Nim the Bredli

[Gobuchul]

I gave Nim the medical rat last Thursday. He tried to take the rat sideways for the first time, and eventually swallowed it backwards. I think he's ready to size up to weaned rats, but I used a pup for this because I wanted to make sure he'd eat it. I fed him a second, un-nexgarded pup rat which he ate normally. I wonder whether taking it sideways then backwards was somehow caused by the taste or smell of nexgard around the rat's mouth, or if it was just bad luck. He started nearer the front and took a long time to work his way around to try the back.

I saw no live mites while cleaning the enclosure today. I normally would see 0-3 mites on Nim himself, and while soaking him today I have so far seen none. Hopefully the number of dead mites will now begin to decline as well. Nim seems to be behaving normally today, so at least for now the nexgard doesn't seem to be causing him acute harm.

I am still treating the enclosure with PAM and have ordered two more cans because the first is close to running low.

[bcr229]

Nim's actual weight is 291 grams, which is way more believable than 127 grams (.28 lbs.) I should have noticed at the vet, but didn't do the unit conversion. I'm going to adjust accordingly and give him just under 2.3x the prescribed dose.

I should've also asked whether they mixed it at 2.5mg/kg or 2mg/kg.

Fortunately it has a very high threshold where overdosing becomes toxic. Also once the snake receives a dose it shouldn't need another for four weeks.

https://www.faunaclassifieds.com/for...-mites.824330/

[Malum Argenteum]

I saw no live mites while cleaning the enclosure today. I normally would see 0-3 mites on Nim himself, and while soaking him today I have so far seen none. Hopefully the number of dead mites will now begin to decline as well.

Sounds like the PAM was working, and just needed time to break the life cycle. Hope the one-two punch absolutely seals the deal.

[Gobuchul]

Sounds like the PAM was working, and just needed time to break the life cycle. Hope the one-two punch absolutely seals the deal.

I don't think the PAM alone would have worked, the mite population was very consistent for quite some time. This is the first time I've not seen any live mites while cleaning the enclosure, and it occurred a few days after using the nexgard. PAM definitely did kill mites and help keep the population low, but that population was very steady so I don't think I was going to see improvement from just the PAM.

This isn't a study of course, and it's possible that I would have eventually used the PAM more effectively. Assuming things go well from here, if I ever have to deal with mites again I will view nexgard as the primary treatment while PAM helps kill off the periphery and reduces transmission risk. I'd really hate to see the nexgard fail though, so I won't be slacking on the PAM.

[Homebody]

I would love an update, particularly, regarding the effectiveness of the afoxolaner (NexGard) treatment.

[Gobuchul]

I would love an update, particularly, regarding the effectiveness of the afoxolaner (NexGard) treatment.

Still no signs of mites, alive or dead. It seems to have killed them all on day 1, with no resurgence whatsoever. I moved Nim to his new pvc enclosure this week because it had been a month since mite sighting, and I was starting to have trouble keeping temps in the plastic tub. I'll keep an eye out of course, but I think the mites are done. Nim does not seem to have been acutely harmed by the treatment.

[Gobuchul]

This week Nim figured out how to reach the latch on his enclosure directly from the ground. Now he's able to sit up there just by holding it with his tail and bracing against the light. I am impressed by this feat.

He uses his rope perch too, but I should give him some more climbs.

[Gobuchul]

I'm having trouble getting Nim out of his enclosure. When touched, he bites if cornered and runs away otherwise. I've been picking him up during the run away phase, but he's long enough now that I have a hard time disentangling him from whatever he grabs on the way out. While I do that, he usually gets his head back in the enclosure and the process begins anew.

I've been handling him minimally since the mite ordeal, and I think I should increase the handling frequency to hopefully desensitize him a bit. To pick him up effectively, I am considering either putting gloves on and taking a bite or two to get him before he starts to run, or strictly picking him up from beneath the hide without moving it off him first. I figure chasing him around for 20 minutes every time probably worsens the problem. Is biting the glove something I should avoid having him do? Is letting him run into a hide, then picking him up from beneath it preferable?

[Gio]

I'm having trouble getting Nim out of his enclosure. When touched, he bites if cornered and runs away otherwise. I've been picking him up during the run away phase, but he's long enough now that I have a hard time disentangling him from whatever he grabs on the way out. While I do that, he usually gets his head back in the enclosure and the process begins anew.

I've been handling him minimally since the mite ordeal, and I think I should increase the handling frequency to hopefully desensitize him a bit. To pick him up effectively, I am considering either putting gloves on and taking a bite or two to get him before he starts to run, or strictly picking him up from beneath the hide without moving it off him first. I figure chasing him around for 20 minutes every time probably worsens the problem. Is biting the glove something I should avoid having him do? Is letting him run into a hide, then picking him up from beneath it preferable?

I have some gloves that are bite safe for both snake and human. The biter in my group of 4 is the Coastal. She rarely bites the gloves and is able to tell they are not human. The second I remove one and touch her, she knows and it's open season for a bite.

I use them for the Bredli occasionally but he is more tolerant of handling.

I don't think the Coastal is going to change her ways much.

These are the gloves I bought.
This equipment was purchased for a retic I had here that was extremely aggressive.


I was hoping after I placed him, I wouldn't need to wear gloves again. The "loving" Coastal has given the glove investment more milage.


I'd say with gloves and a nice hook (not this hook) you'll be fine.

When they tangle up in the cage, I just skip the handling until there is a better opportunity.

[Homebody]

I'm having trouble getting Nim out of his enclosure. When touched, he bites if cornered and runs away otherwise. I've been picking him up during the run away phase, but he's long enough now that I have a hard time disentangling him from whatever he grabs on the way out. While I do that, he usually gets his head back in the enclosure and the process begins anew.

I've been handling him minimally since the mite ordeal, and I think I should increase the handling frequency to hopefully desensitize him a bit. To pick him up effectively, I am considering either putting gloves on and taking a bite or two to get him before he starts to run, or strictly picking him up from beneath the hide without moving it off him first. I figure chasing him around for 20 minutes every time probably worsens the problem. Is biting the glove something I should avoid having him do? Is letting him run into a hide, then picking him up from beneath it preferable?

Your bredli thinks you are a predator. So, stop acting like one. When you pick him up, scoop him up from the bottom. Predators don't do that. You'll probably have to use a hook at first. Just gently wedge it under him and lift him out. Gloves are a good idea as well. They will not only protect your hands but they'll also mask your heat signature and scent, making you appear less predatory.

I would actually suggest that you don't pull him out of his enclosure at all, and I definitely wouldn't take him out of his hide. Rather, I would open the enclosure and allow your bredli to leave it of his own accord. As curious and courageous as bredlis are noted to be, I don't imagine that you will have to wait long. I think you'll find picking him up when he's out exploring much easier. He'll be less defensive and he'll have fewer things to grab onto. If he does choose not to come out, he has his reasons. Respect that and try again later.