I decided to write down my snake maintenance schedule and put it on my calendar so I can track it easier, I'm on a five day schedule. Just wondering what other people are doing... Here's my routine:
Day 1: Feed all snakes. I at least attempt to feed everyone, some will eat every time, some fast for months, some skip a meal or two. I offer them a fresh killed or frozen thawed rodent for about 30 seconds max. If they don't hit it I'll move on. Sometimes if I have an extra rodent left over after feeding my 20 snakes I'll go back through and offer it a second time to the non-eaters, some will actually take it the second time around. I always start with my pickiest eaters first and prepare fewer rodents to start so I don't have any left over.
Day 2: In the morning while my snakes are sleeping / inactive I'll go through the tubs and check for uneaten rodents just in case someone grabs one and then doesn't eat it.
Day 3: Day off.
Day 4: On this day I go through all my tubs and spot clean, I usually move the snakes up to the front of the tub or put them in a different tub, then move the coconut husk out of the back of the tub where the heat is and spray it down with diluted Chlorhexidine and wipe it dry. Then I spray down the coconut husk real good (water only) for humidity and change out their water cups. I try to handle each snake, mainly to try to tame down the mean ones.
Day 5: On the last day of my rotation I clean my ARS rat breeding rack (20 tubs) and my 8 mouse tanks, I change out the bedding, spray down the tubs with dilute Chlorhexidine and rinse and dry, then add new bedding, top off the water and food, and if I have an excess of rats of the appropriate size I'll put them down with CO2 and pop them in the freezer. Usually I'll just mark that tub (make a mental note) and try to feed them off on Day 1, then whatever doesn't get eaten goes in the freezer. I try my best not to freeze any, the fresh killed are easier to prepare and the snakes like them better. But if I don't feed them off they get too big for even my biggest ball pythons, then I have to feed them to my retic!
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