DD is an excellant speciman

Per our vet. She did a fellowship at Lincoln Park Zoo for a year, with reptiles. I had so much fun telling her "Got it" with each suggestion she made for DD. UTH? Got it. Ceramic vs Heat Lamp? Ceramic. Newspaper Substrate? Yep. Hide on warm & cool sides? Yep. Spagnum Moss in warm hide? Yep. Temps. Good!

"It's really nice to meet someone that actually takes the time to find out what there BP needs. They are few and far between." Take the compliment guys, couldn't have done it with out you.

Apparently, DD is a BP that whistles right before a shed (due to loose shed around the nostrils), may do it everytime, may do it only once. I was so glad that we already had the vet appointment set up when he started to whistle last night. Thanks for the advise guys, you called it Adam.

For those of you reading this that haven't got a clue, don't assume that whistling is loose shed, take your BP to the vet. Better safe than sorry.

DD weighs 1.9 lbs, what is the conversion to grams? Also, vet gave me some vitamins to put on f/t when I switch from p/k (will try next feed). Said that the freezing process causes proteins to breakdown, but better to feed f/t because freezing kills any parasites that may be in the feed animal. Any input?

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Originally Posted by unimom

Said that the freezing process causes proteins to breakdown

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I've heard this rumor for years, but I've yet to be able to find a single piece of documentation to back it up. I'd love to get your vet on the phone and see if she could point me in the right direction??

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Originally Posted by unimom

but better to feed f/t because freezing kills any parasites that may be in the feed animal. Any input?

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I have to disagree there. Freezing isn't effective in preventing the transference of internal parasites from food item to predator. I wonder if people are talking about mites and ticks when they suggest that?? If that's the case, getting your rodents from a clean reliable source is just as easy.

-adam

Hey Adam,

Here's the website info.

http://www.lovingcareanimalclinic.com/reptileIE.html

I also shelled out $12 for the vitamins. Had to, didn't want to short my (oops, his) DD.

Glad to hear that DD is fine! I'm sure that's a major relief to you. I'm curious about the vitamins though. I hadn't read about anyone using them. What kind are they and how are the administered?

Thanks, Christie

Vitamin is Nekton_Rep

Ingredients are:

Glucose, Vitamin A, Calcium, Phosphorus, Vitamin C, Niacinamide, Vitamin D-3, Vitamin E, Calsium-D-Pantothenare, Iron, L-Methonine, Vitamin B-2, L-Lysine, Vitamine K-3, Zinc, Manganese, Vitamin B-6, Vitamin B-1, Copper, Folic Acid, Iosine, Cobalk, Vitamine B-12

Lightly powder feed items if fur is wet, if not, open mouth of feed item and sprinkle powder in there (moisture to make powder addhere I would guess).

Vitamins for ball pythons is kinda odd to me....the only times I have ever heard of someone using vitamin type stuff for ball pythons is in cases of severe malnurishment and/or dehydration. But that is only to give them some nutrition and hydration quickly in order to rehabilitate the animal.

I (and many others) have also never been able to find the exact nutrition requirements for ball pythons. That kinda stuff usually requires some extensive research. From what has been observed for years, mice and rats provide all the needed nutrition for proper growth, breeding, and egg laying. IMO.... basically all that the vitamins are doing is going in one end and coming out the other.

Anyone know the conversion of lbs to grams?

1 lb = 453.6 grams

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Originally Posted by unimom

Anyone know the conversion of lbs to grams?

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here you go:

1 lb = 454 grams

ha....christie beat me to it :)

That means DD is 861.84 grams and he has grown since I last measured, how big will males get? I read 4 feet and 850 max, I guess that was wrong.

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Originally Posted by unimom

That means DD is 861.84 grams and he has grown since I last measured, how big will males get? I read 4 feet and 850 max, I guess that was wrong.

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Depends on the boy really ... I've got a 5+ footer that's gotta be pushing 3,000 grams ... he's a biggun. :D

-adam

Yup, the weight is right and wherever you read that is definitely wrong.

Daniel, I'm quicker on the draw, but man that must have been close!

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Originally Posted by tigerlily

Daniel, I'm quicker on the draw, but man that must have been close!

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Ha ha....it reads we both posted at the same exact time :)

Either I beat you by a matter of seconds or the computer just likes me better. ;) :P

Oh ya and the vet said he was very trim. I feel so good right now. DD is healthy and I was worried for nothing. I was so concerned she was going to say "Wow, he is overweight, in the middle of a bad shed and has an RI." I might actually be able to sleep before 2 am tonight. Of course that's if I am not on here.