Starting to fail at husbandry…
My woes started about three weeks ago. Before then my BP was eating weekly, seemed content, etc. Three weeks ago she failed to eat a rat that I think was too big. Actually wrapped the rat any failed strike attempts and the rat escaped.
Tried again with a much smaller rat a few days later and she didn’t even attempt but then noticed the blue eyes and figured shed was underway. Because I don’t have the best humidity in the tank (more on that below) I made a humidity box with moss and even put her in there (because after a night it didn’t look like she explored it at all) and she got put after a few minutes.
She shed all but about an inch worth right past her head. Also because of the experiences with the rats (I’m now a Rat Dad with a three story cage and three baby rats haha) I tried to switch to f/t. First one I tried a week ago and she didn’t take at all. Thought maybe it was the incomplete shed so I tried the pillow method (twice) and no luck.
Gave her some time and thought I saw signs of her being hungry (waiting by her hide entrance). And I think I read that if it’s just a small piece that wasn’t shed and it’s not on the eyes or the tail that you could let it go until the next shed. So I tried another f/t yesterday. Thawed the rat out in the fridge overnight and learned the hard way that putting them in water that’s too hot = exploded rat. So that happened. Then my third and last rat from the three I bought I did it more slowly.
My BP was out of the hide when I offered the rat and she promptly left to go in the hide. My BP also is a slow eater. Whenever she ate live prey it would be at least 30 minutes before she even unraveled and stuck her head out of the hide. So I ‘brained’ the rat (unsure if I did it right, basically stuck a knife in its skull, heard the skull crack, and exposed some red but it didn’t leak out much) and left the rat draped over wood (so as not to pick up substrate) and put the lamp over that spot to keep it up warm.
Waited several hours. Nothing. Snake went from one hide to the other so actively passed the food.
So I’m feeling a little discouraged but also unsure how bad the situation is. I know BP’s sometimes don’t eat for a while. The f/t method feels disgusting (they’re all floppy and liquidy, like a smushed jelly sandwich) and it’s hard to imagine anything wanting to eat that.
The biggest thing I can think of for tank parameters is the humidity. The temperature has been fine but I have had a hard time keeping the humidity up, even with aluminum foil on the top. Are there in-cage humidifiers I could use?
If you were me would you offer live food next time to just make sure she’s eating?
Any thoughts/encouragement/advice welcome.
Re: Starting to fail at husbandry…
Well, first of all you’re not failing and you just need to tweak a few things. Be encouraged because it’s a process and we all are there or have been there, or are heading there. Please give a more detailed description of the enclosure and how you are heating and regulating the heat. Measuring the heat and humidity. How old is this reptile?
Re: Starting to fail at husbandry…
The glass enclosure is a problematic one when it comes to housing tropical species reptiles. One , because glass is poor conductor of heat and two because it doesn’t do a good job in keeping and providing the security and secretive environment that pythons crave. Now, there are a few things you can do to offset the minor setbacks in a glass enclosure. The easy thing to do first is get a thermostat and a under tank heating mat to immediately control and regulate a warm side of the enclosure. The Jump Start thermostat is a relatively inexpensive one that has a pretty good beginning thermostat reputation. Amazon carries them . Right away you need to consider darkening three sides of the glass either with dark brown or black construction paper. Consider switching the bulb heating to ceramic heating lamps.
Re: Starting to fail at husbandry…
Quote:
Originally Posted by
MedicalAuthor
To clarify, I did read about the negatives of glass tanks shortly after getting it. The back and sides are all covered. Back has a background and the two sides are covered with black foam board.
From my thermometers I think I have the heat part under control but the humidity isn’t as consistent.
Ok, that’s good. A temperature ( IR)gun is a more accurate way to monitor your surface temperatures. Thermometers are sometimes inaccurate and unreliable.