Uber the pastel BP hatchling's surgery GRAPHIC!!!

Do you think it might be better to try to assist feed him a mouse hopper? That way he wouldn't have to constrict it but still be able to get better nutrition.

Or even a pinky slurry. I wouldn't try and go so big as a hopper he looks really small and I wouldn't want to put too much pressure on the incision. But something like a mouse fuzz or if you have a pinky pump could do the trick.


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Actually, to begin with, I'm going with the easiest digest, no bones, no nails, etc. I'll probably go with a mouse pinky when I've got a couple slurrys down him. He'll be on very small meals for a while, but I think if he does okay, I'll just make them tiny but frequent.

The slurry is almost more to make sure his digestive system will work properly than to do more than giving him a few calories. I appreciate any ideas though, and I'll start finding a wider tube to try a blended pinky slurry(not sure how I'd get a pinky turned into slurry).

Oh, pinkies can be turned into a fine puree. I did it with a knife several times. Takes a bit of time though.

This is simply amazing and I really hope he pulls through and takes to food well for you. He's a beautiful little guy and he's fighting! :D:D I will definitely be watching this thread for updates.

I'm so glad that Uber is doing so well. Thanks so much for keeping us posted. :D

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by Jay_Bunny

Oh, pinkies can be turned into a fine puree. I did it with a knife several times.

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Said in the right voice... that's probably the creepiest thing I've ever read on this site.:O

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Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

Uber would thank you too, but he's too busy feeling sorry for himself. I told him the scar would be unnoticable even for bikini season, but you know pastels. So vain.

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Thanks for making me giggle, I needed that. :rofl:

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Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

I appreciate any ideas though, and I'll start finding a wider tube to try a blended pinky slurry(not sure how I'd get a pinky turned into slurry).

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Haha... I couldn't help but think about a very tiny blender.

In seriousness though, what about one of those homemade baby food grinders?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Happy-Baby-F...item519af33e97

I'm pretty sure the little grinders would end up with all the pinkie bits stuck along the grinder instead of out into a container. I'll end up chopping a frozen pinkie up. The frozen pinkie should cut up way easier. I got a wider tube to make a better feeding syringe today.

I appreciate the idea though. I'm pretty sure putting baby rats into a baby food grinder wasn't the original purpose, despite them calling it a "baby" food grinder, and they are "food" that's "Babies".

Uber is pretty active today. I massaged his tail a bit since it was swollen and a bunch of urates came out, so it was fine, he was just ready to pee.

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Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

I appreciate the idea though. I'm pretty sure putting baby rats into a baby food grinder wasn't the original purpose, despite them calling it a "baby" food grinder....

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:oops: Am I an awful person because this line cracked me up so much? :P

I've been following this thread closely, and rooting for little Uber all the way. Theresa, it's inspiring to watch someone care so much!

And a message for everyone...keeping carnivorous pets is NOT for the squeamish or weak at heart. :P

Judy, you'd have loved the poor woman that approached me in the grocery store. I was trying to find a jar of baby food that was "chicken" and not "chicken with rice" or "chicken with vegetables" etc etc. She pointed out the "chicken dinner" right about when I found the plain "chicken and chicken broth" jar. I thanked her as I picked up ONE jar. She asked if I was only getting one. I replied absently that one jar should last quite some time since I was just tube feeding a baby snake.

I swear, she did everything except actually run screaming from the store. Didn't occur to me that buying baby food for a snake was going to be so strange and unusual.

Sgt major is very proud of Uber. He's tightened security in the baby rack a lot. Gonna have to start wearing a ID badge if he gets any worse.

I've been following it too. While I have had to do a very minor hatchling surgery of patching up a much too large umbilical opening which allowed some if the innards to come out, I've never had an issue this serious.

I do commend you for being so dedicated to this little baby and having it fixed up like you did. I think it's just awesome :)

I tube fed Uber a sizable meal(2cc?) of chicken slurry on saturday. He didn't regurge it, and has been passing urates.

Next step will be a pinky rat turned into a slurry and tube fed. He's also fighting me with the tube feeding too, another good sign, I think.

He's still looking lousy though, pretty wrinkled with no plumping. It'll take a while to get him back in shape, so not out of the woods, but lively!

If you've got a pinky pump you can put 2 or 3 mouse pinks in it and give him those. They puree as they get pumped through. I've done that with several snakes over the years. It works. Better than having to chop them up too.

I did not know that. I thought pinky pumps were just to pump pinkies full of stuff. I'll have to look into those.

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Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

I swear, she did everything except actually run screaming from the store. Didn't occur to me that buying baby food for a snake was going to be so strange and unusual.

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Sounds like a normal thing to need baby food for :8:........ well to us anyway:rolleyes:

Happy to here that Uber is doing better.

It's gross, but a sharp knife and a cutting board works great. It's much easier if you use frozen pinks though... they have the consistency of a frozen strawberry and chop very easily, and mash into a finer mush with the rounded side of a ceramic bowl (I apologize to everybody for the next time they eat a strawberry :D).

That's what I was planning, frozen pinks and chopping them up to minced consistancy.

I'm allergic to strawberries anyway. Doesn't bother me.

Wow! He's a champ though he didn't want to be knocked out. :) wish him a speedy recovery!

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Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

I'm allergic to strawberries anyway. Doesn't bother me.

