Fired up and down...

The last couple of days Smeagol started to "fire down" some for the first time. I take that as a good sign. They turn pale and not so vibrant looking. From what I hear it means they sleep or are relaxing, not so excited.

I took Smeagol out to weigh him and he was paler then usual. Of course after I took him out of his Deli (took a minute to fluff the moss and check the tank over) he was fully fired up again.

Overall he is pretty calm. He hates to be put in the Deli though. I wanted him in a sauna for a few minutes. Sauna simply means a soaking wet paper towel and heavily misted small container. No heat or warm water. Still trying to get the rest of his stuck shed to loosen up. I'm not picking at his stuck shed anymore, though, most of it has come off since his move to the bigger tank. Probably from rubbing up on the Deco while running around at night [emoji4]

So here is Smeagol, somewhat fires down. Notice the paler sides in him. I wonder how much paler he can get..

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After his sauna. All fired up again, LOL

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...db06ef1f1d.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...51d09c31c2.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...1a0164f794.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...b95adc9a49.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...b0ae7c0206.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...fed57f5f1e.jpg


How can anyone get any work done when there is something so beautiful to look at instead [emoji4]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...1727031cd3.jpg

Sorry about the reflection on the glass. But I didn't want to open the doors again, time for him to relax..


Btw. He hasn't gained any weight yet, but hasn't lost any either. I see a little bit of food missing in the mornings. Hope he will eat more enthusiastically soon!





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Smeagol looks awesome, really love how contrasty he gets when fired up!

They can go quite pale. I hardly have any pics, but this was one of mine fired down:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...Y5yEQG8h2Y.jpg

Then fired up (not all the way but only pic I had handy):
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...DkrouzCadO.jpg

edit to add, here was the other one, just a tiny thing. Fired down:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...fJGYamlXNb.jpg

fired up:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...VJv6vaNCb1.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AbsoluteApril

Smeagol looks awesome, really love how contrasty he gets when fired up!

They can go quite pale. I hardly have any pics, but this was one of mine fired down:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...Y5yEQG8h2Y.jpg

Then fired up (not all the way but only pic I had handy):
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...DkrouzCadO.jpg

edit to add, here was the other one, just a tiny thing. Fired down:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...fJGYamlXNb.jpg

fired up:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...VJv6vaNCb1.jpg

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That is amazing, the difference !!
I can't wait to see Smeagol completely fired down one day. I wonder how pale he can get ? So fun :)

I got my eye on you... No more stinkin' Deli cup for me!! [emoji16]


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He is such a cutie! :D His colors are great too. His dark background color will probably fire down to a very light grey when all the way fired down. He looks happy. :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mlededee

He is such a cutie! :D His colors are great too. His dark background color will probably fire down to a very light grey when all the way fired down. He looks happy. :)

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Thank you. That means a lot to me coming from you, with all your experience.

I was worried moving him so soon again but the Kritter Keeper was driving me crazy. At least most of his stuck shed has come off now [emoji4]

I just wish he would gain some weight and eat more. But all in due time [emoji6]


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Why the deli cup? He doesn’t sit still to go on the scale ?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Phillydubs

Why the deli cup? He doesn’t sit still to go on the scale ?

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He would, at least long enough to get a reading, LOL.

I put him into the Deli cup for a Crestie Sauna.
He arrived with a bit of stuck shed on him, and raising the humidity in a wet deli for a few minutes gets it softened up. Its all but gone now ;)

He hates going into the Deli, though, tries to slip through my fingers, he is to funny !!!

To the left, to the left, to the right, to the right...

OK Smeagol, are you comfy yet? I guess that may be the new favorite spot...LOL. Every hour or so he switches positions, but refuses to leave that tree..hehe.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...e55b2fd328.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...0622a05a01.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...20dbc21786.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...504372601e.jpg


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Ohhh ok I misread then. I now see what you are saying !

what type is he ?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Phillydubs

Ohhh ok I misread then. I now see what you are saying !

what type is he ?

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He was advertised as a "Tri Color Quad Stripe" ;) Meaning he is a full pinstripe (those 2 stripes down his back) and 2 additional short stripes below each of the pin stripes..

He is a "probable" he. May still turn out to be female. Then I'll need a new name, LOL

Here he is as fired down as I've ever seen him...Lil cutie!

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...31be227e6d.jpg


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He sure is a little cutie !! Def way fired down.

Ablut how old is he and what was his last weight?

i think my guy is too tiny to even be firing. He’s a lazy bones he loves sleeping in the trees all day

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Phillydubs

He sure is a little cutie !! Def way fired down.

Ablut how old is he and what was his last weight?

i think my guy is too tiny to even be firing. He’s a lazy bones he loves sleeping in the trees all day

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That is normal! Mine sleeps or pretends to sleep as long as it's light.

He hatched out in August and weighs 11grams right now [emoji4]



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If he gets any paler he will fade away...[emoji15]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...b23a01605d.jpg


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Poor Smeagol and his clueless owner !!!

He finally is getting so relaxed that he is fired WAY down and must be sleeping soundly.

That is, until his owner freaks out because his eyes look sunken in. AGAIN. Like they did earlier when he was sleeping. And the time before then.

So I wonder, how can he be dehydrated again?? And off we go, misting a bit nearby him so that the dried out gecko can lick some life saving drops off the glass and his eyes can pop out again.

Until I finally thought to myself, well, gee. Could there be ANOTHER reason for the eyes to look sunken in a bit ?

