Wiggles, the Children's Python

Semi-Arboreal My Butt!
https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...img-0054.2.jpg
Beat that, Asian vine snake!

:rofl: These are such talented snakes- definitely not boring! :D

Yesterday’s target training was a bit of a muddle. I got a pinkie to go with the hopper that I usually feed, so I had two opportunities. The pinkie went normally. He didn’t have a particularly strong reaction to the target, but it was good enough. For the hopper, I decided to set up a little foraging exercise for him, but I didn’t what to break with the target training, so I put the mouse in front of the target. Well, that didn’t work.

First, he is not used to taking two prey items. After the pinkie, he went into his hide to digest. He came out halfway a few times, flicking and yawning. I think he sensed the hopper, but he wasn’t interested enough to go hunting for it. After a while, I moved his hide closer to it. He came out of the hide completely but couldn’t find it. So, I gave up on foraging and decided to have another target training. That didn’t work either.

He saw the hopper as soon as I picked it up, so he ignored the target and went straight for it. I put the target directly between him and the hopper, but I don’t think he noticed it. I fed him the hopper anyway.

It was a muddle because I started target training, switched to foraging, and back to target training all with a snake that not adept at either. No wonder he was confused. You live, you learn. Even experienced trainers have bad sessions. At least he ate.

I usually feed the larger item first, IF feeding more than one thing. Better digestion that way- the larger one will be slower so the "afterthought" item can catch up & not cause a re-gurge.

It does sound like a perfect "muddle"- :cool: But plenty of chances to practice- Rome wasn't built in a day either.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I usually feed the larger item first, IF feeding more than one thing. Better digestion that way- the larger one will be slower so the "afterthought" item can catch up & not cause a re-gurge.

It does sound like a perfect "muddle"- :cool: But plenty of chances to practice- Rome wasn't built in a day either.

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Thanks for the advice and encouragement. I fed the smaller first because I thought he would be more likely to eat the larger second. It didn't know regurgitation was a possibility. I'll switch up the order.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Homebody

Thanks for the advice and encouragement. I fed the smaller first because I thought he would be more likely to eat the larger second. It didn't know regurgitation was a possibility. I'll switch up the order.

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A re-gurge is unlikely when both are taken pretty close together, but the trouble is, you never know how long before the second prey item goes down, & pinkies digest really fast. Also, if they don't take the second item, at least you didn't waste the better meal item.

Snakes may regurgitate when they've just digested something & haven't yet replenished their digestive fluids- & there isn't enough to digest the second item. You never want to add an item to their meal if it's been longer than 30-60 minutes (roughly), just to be on the safe side.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

A re-gurge is unlikely when both are taken pretty close together, but the trouble is, you never know how long before the second prey item goes down, & pinkies digest really fast. Also, if they don't take the second item, at least you didn't waste the better meal item.

Snakes may regurgitate when they've just digested something & haven't yet replenished their digestive fluids- & there isn't enough to digest the second item. You never want to add an item to their meal if it's been longer than 30-60 minutes (roughly), just to be on the safe side.

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I guess I should have researched feeding multiple items before I did it. I'll do so, now, before I do it again.

Good news! Wiggles has progressed to stage three of his target training. Tonight, he locked on the target and started moving toward it. He did so well I thought he might just skip over stage three and go to stage four, but I didn't want to be greedy, so I rewarded him after he moved toward the target.

Now, the bad news. The second session didn't go so well. After he ate the hopper in the first training, he ducked into his warm hide. I wasn't sure I would be willing to do another session. Eating two items is new for him and I wasn't sure he'd have any interest in a second one. Well, I was wrong.

He came right back out of his hide, so I decided to do another training session with a pinkie. He didn't show a strong interest in the target. I suppose his interest is directly proportional to his hunger. So, I just dangled the pinkie in front of the target. He sniffed the pinkie, but turned and launched at my hand. Just a quick tag.

My theory is that the pinkie had cooled between sessions. He smelled mouse but struck at the warmest thing, my hand. You live, you learn (I've been sayin' that a lot lately). Next time, I'll rewarm the pinkie and wear my gloves.

Yup, bigger warm "prey"- :O Oops, sorry human! (Longer tongs are in order- your hand should not be that close to the mouse-12" tongs should suffice.)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Yup, bigger warm "prey"- :O Oops, sorry human! (Longer tongs are in order- your hand should not be that close to the mouse-12" tongs should suffice.)

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My tongs are 12". He didn't strike at the prey, miss, and hit me. He turned from the prey and launched directly at me. My tongs could have been 25" and he still would have gotten me. Gloves should protect me though. Mine are thick, waterproof gloves you see fisherman use. They'll not only protect my hands from a bite, but also mask the heat from my hands, so he won't try. That's what I hope at least.