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First post. First Christmas snake. Pic and question!
We've done many animal projects in the past. This year we took on two more. My wife wanted a cat. I told her only if the kids and I could get a snake. This is our first reptile. The kids got to unwrap him today, and we all took a peak and touch as I held him (trying not to over stress). My SIL decided to feel him real quick before I put him away (proof she touched my snake in the picture... She'll never live this one down lol). We have him back on heat now in the dark to rest. We'll try his first feeding late tonight.
I'm using 6" fexwatt and a Herpstat 1 with the 15q Sterilite tub seen. The heat is set at 91 ish and the temp inside the hide is 90 ish (probe and heat gun tested). Amazon hide and Walmart water dish. With eight 1/2" holes drilled, humidity is 56-59% with this much water surface area and no misting, spilling, or waste present. I built a wooden “one level rack” to house the two tubs (hehehe... more on this below). This is used to protect the Herpstat probe and flex tape, and keep the tub dark. I'm hanging a black Tshirt over the opening to keep the tub dark as the snake settles into the new home. We'll try f/t tonight that I picked up from Big Cheese.
He's a Fire Desert Ghost from JKR. At 150 grams, he's a little guy. I really love the pattern. I've only held him twice, but he seems to be a really freindly guy. Hasn't balled much and isn't jumpy. Usually just looks around and smells everything. I picked DG because it doesn't seem to just go to a brown snake as an adult. And the Fire gene can go into about any DG breed project and do good. He shed right before JKR shipped, so he looks even better than the listing pic. Yellow is brighter and blacks are very dark.
About the second tub... There is a female Pastel Desert Ghost on its way from Kicks Balls. Fred wanted to wait until the weather warmed and the shipper could be more reliable (post christmas). Here after we've gotten the snakes to breeding age/ size, we might shoot for the Fire Pastel DG. We only opened one snake today. The kids don't know the second one is inbound. :)
Anyone see anything I'm doing dead wrong? I tried to do as much research as I could before the snake was here. I played with temps and ventilation for a week before he arrived. Second tub is ready. I also need a name. Something not scary so my wife will warm up to the new cold blooded member of the family.
http://i64.tinypic.com/2qlv0ip.jpg
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I would not feed for at least a week and don't handle him for at least 2 weeks. Regardless of where you got him from, let him decompress for a few weeks. Once you get 2-3 feedings under your belt, then you can start handling.
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Re: First post. First Christmas snake. Pic and question!
Quote:
Originally Posted by SDA
I would not feed for at least a week and don't handle him for at least 2 weeks. Regardless of where you got him from, let him decompress for a few weeks. Once you get 2-3 feedings under your belt, then you can start handling.
Ok, got it. So far I've pulled him out of the bag and got him right into the tub for heat. It was chilly. Then for maybe two min today to introduce him to the family. Then back into the tub. Thanks for the tip!
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What a way to get started with a BIG BANG !!!
Desert Ghosts are beautiful and my favorite by far :)
Sounds like you have done your research, kudos to that! I agree, let him get settled for a few days before attempting to feed.
Such a Beauty, and another one on the way, CONGRATULATIONS !!!
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Beautiful snake and all of your husbandry is spot on! Enjoy!
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Re: First post. First Christmas snake. Pic and question!
Quote:
Originally Posted by CLICKBANGBANG
Anyone see anything I'm doing dead wrong? I tried to do as much research as I could before the snake was here. I played with temps and ventilation for a week before he arrived. Second tub is ready. I also need a name. Something not scary so my wife will warm up to the new cold blooded member of the family.
Name him Fluffy or Pajamas.
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Welcome to the forum!! Congrats on your first snake, and awesome choice!!!!
Good on you for your diligence ahead of bringing the animal home, you're off to a great start.
As for names, I tend to name my animals after musicians, movie/t.v. show characters I like etc...
Maybe to appease your wife choose a loveable character from a movie or show you watch together?
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Congratulations on your new pet snake and especially for jumping right in to possibly the best morph on the market! I’m sure you spent more than most for a first snake but it is so worth it, you won’t be disappointed. The DG morph is by far the best morph if you want a snake that looks just as good as an adult as the day you got it. It is also my favorite and becoming many others favorite as people are seeing how amazing they continue to look into adulthood. You made an excellent choice!
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Welcome!
Congrats on your first snake. I'm confidant your wife will learn to appreciate him in time. Call him "Fido". LOL
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Fire desert ghost is a great choice, both “brightener” genes, and it shows in your glowing yellow snake. You will have that little glow-work for many, many years! Your housing sounds really well done, and healthy.