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I'm a little sad you can't enjoy strawberries, but glad it didn't ruin them for you. Also glad Uber is such a fighter =)

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Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

Sgt major is very proud of Uber. He's tightened security in the baby rack a lot. Gonna have to start wearing a ID badge if he gets any worse.

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:rofl::rofl:

I hope Uber is having a great day today.

Uber is a lil fighter. I'm glad he is getting better. Soon he'll be pounding rats like nothing.


Also, every time I type uber on my phone it auto corrects to ubersexual!!! LOL anybody else have this problem??

Glad to hear he is still fighting for you, T :)

I just found this thread today, but I'm glad Uber seems to be doing better! I look forward to reading that he is eating whole food and getting nice and plump :). Hopefully he'll grow into an amazing pet.

Today's update...

I made a slurry out of a frozen rat pink(it was fully thawed by the time I was done chopping it). I found that although it's not one of the stated uses in the many commercials, a SlapChop works pretty darned well.

Spooned all the goop into the syringe and test squished it through. Spooned it all back in and tapped all the air bubbles out that I could. Tubed Uber and squished it down into him. He did end up spitting a tiny amount out, but almost the entire slurry stayed down. After ten minutes, he's moving around and tongue flicking. This was a fairly large rat pink, so it's his biggest meal to date.

He's remarkably active, still being kept only on clean slightly damp papertowels. Thank you to everyone that's been keeping up on his news. I'll keep everyone updated as things progress.

I have been following this thread and glad to hear he is getting more into him fine:D So when you gunna post some updated pics? :gj: working with him and caring for himso well thanks for keeping us updated

I'll try to get some new pics in a day or two.

Thanks for the update :). He's a little fighter!

I cannot believe I missed this thread :O, big kudos to you for going far and beyond with this situation which some would consider an already-gone snake in the first place. I'm so glad he's doing well for you now and I cannot wait to see photos. I went through every single one of these pages trying to find an updated picture:P.

Yay for uber!! I'm glad he got a good meal and kept it down. Keep up the good work with him

So happy for little Uber! Such a wee little trooper :D

Uber is such an inspiration. It warms my heart to read about his recovery. :)

Updated pictures!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...s/IMG_6839.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...s/IMG_6836.jpg

You can see how painfully thin he is still. He's keeping all the tube feedings down and slithers about. He's more active than many of the other hatchlings.

Sgt major is very proud of him.

Thanks for the update and the pics! Stay strong little guy!

Thank you for doing everything you are doing to try and save this little guy. $50 hatchling or not, it shows your commitment to the hobby and the animals themselves. I salute you!

Hang in there Uber!

How's his surgery site looking? Any estimates on when he might be able to go for a whole rodent?

I'm not sure on how long until I let him constrict a prey item. I've seen snakes heal super fast, but one of the reptile-experianced vets told me that it can take a long time for the skin to heal if the snake isn't in good shape to begin with.

It's really hard to tell anything about his surgical site. The wrinkles in the skin make it difficult to see how it's healing, other than it's clean and dry.

He's a good lookin guy. Glad to hear he's still keeping his food down. I'm sure he's gonna heal up just fine and be eating rats like they're nothing.

Just a though. Can we replace the normal BP on the top left of the screen with Uber?? He can be a lil reminder of what this hobby is about.

Thank you so much for the update he looks a lot better keep up the great work and Keep staying strong Uber:gj:

Impressive.

I just stumbled across this thread, and read through it. I can't wait to see the pictures of his first 'solid' meal.

Aww, what a handsome little guy he is!

I check this thread daily, and I am so glad he's doing well. Slow and steady, little guy!

I also look forward to the day he gets his first "solid food". ;)

Gale

What a little trooper!! Glad he's doing well!

Sucha little cutie pie. So glad that the little Uber-dude is doing well. :gj:

I regret to inform all of Uber's supporters that he passed away this morning.

Although he was doing fine and gaining slightly in weight and definitely gaining in muscle tone, he suddenly died early this morning. After a necropsy at the vet, we determined he died of "unknown causes" since all his organs looked perfect. "Failure to thrive" would be the verdict, I guess.

I'm pretty bummed. I'm not wearing sackcloth and ashes, but I'm worn down by this. I was just starting to feel like he'd be okay, since I was pretty well saying he had only a small chance to live to begin with.

I'm also already doing the "Did I heat his food up enough?" "Did I keep him too hot?" "Too cold?" "Too busy?" "Not enough food?" "Too much food?" "Waited too long for surgery?" "Stressed him too much during tube-feeding?" "WHAT?? WHAT?????"

I know it's useless to speculate, or blame myself. I do it anyway. I worked really hard over him and I was really surprised and humbled by how everyone rallied to support one tiny little snake with poor luck. You guys really rock.

RIP Uber. You were a trooper and a fighter and there'll never be another Uber.

I just lost my baby box turtle in a freak accident this morning, and now this. Today is so depressing, and now I miss Uber. :tears:

Bummer.

You did good though.

Aww Westerngate, sorry to hear about your turtle.

Thanks Wilomn.

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Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

Aww Westerngate, sorry to hear about your turtle.

Thanks Wilomn.

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You really did go above and beyond, I hope you have many more babies in the future that thrive. <3

So sorry to hear that :(, but you gave him a chance.

Little Uber we love you!!!

Awwww Theresa....I'm really, really sorry to read this. :tears: I know you can't help but question yourself....but at least I can let you know without a shadow of a doubt that ~I~ have no question in my mind that you did the very best that anyone could have and gave the little fighter every possible chance at life. :hug: