Dante's first rat!

I just wanted to share, as I get really excited about these things-- especially since he's my first snake so this is all new to me.

Dante definitely surprised me yesterday when I weighed him. He had a growth spurt- he managed to gain 49g in less than 2 weeks , which I didn't know could even happen (I weigh him post-poo, empty stomach). This put him at 222g, so I decided to give a smaller-end weaned rat (31g) a try. He devoured the rat instantly, despite previously being intimidated by them.

We had a rough start, but he's definitely making up for lost time. Hopefully he keeps this up!


(Sorry for the poor picture quality. I feed him pretty late at night-and under a towel for additional privacy)https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...de8dfca8bb.jpg

1.0 Pumpkin Pied BP, 0.1 Bearded dragon, 1.2 Leopard gecko, 0.1 Ornate Pacman Frog

Down the hatch, Dante! :gj: And happy dance for you... :dance: It does feel good, doesn't it? :D

Keep up the great work!! :gj:

Way to go Dante!!!

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Down the hatch, Dante! :gj: And happy dance for you... :dance: It does feel good, doesn't it? :D

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It's a great feeling! And I had no idea they could pack on grams so quickly like that- 173g to 222g in 9 days... :O




1.0 Pumpkin Pied BP, 0.1 Bearded dragon, 1.2 Leopard gecko, 0.1 Ornate Pacman Frog

That's impressive....he's a growing boy! :snake:

That's awesome, it's such a good feeling when your ball python eats especially if it's been a while (the like to fast a lot usually during winter months). They grow so fast when they are little. They go from fitting in your hand, to fitting in two hands, then fitting on your chest, and just quickly outgrow this to become a neck snake or even a belt. :)

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Originally Posted by Valyndris

That's awesome, it's such a good feeling when your ball python eats especially if it's been a while (the like to fast a lot usually during winter months). They grow so fast when they are little. They go from fitting in your hand, to fitting in two hands, then fitting on your chest, and just quickly outgrow this to become a neck snake or even a belt. :)

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I hope he holds his appetite through the colder months...

I know it takes a couple of years to really reach full size, but it's still crazy how big he's gotten in such a short time. He definitely can't fit in the palm of my hand anymore.

I just took him out for 20 minutes or so (I check tank temps every day. He was exploring and wanted out anyway). I can definitely feel that extra weight. As I held him, I saw a blackish bulge towards his tail end...and I'm happy to say I got him back to his tank before he pooped on my neck. Not today XD

1.0 Pumpkin Pied BP, 0.1 Bearded dragon, 1.2 Leopard gecko, 0.1 Ornate Pacman Frog

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Awesomethepossum

I hope he holds his appetite through the colder months...

I know it takes a couple of years to really reach full size, but it's still crazy how big he's gotten in such a short time. He definitely can't fit in the palm of my hand anymore.

I just took him out for 20 minutes or so (I check tank temps every day. He was exploring and wanted out anyway). I can definitely feel that extra weight. As I held him, I saw a blackish bulge towards his tail end...and I'm happy to say I got him back to his tank before he pooped on my neck. Not today XD

1.0 Pumpkin Pied BP, 0.1 Bearded dragon, 1.2 Leopard gecko, 0.1 Ornate Pacman Frog

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That reminds me of when Crowley was staying at my parents place due to my apartment flooding. I was sitting in a chair and put plastic (the stuff used for painting) on the chair in case he decided to pee, well after an hour of him being on me I was convinced he would of peed by then if he was going to pee. So I sat on the couch beside both my parents which wasn't covered and of course not even 10 minutes pass and he pees all over the couch. I felt terrible about it. I was bringing Crowley back up to his enclosure so I can come back and clean the pee. I made it right in front of his tank when he decided to poop on my boob. I guess he really didn't want to get his "house" soiled. By the time I was done cleaning the poop off of me as best I could, I went back downstairs to find that my mom had taken care of the pee. I still felt so bad for Crowley peeing on their perfectly nice and also expensive couch. Snakes go when they gotta go. :P

congrats. I am happy for ya!

Awesome! almost looks like he's swallowing a possum!

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Originally Posted by Valyndris

That reminds me of when Crowley was staying at my parents place due to my apartment flooding. I was sitting in a chair and put plastic (the stuff used for painting) on the chair in case he decided to pee, well after an hour of him being on me I was convinced he would of peed by then if he was going to pee. So I sat on the couch beside both my parents which wasn't covered and of course not even 10 minutes pass and he pees all over the couch. I felt terrible about it. I was bringing Crowley back up to his enclosure so I can come back and clean the pee. I made it right in front of his tank when he decided to poop on my boob. I guess he really didn't want to get his "house" soiled. By the time I was done cleaning the poop off of me as best I could, I went back downstairs to find that my mom had taken care of the pee. I still felt so bad for Crowley peeing on their perfectly nice and also expensive couch. Snakes go when they gotta go. :P

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Oh man that's awful..but a little funny XD

Wierd to say, but none of my other pets do this. My dog is trained with bathroom commands, gets let out to a designated spot every few hours. My geckos will only "go" on their communal toilet rock, and have done so on the same rock for probably 6 years or so. And my beardie and pacman frog only poop during their warm soaks.

With a snake, now it's like living dangerously ;)

1.0 Pumpkin Pied BP, 0.1 Bearded dragon, 1.2 Leopard gecko, 0.1 Ornate Pacman Frog

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ax01

Awesome! almost looks like he's swallowing a possum!

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A small one anyway! The ones I worked with out west were the size of giant cats!

I'll tell ya..if I could have one as a pet, I would. Been a forbidden dream of mine for ages.

1.0 Pumpkin Pied BP, 0.1 Bearded dragon, 1.2 Leopard gecko, 0.1 Ornate Pacman Frog

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ax01

Awesome! almost looks like he's swallowing a possum!

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Awesomethepossum

A small one anyway! The ones I worked with out west were the size of giant cats!

I'll tell ya..if I could have one as a pet, I would. Been a forbidden dream of mine for ages.

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you can get a Brazilian Short-Tail Opossum! :) they're like the size of hedgehogs. i see them alongside hoggies, Sugar Gliders and other small mammals at expos.

this was from last year's show in Oregon.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/u0kkbUl.jpg

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Originally Posted by Ax01

you can get a Brazilian Short-Tail Opossum! :) they're like the size of hedgehogs. i see them alongside hoggies, Sugar Gliders and other small mammals at expos.

this was from last year's show in Oregon.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/u0kkbUl.jpg

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I used to see those at the petstore and thought it was a mouse :D

I'm fully confident in caring for our lovely American possums-- newborn to adult-- but I've thought about those, though :)

1.0 Pumpkin Pied BP, 0.1 Bearded dragon, 1.2 Leopard gecko, 0.1 Ornate Pacman Frog

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Originally Posted by Awesomethepossum

...I'll tell ya..if I could have one as a pet, I would. Been a forbidden dream of mine for ages...

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Not pets, but I have some free-roaming 'possums in my neighborhood...sometimes get to see them late at night when I let my dogs out to potty before we turn in.
The last time one was on top of my fence, I went & got my 24" tongs & a small tomato (figuring she was enroute to raid my garden) & I carefully put the tomato in
front of her as she held her ground watching me, & I quietly turned out the light. I checked about 15 minutes later...she apparently enjoyed the tomato. :D

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Not pets, but I have some free-roaming 'possums in my neighborhood...sometimes get to see them late at night when I let my dogs out to potty before we turn in.
The last time one was on top of my fence, I went & got my 24" tongs & a small tomato (figuring she was enroute to raid my garden) & I carefully put the tomato in
front of her as she held her ground watching me, & I quietly turned out the light. I checked about 15 minutes later...she apparently enjoyed the tomato. :D

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You see, I live on a busy road in a city. Not much to see for wildlife other than the occasional bloated squirrel.

A shame that their natural life expectancy is really only a year, maybe two years. In captivity with optimal care? We had one live to three years at the rehab center.

I will tell you though, nothing is more entertaining than watching them get all amped up and trying to eat a large food item :)



1.0 Pumpkin Pied BP, 0.1 Bearded dragon, 1.2 Leopard gecko, 0.1 Ornate Pacman Frog

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Awesomethepossum

You see, I live on a busy road in a city. Not much to see for wildlife other than the occasional bloated squirrel.

A shame that their natural life expectancy is really only a year, maybe two years. In captivity with optimal care? We had one live to three years at the rehab center.

I will tell you though, nothing is more entertaining than watching them get all amped up and trying to eat a large food item :)



1.0 Pumpkin Pied BP, 0.1 Bearded dragon, 1.2 Leopard gecko, 0.1 Ornate Pacman Frog

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I'm in a smaller rural town, & there are many trees & some green spaces within, but I am right in a busy neighborhood, plenty of traffic. A lot of road-kills here too-
possums, skunks, turtles, squirrels, armadillos & sometimes even large deer end up DOR. :tears: Cool that you've worked with them (possums) in rehab center. :gj:
I didn't realize they have such a short lifespan. OMG, I see what you mean! > > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRIVTEBaLkA Adorable!

My wildlife rehab job was is MO, so I saw a lot of cool critters. The diversity out west is insane.

CT? I feel like the wildlife around here are more street smart :)

1.0 Pumpkin Pied BP, 0.1 Bearded dragon, 1.2 Leopard gecko, 0.1 Ornate Pacman Frog

And by street-smart, I mean adept at hiding in plain sight. Like I said, lots of road kill, but those are usually inexperienced animals (deer can learn safe routes in busy roadways), or elderly/sick ones

1.0 Pumpkin Pied BP, 0.1 Bearded dragon, 1.2 Leopard gecko, 0.1 Ornate Pacman Frog

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Awesomethepossum

And by street-smart, I mean adept at hiding in plain sight. Like I said, lots of road kill, but those are usually inexperienced animals (deer can learn safe routes in busy roadways), or elderly/sick ones

1.0 Pumpkin Pied BP, 0.1 Bearded dragon, 1.2 Leopard gecko, 0.1 Ornate Pacman Frog

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When hunting season is here it seems the deer are more apt to come into town. Can't say I blame them. :( I can't verify that these were sick or elderly, but I've been
shocked to see large ones killed on the bypass (double lane fwy) & right in town on the biggest & busiest road we have (in front of Walmart & Coltons). Deer collisions
are not rare around here & even my next door neighbor had to replace his car after a collision. :tears:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

When hunting season is here it seems the deer are more apt to come into town. Can't say I blame them. :( I can't verify that these were sick or elderly, but I've been
shocked to see large ones killed on the bypass (double lane fwy) & right in town on the biggest & busiest road we have (in front of Walmart & Coltons). Deer collisions
are not rare around here & even my next door neighbor had to replace his car after a collision. :tears:

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Deer collisions are no joke..no matter the size :(

I almost hit a mule deer stag on the highway in MO, but luckily it cleared full over the hood of my car. If I didn't slam my brakes it would have went through my windshield. This was during breeding season, so that's something else to consider.

Like ball pythons, deer are crepuscular. So their eyesight is adapted to dim lighting. The sudden light emitting from a car is why they freeze in the road like they do. It literally blinds them.

That and because their eyes are set on the sides (peripheral vision), forward sight is restricted,...that's why you sometimes see them jump directly into cars, or even through her about them jumping through store windows. They partly see the reflection off the glass and misinterpret the blind spot.

1.0 Pumpkin Pied BP, 0.1 Bearded dragon, 1.2 Leopard gecko, 0.1 Ornate Pacman Frog

Another update:

Very pleased with this guy- I weighed him right before his feeding this weekend, and he's pushing 244g! He'll be 4 months on the 20th, and I'm definitely pleased with his weight gain. :)https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...71a11c523e.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...847086c221.jpg

1.0 Pumpkin Pied BP, 0.1 Bearded dragon, 1.2 Leopard gecko, 0.1 Ornate Pacman Frog

He's looking really good! Beauty, good personality, AND an appetite...what more can you wish for? :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

He's looking really good! Beauty, good personality, AND an appetite...what more can you wish for? :D

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More snakes. ;)

1.0 Pumpkin Pied BP, 0.1 Bearded dragon, 1.2 Leopard gecko, 0.1 Ornate Pacman Frog

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Awesomethepossum

A small one anyway! The ones I worked with out west were the size of giant cats!

I'll tell ya..if I could have one as a pet, I would. Been a forbidden dream of mine for ages.

1.0 Pumpkin Pied BP, 0.1 Bearded dragon, 1.2 Leopard gecko, 0.1 Ornate Pacman Frog

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I live in the middle of no where in Louisiana, my wife’s family is super back woods, my brother in law and his wife found a baby possum and kept it till it and I got to come over and hold it once. Let me tell you that was one of the coolest experiences ever, they are curious sweet little things. I loved every second of it and I’m upset I can’t find the photo on this stupid iPhone lol


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