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Thanks for the warm welcome everyone! It's been fun starting with this new animal. After a million hours of reading and looking at every animal on the interwebs, finally having a snake is awesome.
He's refused food twice now (over a 24 day period). I'm feeding the same size as the seller. Thaw and place in hot water to heat up. Open the tub, and his only interest is to slowly try to get over the side and out. No interest in the feed at all. He's in a very quiet dark area of the hoise, but I may move him to another quiet dark area to see if he'll calm down.
Besides that, not much to add. We've let him be. I've check the stat and tub temp while I'm attempting to feed. Everything looks really good.
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Re: First post. First Christmas snake. Pic and question!
Wait till the evening AND he's in his hide , offer the warm mouse ( hairdryer) on tongs - wiggle on front of he hide entrance . Works 100% for mine who will run away from the mouse if they're not safe in a hide .
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Re: First post. First Christmas snake. Pic and question!
i haven't seen this mentioned yet, but a 91° F hot spot is a bit warm for a young beep; they do better with a lower temp. try to get the hot spot to 88-89° F. i wait until the 300-350g mark before raising temps to ~90° F, but that is of my own opinion.
i've had a new addition take almost a month to finally accept food. your husbandry sounds on point; be patient. [emoji4]
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Is the mouse being heated enough before offering? I don’t know what your routine is but when my bp was smaller and taking smaller meals, the feeders would cool down fairly quick in my dash from the kitchen to my room where the snakes are kept. The mouse should be warm to the touch— you want that mouse to be about ~100 degrees when you offer it. I usually thaw mine in hot water and wrap them in a paper towel to dry and hold heat while I move them.
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With the weather a little warmer, I was able to finally get our second Christmas snake in. Pastel Desert Ghost female from Kicks Balls. She was a little chilly, so strait into the tub and on the heat she went. I snapped a quick pic so I can have something to look at as she warms up and acclimates to her new home for the next few days. I set her on the warm side, through the hide over her, and she's tucked away now. We'll try to feed our Fire DG boy again tonight. He's been acting a little more normal, so I think we'll make it happen.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...com/mhal1l.jpg
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Well, we failed to get the Fire DG male to eat. He's gone four weeks without feed. He struck and constricted one mouse a few nights ago. But had the mouse bit wrong and lost interest before he got it swallowed. I'll mention, he was in the hide with his head out when he took a mouse. The other times he's refused, he was out in the hide.
I went to try again tonight. He was moving around in the hide and refused again. I won't try again unless I catch him in the hide. But since we had a f/t mouse warm, I pulled the hide off the Pastel DG female that just showed up on Thursday. Pulled the hide off and she covered her head. But after a second, she was tasting and within a min, she took it and ate. I was surprised that she was hungry after not acclimating for very long in her new home. So we have one that ate. The Fire DG male is starting to look thin.
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That does make it sound like a possible prey heating issue. With the smaller prey items, they cool down quicker then the snake can lose the food item in the heat gradient of its enclosure. Try heating his food up until its warm to your touch (100F or so) then offer to the snake.
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I'm not sure I understand. Are you removing the hides to feed him? That could potentially stress him out, which in turn could be what's preventing him from eating. If he wants the food, he'll come and get it -- and I know several of the snakes on this forum are better strikes when they're inside a hide.
Also, if you're offering too often, that too could be a source of stress. Offer once per week, and check your temps and humidity on both sides of the tub to make sure they're in range. Other than that, you might want to see if you can find tighter hides, as if they're too big, he might not feel secure enough.
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Finally got him to eat. Poor guys was hungry, but was being picky enough to not eat. I had to figure out how he wanted to be fed. I waited until he was in his hide with head pointing out. That seemed to be the trick. He came right out for it and telescoped way up to take it. I know he's maybe lost a little weight in the last month.
To answer a few questions, the heat in the tubs are good. I'm checking temp with a electric temp/ humidity gauge and heat gun. Heat on the mice is good. I was thawing in hot water, and finish heating with the hairdryer. Checking temp with touch and a heat gun. I was only attempting to feed once a week. He refused two, struck one but didn't eat. And then took this last one. The hide is about a small of one that they'll fit in.
Thanks for all of the tips, pointers, and advise. It's been very helpful.
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Re: First post. First Christmas snake. Pic and question!
My daughter's 2017 hatchling BP sounds much like yours. When he gets hungry, he curls up in his hide with his head poking out the opening. If he detects any movement he sticks his head a little farther out. When it's time to feed, my daughter taps on the glass and introduces the f/t rat. Although we enjoyed doing the zombie dance when we first got him, it is no longer necessary. As soon as he senses the rat he strikes and he strikes hard.
