Hello and a little first python help

Yes definitely try what he was used to first

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

So today I couldn't quite hold off and picked him up for a few. We have been leaving him alone w/ his tank slightly covered.He seemed slightly nervous almost like he might strike, but we were slow about it, and he was good. He even seemed to be comfortable at the end looking around a little. We didn't keep him out long though. He didn't eat, but that was expected. Since I had him out I took a couple pics. After hearing he is a little skinny I thought I'd get some better ones for review. I agree though after seeing everyone's fat snakes he does seem a little thin.

http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/a...pseebb6072.jpg

And for size comparison, this is a small burner (kitchen had the best light for the pic)
http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps469048a2.jpg

It's easier to tell from a shot of him laying stretched out. If he has more of a triangular shape rather than round then he needs some weight

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

yep a little on the triangle side.... stupid petco, but I knew better, and this will be a good change for him, like a rescue.

At least he's in a good home now :)

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Crazymonkee

At least he's in a good home now :)

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

---

Another unintended good deed, damn I was just trying to shop, lol. No really though I have rescue cats fish corals, and now him. I have always liked snakes but having one is sooooo cool. We have a big shopping trip planned at Dr foster and smith, I am thinking everyone will be happy. Since I have such a lrg tank for him ( I think I already asked No sleep) A nice smooth branch so he could climb would be okay?

It would be Ok, don't be surprised if he doesn't climb or stops climbing as he gets bigger/older

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

As you have found out, the number of feeding rituals followed by owners vary greatly. I feed frozen because it is easier for me to go to the freezer (garage) and grab food than run to the store every week. I put the food in a snack size Ziploc, squeeze the air out, and place the bag in a large cup of hot water from the tap. I place my feeding tongs in the cup, on the food, so it doesn't float. I go do something else for ten or so minutes, then put new hot water in and let it sit for ten more minutes. Even though the bags were sealed, the rodents always come out wet and soggy. I just give them a quick roll on a stack of paper towels so they aren't dripping. Using tongs, I pick the rodent up by the base of the tail and open the cage door. My snakes already know what is happening by now and have partially exited their hides. They strike, coil, and I shut the cage and leave the room (one is a shy to swallow). When they were younger, they would stay in their hides until I gently danced the rodent in front of the hide. I do the described multiple hot water dips because I'm doing multiple rodents. One mouse should take no more than 15 min in a large cup. As for the whole interest in feeding live because of the hunt, drama, etc, I've done both and other than watching a mouse die in the coils, they are the same...still dramatic when they slam a dead one from the tongs and instantly wrap it. On rare occasions nobody struck the food, so I left it in the cage overnight. Gone in the morning. Have fun!

Well we tried feeding, no interest, which is okay as it was expected. I missed a hole in the tank and we have had our first escape already too. Only managed to get out for about 10min or so.....cats are amazing at pointing him out, and we are very close to all the animals in our home so they alert us right away. Put him is a 20 till I can seal up the escape route I missed. We have not been holding him a lot, but have taken him out about every 3rd day or so when we change the water (it is changed everyday, we just haven't taken him out everyday), everyone is getting very comfortable. He no longer just sits in a hand coiled up, and will now poke his head out and look around when out. We are very happy w/ him as he shows no aggressive or nervous or for that matter defensive behavior. So far he has proven to be the sweetest thing, and I think despite coming from petco he will make a good snake for the 11yr old he is intended for. Now I want to go take him out, so cool even the hubby is fond of him.

What did you try as prey? I'm glad everything is going well. Good goin on the quick catch.


Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

I think an a avg of 40-50 humidity is good with 60-70 on avg during shed

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Crazymonkee

What did you try as prey? I'm glad everything is going well. Good goin on the quick catch.


Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

---

We are using adult frozen mice, which is what petco was using......I think this week he'll eat. He has settled in more since than. Yeah I've been kind of waiting for it to happen. If it can it will right. Now we know exactly what has to be patched, nothing big.

We are very happy today....we went to take leviathan out and change his water and we found this
http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps7a1d0853.jpg

He shed in mostly 1 piece, there were a couple little pieces, but he is soooo much better looking now that he has shed
http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps5b7fc999.jpg

Oh I love them after a shed!! He'll most likely eat for you next time it's offered :)

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Crazymonkee

Oh I love them after a shed!! He'll most likely eat for you next time it's offered :)

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

---

That's what I was thinking too, can't wait :)

Great, I love all the updates, things look like they are going well for your new family member.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by aaront126

Great, I love all the updates, things look like they are going well for your new family member.

---

I was a little nervous before he shed as this is our first BP or snake for that matter. After reading here for a few days and him finally shedding I feel a lot more confident that we are doing right by him. Defiantly feel a little more relaxed now. And yes they seem to be going very well as every member of the house has become quite fond of him, and he is more relaxed when held lately.

YAY!!!!!!! success, he came out last night to look around, most activity since we brought him home, so I thought I would try. He in not really a striker, at least not this time. He showed interest but wouldn't take it so I left it, and less than 2mins latter he went for it. Donna was sleeping so I took a video for her, and will load it for you guys to. Be warned though, due to the red bulb the video isn't as good as I would like.

Awesome news!! So happy for you that everything is going nicely!!

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

Congrats on the successful feeding.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by trevo

Congrats on the successful feeding.

---

Wasn't so successful as he spit it back out inside 24hrs. So I got to thinking about how much petco sucks for info, and hit petsmart. Started thinking about him being skinny when I got him and that their selection of sizes in mice was not all that good. I believe petco to have been feeding him meals that were too big. I believe this to be why he was skinny when I got him (I am sure he regurgitated a couple meals while still under their care, and has not had a proper meal in some time). I stopped at petsmart where they seemed to care, even though I got him some where else. The guy heading the reptile section confirmed what I was thinking, and than was nice enough to pull the different size mice out of the boxes, so I could compare. I picked out some of the small ones, which were way smaller than the med ones petco offered. We waited a few days in between attempts and fed again the night before last. And this time he kept the smaller meal down. I am sooooo glad I took him home now, as I really think he would have soon perished trying to hold down something way to big. It has been about a day and a half and we are wanting to know if it is okay to handle him yet......we have become very compfortable w/ him and he w/ us, so he is handle daily at least for a few minutes....except right now as we feel his meal is the most important thing right now. Also he is pimpin w/ a new dual light and bulbs and all the whistles to go w/ it :)

Oh and this time he struck and was not so passive about his meal

I would actually advise to not handle him at all until he is able to eat more consistently without regurging.
Handling too much can actually be counter productive for trying to get a snake to eat consistently.

And since he did regurge, do not feed him for at least 2 weeks. He needs time for the flora in his gut to replenish. And feed a prey a little smaller than his appropriate sized prey.

So we did wait about a week before trying to feed him again. I have already picked out a smaller meal. I couldn't in good concision wait 2 weeks as he was obviously looking for a meal. Hw has a perfect little tank w/ his hides and gauges all right. He was searching the tank and being very active only at night. I have always been told I am gifted when it comes to animals and seem to know naturally whats up. He was acting like a starved child.....so we fed him the smaller meal, and left him alone for 3 days. He did not regurgitate this time and seems a lot happier after his meal. We will stick to feeding him on Sundays and give him most the week of being left alone to digest as that would be my main concern (slowed digestion and maybe some internal damage from the over sized meals at petco)....we will see how he continues to do, and I am looking into a proper vet just in case. If anyone knows of a good vet in the Salem OR area, that would be a big help.