Everyone Meet Illidan!

Hello All,
Meet Illidan!
I rescued this little handsome man from a home that didn't take care of him well. I got him two weeks ago at around 170ish grams and as of last night now weighs 200g! Owner said he was a pastel and seems to be right due to that bright white belly, lips, peachy head, yellow color, and peaching along the vertical and some horizontal paterns.
He's fed twice already with no issues on small mice. I have him eating 20ish gram mice every 5 days till I can either find 30ish gram rat pups or jumbo mice. He does seem thick enough to fit a small rat but I do not think his weight would be good on a 40ish gram rat.
He loves to explore and give me nose boops and tongue flicks on the nose.
He seems super comfortable around me and enjoy hanging out.
No pictures of his enclosure but it's about a 40qt( I think) sterilite tub, coconut husk substrate, good size zoomed UTH, vivarium 300 thermo(hot hide 92 drop to 90 from 8pm till 8am), hot/cool hide, a nice ladder like branch, fake plants,, and a heavy stone water bowl. Humidity stays nice around 55%.
I've had other reptile but this is my first snake but have handled hundreds/thousands in my life as a fisherman and outdoorsman. I'm in love!!! I want more!
Here he is mid shed looking dull but friendly and curious!
http://i.imgur.com/pFDDfwq.jpg
He thinks he's a tree python.
http://i.imgur.com/M9nrjDQ.jpg
Here's a picture fresh after shed last week.
http://i.imgur.com/Xqvb3dt.jpg
and he just recently found out my nose is a perfect spot for him to grip on.

http://i.imgur.com/UB1oW6j.jpg

Welcome to the forum Auraria. Good job on the rescue, and glad to see you enjoying him so.

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Originally Posted by Reinz

Welcome to the forum Auraria. Good job on the rescue, and glad to see you enjoying him so.

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Thanks for the welcome Reinz, and all of my animals have been Rescues except a few of my saltwater fish.
I've loved snakes since I could walk but my mother was 100% against it. Took a while for her to let me keep beardies and iggies.
I like to think he appreciates it and since he's nice and cuddly with me.
This has started a crazy passion in me.


I've already started planning of picking up a female to breed him with...
;) Thinking something with coralglow because how beautiful they are and produce such pretty snakes.

Congrats.

One small point, if I may: Don't over feed. He'll catch up, just give him time, and get him on a proper schedule.
BP's are stout, but they aren't supposed to look like sausages.

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Originally Posted by distaff

Congrats.

One small point, if I may: Don't over feed. He'll catch up, just give him time, and get him on a proper schedule.
BP's are stout, but they aren't supposed to look like sausages.

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He was fed small mice prior so for the first 4 feeds I have him on a 5 day schedule, I'm putting him on a 6 day schedule for 4 weeks, then 7 day schedule after that.
He's not underweight by any means but I'd like him to get to a healthier weight for his size and age.

Unless I'm going about this wrong please let me know!

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Originally Posted by auraria

He was fed small mice prior so for the first 4 feeds I have him on a 5 day schedule, I'm putting him on a 6 day schedule for 4 weeks, then 7 day schedule after that.
He's not underweight by any means but I'd like him to get to a healthier weight for his size and age.

Unless I'm going about this wrong please let me know!

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I don't see a way to edit posts( I do now but for some reason it won't let me edit the post I'm quoting) however I forgot to add I won't be feeding over 15% of his bodyweight.
I'm feeding him around 10% of his weight 19/20/22gram mice at his weight(200grams on the dot lol) every 5 days.
Once I put him on the 6 day schedule I'll get him closure to 12% and once I get to 7 days he'll be at 15%.

:welcome:

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Originally Posted by Ginvbch

:welcome:

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Thank you!
I'll be sure to tell him you said hi when I get home from work!

There is a 10 minute limit for editing your post after submitting it.

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Originally Posted by Reinz

There is a 10 minute limit for editing your post after submitting it.

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AH! Thanks for the heads up.

If you don't think one mouse that your currently feeding is enough you can feed 2 in one feeding. As soon as he gets one down offer another. You could do that until you can get pups. My 213g killerbee female eats large mice, going to try to switch to rat pups soon. The pet store I bought her from was feeding small mice and they were way to small. But the large mice called arctic mice from pet smart weigh in around 20g give or take 1 gram or 2.

Edit: sorry I thought you were still currently feeding small mice but I just went through again and you said prior to this. But still if you ever need to your allowed to feed more then one rodent if your snake won't switch to rats or if there is not other option.

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Originally Posted by chrid16371

If you don't think one mouse that your currently feeding is enough you can feed 2 in one feeding. As soon as he gets one down offer another. You could do that until you can get pups. My 213g killerbee female eats large mice, going to try to switch to rat pups soon. The pet store I bought her from was feeding small mice and they were way to small. But the large mice called arctic mice from pet smart weigh in around 20g give or take 1 gram or 2.

Edit: sorry I thought you were still currently feeding small mice but I just went through again and you said prior to this. But still if you ever need to your allowed to feed more then one rodent if your snake won't switch to rats or if there is not other option.

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I could start feeding two large mice in the time being till he gets up to small rats.
I really really wish online frozen rat sellers didn't just ship on mondays/tuesdays.

I'll put an order in this weekend to get some rat pups and weanlings.

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Originally Posted by auraria

I could start feeding two large mice in the time being till he gets up to small rats.
I really really wish online frozen rat sellers didn't just ship on mondays/tuesdays.

I'll put an order in this weekend to get some rat pups and weanlings.

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How big around is he? My killer bee is about same weight as yours and I feed a 20g large mouse and its the same size as the thickest part of her. If your large mice are about the same thickness of the thickest part of your snake then you don't have to feed 2 until he gets bigger.

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Originally Posted by chrid16371

How big around is he? My killer bee is about same weight as yours and I feed a 20g large mouse and its the same size as the thickest part of her. If your large mice are about the same thickness of the thickest part of your snake then you don't have to feed 2 until he gets bigger.

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That's what I meant, I probably should have clarified.
He actually is almost as thick as a smallish small rat(37-43grams or so)
I wouldn't be feeding him 2 large mice till he needs to be eating around 40 grams which at that point he should be on small rats anyways.

I'll just order frozen rat pups online this weekend.

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Originally Posted by auraria

I'll just order frozen rat pups online this weekend.

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Unless you plan on ordering a lot of pups its not worth ordering online. Shipping is the same no matter what. You could order pups and smalls and vacuum seal them and that way it will be worth the shipping cost. Plus you will have them already on hand when he's ready to switch.

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