Glad to hear yours has eaten.
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Re: First post. First Christmas snake. Pic and question!
Quote:
Originally Posted by craigafrechette
Welcome to the forum!! Congrats on your first snake, and awesome choice!!!!
Good on you for your diligence ahead of bringing the animal home, you're off to a great start.
As for names, I tend to name my animals after musicians, movie/t.v. show characters I like etc...
Maybe to appease your wife choose a loveable character from a movie or show you watch together?
I took your advise and told my wife she could name them. This has made her hate them a little less. She even watched a feeding and was checking on the male Fire DG to see if he was hided up so we could try a feeding. She wants to touch one, but has a long way to go. I think at the next scheduled handling, she might feel on one.
Top contenders are Ross and Rachel, Chandler and Monica, Walt and Vic, or Riggins and Lyla (we nexflix binge). My choice was Johnny and June. She decided to wait to see if the snakes presented and character traits that would help sellecting a proper name.
We have a tarantula named Steve after the kids animation movie "Over the Hedge". There was a line in the movie that goes, "I'd be a lot less scared of it if I knew what to call it." "Let's call it Steve." "Yes. I like that, that's much less scary."
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Re: First post. First Christmas snake. Pic and question!
Quote:
Originally Posted by CLICKBANGBANG
I took your advise and told my wife she could name them. This has made her hate them a little less. She even watched a feeding and was checking on the male Fire DG to see if he was hided up so we could try a feeding. She wants to touch one, but has a long way to go. I think at the next scheduled handling, she might feel on one.
Top contenders are Ross and Rachel, Chandler and Monica, Walt and Vic, or Riggins and Lyla (we nexflix binge). My choice was Johnny and June. She decided to wait to see if the snakes presented and character traits that would help sellecting a proper name.
We have a tarantula named Steve after the kids animation movie "Over the Hedge". There was a line in the movie that goes, "I'd be a lot less scared of it if I knew what to call it." "Let's call it Steve." "Yes. I like that, that's much less scary."
I have 2 ferrets named Johnny and June!! That's awesome!!
And that's cool.that she's warming up to the snakes a bit. It took my girl a little while. She still keeps her handling sessions super short, still won't reach into their enclosures, etc... But she's come a long way. She even said the other day she might want her own hognose!! I'dbe the one caring for it, she'd I'm just have "her" snake. I'll let her name this one, hahaha. She would definitely vote for one of the Friends name choices. She's been binge watching Friends lately, it's her favorite show.
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I thought I'd just continue to update this thread. I've gotten one shed from the Fire DG (Luke). But the PDG (Lorelai) has a stuck shed. She's eating right now with it. So I'm going to wet the paper towel that I use for sub once the meal is down to up the humidity. Of this doesn't help, I see people bathing and wet pillow casing their snakes. Water dish has always stayed full. Any other tips here? Thanks.
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Re: First post. First Christmas snake. Pic and question!
Quote:
Originally Posted by CLICKBANGBANG
I thought I'd just continue to update this thread. I've gotten one shed from the Fire DG (Luke). But the PDG (Lorelai) has a stuck shed. She's eating right now with it. So I'm going to wet the paper towel that I use for sub once the meal is down to up the humidity. Of this doesn't help, I see people bathing and wet pillow casing their snakes. Water dish has always stayed full. Any other tips here? Thanks.
After 48 hrs (meal digested) put her in a tote/tub with the lid on & warm 88* water about 1/2 her body deep. Let her soak for 15-20 min. Always have air holes obviously. You can do this a couple times during the week and also try a wet warm paper towel after to gently roll that shed off... Front to back obviously....
Sorry I keep saying Obviously but over the last 3 weeks I cant believe some of the Smart people without a ounce of common sense hahahaha.
Thats should do the trick [emoji1360]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Re: First post. First Christmas snake. Pic and question!
Quote:
Originally Posted by craigafrechette
I have 2 ferrets named Johnny and June!! That's awesome!!
And that's cool.that she's warming up to the snakes a bit. It took my girl a little while. She still keeps her handling sessions super short, still won't reach into their enclosures, etc... But she's come a long way. She even said the other day she might want her own hognose!! I'dbe the one caring for it, she'd I'm just have "her" snake. I'll let her name this one, hahaha. She would definitely vote for one of the Friends name choices. She's been binge watching Friends lately, it's her favorite show.
Well, I guess it's Luke and Lorelai. Ha! I’m not a Gilmore Girls fan, but I’ll take it. They are less scary when they have a name. And now she can’t not love them, because she named the snakes. She still hasn’t held them yet, but she will eventually.
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