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What is going on??

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  • 12-10-2009, 03:02 AM
    WingedWolfPsion
    Re: What is going on??
    You could clear out the tank, and put the tub inside of it, so that half the tub is over the UTH.

    A fuzzy mouse is a bit too small for the snake, but that is the point--being smaller, it is less intimidating. (Actually a crawler mouse is more the size that is needed).
    I've had some hatchlings start on these when they wouldn't take a hopper. Just worth a try.
    The most important points are to feed the snake in the dark, and not to disturb the snake for the entire day before you offer food. Put in the food, and then leave the snake in peace and quiet.

    A fuzzy rat is the right size for a hatchling ball python, but since the snake was eating mice before, mice is what you should offer it now. It's very unlikely to eat anything unfamiliar.

    I don't recommend leaving a hopper mouse in with a snake overnight. Hoppers have teeth, and are already eating solid food. A hopper mouse could potentially harm a snake. In my experience, if the prey isn't eaten within a couple of hours, it isn't going to be eaten, and should be removed. Wait a couple of days before offering food again.
    Snakes seem to have this odd mental quirk--if a rodent is left in with them, and they refuse to eat it, many times they will never eat it unless it is removed for some time and then reintroduced later. This is where you get those stories of a snake 'befriending' a rodent that lives in their cage with them, and the snake only eating other rodents, but never the one that lives with them. People misinterpret the situation, naturally enough, and say they are friends, or that the snake has a pet mouse/hamster/whatever.

    Far from being gentle seed-eaters, mice and rats are ferocious omnivores. If left in a cage without food, they can and have literally eaten snakes alive. Snakes will generally not defend themselves from an aggressive rodent--they just aren't hardwired to be able to handle it. In the wild, they would simply flee. So, never leave a live rodent with teeth in a snake's cage unsupervised. The larger and older the rodent, the more serious a danger it poses.
  • 12-10-2009, 04:50 AM
    PolkaDotPenguin
    Re: What is going on??
    WOW.......

    Your cage is wayyyyy to big for that little guy.
    Ditch it, return whatever you bought for it. Because everything is useless!

    Get a 6qt tub, and fix it up that way.

    He seems to be really stressed out. Maybe you need to read up on the site a little more. You should have left him alone for a week when u first got him and then feed him. If he doesnt eat again, its okay. Just leave him alone and let him be. He needs to get comfortable in his new home.
  • 12-10-2009, 01:27 PM
    Vader6
    Re: What is going on??
    Ok getting the following:
    5 gallon Zoo Med UTH
    Water bowl

    Have:
    Thermostat
    Aspen
    Accurite
    Small RBI hide
    6 qt tub (drilling 5 holes on the sides and 2 holes front and back)

    Will be done with it by this evening so he can be transferred.

    Thanks you!!

    Also 6 qt for the next month? Then move him up to a 16 qt for another month or so then once he is about 300 grams put him back in the 20G right?
  • 12-10-2009, 01:30 PM
    Vader6
    Re: What is going on??
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion View Post
    You could clear out the tank, and put the tub inside of it, so that half the tub is over the UTH.

    A fuzzy mouse is a bit too small for the snake, but that is the point--being smaller, it is less intimidating. (Actually a crawler mouse is more the size that is needed).
    I've had some hatchlings start on these when they wouldn't take a hopper. Just worth a try.
    The most important points are to feed the snake in the dark, and not to disturb the snake for the entire day before you offer food. Put in the food, and then leave the snake in peace and quiet.

    A fuzzy rat is the right size for a hatchling ball python, but since the snake was eating mice before, mice is what you should offer it now. It's very unlikely to eat anything unfamiliar.

    I don't recommend leaving a hopper mouse in with a snake overnight. Hoppers have teeth, and are already eating solid food. A hopper mouse could potentially harm a snake. In my experience, if the prey isn't eaten within a couple of hours, it isn't going to be eaten, and should be removed. Wait a couple of days before offering food again.
    Snakes seem to have this odd mental quirk--if a rodent is left in with them, and they refuse to eat it, many times they will never eat it unless it is removed for some time and then reintroduced later. This is where you get those stories of a snake 'befriending' a rodent that lives in their cage with them, and the snake only eating other rodents, but never the one that lives with them. People misinterpret the situation, naturally enough, and say they are friends, or that the snake has a pet mouse/hamster/whatever.

    Far from being gentle seed-eaters, mice and rats are ferocious omnivores. If left in a cage without food, they can and have literally eaten snakes alive. Snakes will generally not defend themselves from an aggressive rodent--they just aren't hardwired to be able to handle it. In the wild, they would simply flee. So, never leave a live rodent with teeth in a snake's cage unsupervised. The larger and older the rodent, the more serious a danger it poses.

    So would a hamster fuzzy be ok or a rat pinky?? Cuz I can't find a store that carries live prey besides this one place.
  • 12-10-2009, 01:37 PM
    Kaorte
    Re: What is going on??
    A rat pink should be okay.

    I wouldn't ditch the tank completely though. After he gains some weight and becomes a more confident feeder you could transfer him to the 20g. Some snakes are a bit more shy than others.
  • 12-10-2009, 02:24 PM
    Vader6
    Re: What is going on??
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Kaorte View Post
    A rat pink should be okay.

    I wouldn't ditch the tank completely though. After he gains some weight and becomes a more confident feeder you could transfer him to the 20g. Some snakes are a bit more shy than others.

    Sweet. And yea I hope to have him back in the fortress in like 3 months. :D
  • 12-10-2009, 02:44 PM
    Elise.m
    Re: What is going on??
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by PolkaDotPenguin View Post
    WOW.......

    Your cage is wayyyyy to big for that little guy.
    Ditch it, return whatever you bought for it. Because everything is useless!

    Get a 6qt tub, and fix it up that way.

    He seems to be really stressed out. Maybe you need to read up on the site a little more. You should have left him alone for a week when u first got him and then feed him. If he doesnt eat again, its okay. Just leave him alone and let him be. He needs to get comfortable in his new home.

    Everything isn't useless. He's got things that he can use down the line when the snake grows up. Since it's a male, that tank might be able to fit him through adulthood.

    Vader: Glad you're going out to get a tub! Trust me, it's totally worth it. Kaorte is the one who suggested it to me too, and like I said before, it works like a charm!
  • 12-10-2009, 03:04 PM
    Vader6
    Re: What is going on??
  • 12-10-2009, 03:10 PM
    Vader6
    Re: What is going on??
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Elise.m View Post
    Everything isn't useless. He's got things that he can use down the line when the snake grows up. Since it's a male, that tank might be able to fit him through adulthood.

    Vader: Glad you're going out to get a tub! Trust me, it's totally worth it. Kaorte is the one who suggested it to me too, and like I said before, it works like a charm!

    I'll prob end up doing a tank divider and have 2 pythons in there.
  • 12-10-2009, 03:28 PM
    het.pied
    Re: What is going on??
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by PolkaDotPenguin View Post
    WOW.......

    Your cage is wayyyyy to big for that little guy.
    Ditch it, return whatever you bought for it. Because everything is useless!

    Get a 6qt tub, and fix it up that way.

    He seems to be really stressed out. Maybe you need to read up on the site a little more. You should have left him alone for a week when u first got him and then feed him. If he doesnt eat again, its okay. Just leave him alone and let him be. He needs to get comfortable in his new home.

    the tank is not completely useless... they just pverly prepared. ina few months it will be a god send for them cause they wont have to rush out to buy everything all over again. prepped for the future!
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