until the spots are gone.