Apparently so. When they are sleeping deeply and soundly.

Well, now I feel stupid and bad for waking poor Smeagol up out of deep slumber to make it rain each time.

Lucky me he is no worse for the wear and just went back to sleep each time and he still looks nice, pale and relaxed !

He has been sleeping in his favorite corner, in plain view, so I could see his eyes and it freaked me out that they would sometimes look a bit...sunken in. I've read that means they are dehydrated. But I guess it can also mean they are deep asleep ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by zina10

I just wish he would gain some weight and eat more. But all in due time [emoji6]

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He will in time they grow relatively slowly and as long as he is eating he will be fine. To get a faster growth you can always alternate CGD with bugs considering your enclosure I would recommend Dubias and have them in a 4 inch ceramic bowl so they remain contained......he will figure it out, that is what I do with mine...you could feed cricket but I would recommend feeding in a tub because the last thing you want is have cricket not being eaten and still in the enclosure.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Deborah

He will in time they grow relatively slowly and as long as he is eating he will be fine. To get a faster growth you can always alternate CGD with bugs considering your enclosure I would recommend Dubias and have them in a 4 inch ceramic bowl so they remain contained......he will figure it out, that is what I do with mine...you could feed cricket but I would recommend feeding in a tub because the last thing you want is have cricket not being eaten and still in the enclosure.

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I'm going to try that, although I'm not sure I can even find crickets locally, much less dubias. I might have to order online..??

I've heard not to feed insects until they eat they smoothies well. He does eat, but it doesn't seem like a lot ? Although he only recently seems to really settle in well (comfy enough to fire down?)

Well, I haven't killed him yet, LOL. I just keep trying to do all I can. I'm going to figure out how to get some Dubias over here ! This little bugger is to cute, I want him to do well :)

OH MY GOD, how can he be that cute?!?!?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by zina10

I'm going to try that, although I'm not sure I can even find crickets locally, much less dubias. I might have to order online..??

I've heard not to feed insects until they eat they smoothies well. He does eat, but it doesn't seem like a lot ? Although he only recently seems to really settle in well (comfy enough to fire down?)

Well, I haven't killed him yet, LOL. I just keep trying to do all I can. I'm going to figure out how to get some Dubias over here ! This little bugger is to cute, I want him to do well :)

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Dubias might be a better choice there are many places online, not only are they better nutritionally but they do not stink and don't die on you like crickets do, so if you order some you will be able to keep them longer probably raise then to adulthood and breed them too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Dubias might be a better choice there are many places online, not only are they better nutritionally but they do not stink and don't die on you like crickets do, so if you order some you will be able to keep them longer probably raise then to adulthood and breed them too.

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I will look into that.

If my mother finds out I'm not only ordering cockroaches, but actually considering breeding them, she will finally be convinced I got switched at birth, LOL :rofl:

Oh my...

there are SO many sizes of dubia's !!

Should I get smaller then how wide his head is, so that they will not grow to big for him, to quickly?

Off to google and research..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by zina10

Oh my...

there are SO many sizes of dubia's !!

Should I get smaller then how wide his head is, so that they will not grow to big for him, to quickly?

Off to google and research..

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Right now you can get smalls the trick with dubias is temperature, lower temperature = slower growth, you can keep them anywhere from 65 to 95 degrees if you want them to grow fast and breed you want temps of 90/95 if you want to keep them growing slow 65/75 will do.

Done and done ;)

Ordered some small ones as well as some Nutri Grubs to make it worth the shipping. Also got some food and water crystals for the roaches and a couple of egg crates.

Never thought I'd BUY cockroaches. I live in the south. We pay money to have them destroyed and kept away, LOL!!

Smeagol will be one spoiled boy !!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by zina10

Poor Smeagol and his clueless owner !!!

He finally is getting so relaxed that he is fired WAY down and must be sleeping soundly.

That is, until his owner freaks out because his eyes look sunken in. AGAIN. Like they did earlier when he was sleeping. And the time before then.

So I wonder, how can he be dehydrated again?? And off we go, misting a bit nearby him so that the dried out gecko can lick some life saving drops off the glass and his eyes can pop out again.

Until I finally thought to myself, well, gee. Could there be ANOTHER reason for the eyes to look sunken in a bit ?

Apparently so. When they are sleeping deeply and soundly.

Well, now I feel stupid and bad for waking poor Smeagol up out of deep slumber to make it rain each time.

Lucky me he is no worse for the wear and just went back to sleep each time and he still looks nice, pale and relaxed !

He has been sleeping in his favorite corner, in plain view, so I could see his eyes and it freaked me out that they would sometimes look a bit...sunken in. I've read that means they are dehydrated. But I guess it can also mean they are deep asleep ;)

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my humidity seems to hang around 70-75 in his cage the last few days. Granted it’s been raining here non stop. Should I still mist w such high humidity already???

i don’t want to mist and have it go to 90 plus and take forever to fall...

i could mist and move my fam his direction tknget air flow and break the humidity up?

thoights? Now you got me worried his eye balls are gonna fall out or something

Hm...

That is something I would definitely ask Deborah or Mleedee about. They have far more experience then me.

Have you seen your little one drink out of the little water bowl? Most drink the droplets from the glass and deco after misting. So if you don't mist, does he still drink?
I know the humidity is supposed to go up and down.

To be safe, I would message either Deb or Mleedee about this issue and what you should do..

I’ll do that ... thanks!!

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Yes he does drink from his water dish and I’ve seen him do it