1st snake is a rescue...Montinegro Reginald Python (aka Monty)

[steve2md]

I got this guy(?) from a college chick on Craigslist who had him for the past year. He is 1224 grams and ~4feet (Underweight IMO as there's a bit of spine showing, though no ribs) she was only giving him a medium mouse every 14 days. She also had a heat rock in there with him (thank God no burns) and had been kept in ambient humidity (AZ..15-20ish%) for the last year. She thought he was done growing because he hadn't grown in the last year...I know it was because of his feeding size/sched. She said he was super sketchy and nippy, but he's been nothing but a lover to me thus far, super mellow and LOVES to be held.He thinks the dog is interesting, and the dog thinks he's pretty cool too. The cats are terrified, but curious.
I don't want to change too much at once for him, so rather than going to the appropriate sized rat immediately (this sat is 10 days from his last feed, moving him to every 7 after that if he'll take it) I'll stick with the medium mice for this feed, but plan to see if he will take 2 of them. If so, the next feed will be an attempt to switch to rats. If he takes those for a few feeds, I plan to swap him to either fresh killed (If I can find live rats local cheap enough) or Frozen/Thawed.
He is in a 40 gallon tall aquarium with a screen lid, which is what he came in. I have a UTH, but am waiting on my thermostat to show up tomorrow or Sat to install it. Current heat is a CHE and a space heater a few feet away from the tank on the hot side. It took some experimentation, but it's floating from 88-90 degrees on the hot side and 80-82 on the cool side, so I think this should work until my thermo gets here.
Did I mention, the previous owner said he had hard sheds the entire time she had him. He was halfway through one when I got him and had at least 2 layers of eye caps on when I picked him up, maybe more. As soon as I got him home, I got out a tub and let him soak for an hour while I dismantled, cleaned, and rebuilt the nightmare of an enclosure he came in. When I got him out of the tub (BTW, she said he was terrified of baths, but he went in on his own..)I let him slither through a wet washcloth a few times and his shed finished perfectly, eyecaps included. I let him explore the couch and my lap for a bit before putting him in his newly remodeled (temporary) home. He explored a bit, basked on the hot side for a little, then settled in to his cool side hide. He's not head shy at all, so that's a bonus as well.
I said temporary about his home, because I plan on ordering a T8 mid month next month to replace this glass with. I've only had it a few days and am already tired of fighting the lack of humidity.
That's pretty much it for the moment. Am I on the right track, or have I missed something vitally important?
Thanks
Steve

[Lady mkrj58]

I think you are on the right track Its the love and quality care that make the best Ball Babies and family pets, keep us updated on all the New stuff your python is going to teach you.lol

Sent from my SGH-T999

[distaff]

I'll bet he is happy to see again!

[Lady mkrj58]

Just checking to see if you need more information. I think your doing great please don't hesitate if you need help...........

Sent from my SGH-T999

[steve2md]

I'm getting by for now. Headed to buy 2 mice for tomorrow in a few hours. I was planning to let em munch on veggies and fresh water overnight before feeding tomorrow, but if he shows interest tonight, I might just feed him early.

[Lady mkrj58]

Great Idea I like gut loading the mice or rats with good food you know what they say you are what you eat. I also like the kaytee brand of dry food for rodents..

Sent from my SGH-T999

[steve2md]

"She Who Must Be Obeyed" has a rodent allergy, so, unfortunately, unless mice are cool with being bred in the up to 120 degree heat of an az summer backyard, breeding isn't an option for me, so the small amount of veggies/fruit I'll go through keeping mice/rats alive for a few days isn't gonna put me out. I plan to switch him to F/T as soon as possible after he switches from mice to rats, so any of the live feeders I get that he doesn't eat can be euthanized and frozen for later.

[Lady mkrj58]

Your correct on the raising of mice Bummer on the allergies and F/T Is the way to go I order from The Big Cheese and there is all so Rodent Pro.

Sent from my SGH-T999

[steve2md]

So I brought the mice home and Monty completely lost his mind as soon as I walked in the door with them! STRONG feeding response. I think this guy was more hungry than I thought. I went ahead and offered him one a day earlier than I had planned and he nailed it instantly, though it's taking him a bit to swallow since he started from the back end.... How long before I can offer him the other? I was thinking I should wait until tomorrow, so that he can get the first one started on digestion, but if you guys think I should just give him a few (minutes? Hours?) I'm certainly game to try. The plan is to let him get these 2 mice down and try a rat next Saturday. If he takes the rat, I'll begin to switch him to F/T for his safety.
BTW, although he's never even hinted at nipping, I'm glad I had tongs..he was so excited I think I'd have pulled back only 4 fingers....

[steve2md]

As you were..disreguard my last post. I found a few "multiplefeeder threads and they all said "as soon as he gets the first one down" so I offered it to him, and BOOM! 2 mice down. Now to figure out how to train him to eat them head first... His response is so amazing, I'm beginning to think he'll take F/T without a problem as long as I heat it up properly, which is a relief since he keeps hitting these from the wrong end, I was worried an appropriate sized live rat would injure him. I think I'll place an order for medium rats on Tues (pay day for us disabled vets..) and practice my "zombie rat marionette" skillz....

Also, I think I'll change bedding to newsprint or paper towels. I'm uncomfortable with the amount of aspen chips he just took with that mouse....