What is your snake keeping maintenance schedule?

[redshepherd]

I keep a calendar only to write down their names on days they ate (or offered and refused). I don't feed on exact schedule for my adults anymore. It can range from every 10~16 days. The only one I am feeding every 6~7 days is Togetic, my 280g little girl.

Otherwise, I just check them every day for pees and poops, check their temps once a day. I only handle them when I feel like it, whichever snake I feel like. They don't need to be handled regularly to keep them "tame", since they are all naturally tame, even if I don't touch them for weeks (except for Drizzle, because she's crazy lol).

[Merriah]

Wow CCHardwick! I do not know how you keep track of so many! I have two, and they each have their own monthly/yearly calendar book. (You can get them at the Dollar Store, for peeps that are reading and learning like me!) I keep track of everything from feeding, pooping, shedding, cage changes, even their social behaviors. I take my snakes into the public frequently so I need to monitor habits and moods. They both had a bath, got a mineral oil rub, and then ate yesterday. They were looking miserable this morning. Both were all crackly and wrinkled. I took them each out for another 30 minute bath. After their baths, when I know they are ready to shed completely I put a wet washcloth on their back, hold it down, and let them slither. It will peel off at least 30-50% of the skin. Then I gently hold little pieces, and if it gives right away I take it, but I DO NOT force it. They both had excellent peels this morning! I had to pick off one eye cap off Mikey, and as soon as I did he turned and looked straight at me, slithered up to my nose, and gave me a kiss. He's been off balance on his sticks yesterday, so he's glad to see normally again. Then they both got a mineral oil rub again, and I put them back home. They will get their cages changed tomorrow.
To be specific.... I never feed in their house. They are always moved to a separate bin for feeding. That way they NEVER mistake me for food. Also I never feed live. They gladly eat warmed frozen if I put on a puppet show, swinging the mouse in their face to make them notice and attack. I was told by one of the gentlemen at my snake shop to put it IN THEIR FACE if they refuse for a bit.
I also put them in a separate swim bin for 30 minutes with one of their rocks from their house. They can swim around and rub on their rock, or just rest on their rock if they want. I often find large pieces of skin when I empty it. Once I take them out, I give them the spa treatment with the washcloth and oil. They have gotten used to it, and they love it because they feel so much better afterwards.
That being said, my Harvey gave me a soft hiss when I went to pick him up this morning. He did not really open his mouth this time, but he has before. That means he feels really crabby and sore, so I'm careful. I still moved him with bare hands. Can you imagine having all of your skin fall off at once?!? He made me nervous enough for a while that I got a hook and leather gloves. Now he's fine. Once he's done with his spa treatment, he goes back home and marches around to rub against anything to take of the rest of the skin. My Mikey absolutely looks like a rich chick at a spa. He sits still to let me rub the washcloth, and then sits up and acts all important with the oil rub. It's funny!
Anyway, my boys are very spoiled, but they have to be in order for me to trust letting 5 year old children handle them. I miss them so much right now, because they are finishing shed, and they normally get daily holding time (at least 30 minutes, but last week Mikey wouldn't let go for an hour and a half). Tomorrow they get cage change and we will be back to normal. I hate shedding time, because I feel bad and I can't hold them as much.
Thanks for posting CC, this was extremely timely for me. And, if I had as many as you do, I would feed in their homes as well. Mine are specialized for social stuff, so I'm extra careful.
Any input from you CC, or any moderators, please, please put it right here so we can all learn!

[Alicia]

They both had a bath, got a mineral oil rub, and then ate yesterday. They were looking miserable this morning. Both were all crackly and wrinkled. I took them each out for another 30 minute bath. After their baths, when I know they are ready to shed completely I put a wet washcloth on their back, hold it down, and let them slither. It will peel off at least 30-50% of the skin. <snipped>

Apologies for tone in advance -- I really like to be positive, and I'm worried I will come off as . . . slightly negative. But, this is not good or normal.

I trimmed it to the above because this sort of sums up what does not work with your routine. It is wholly unnecessary and counter productive. Especially the oil -- oil can and will slough scales. Not the used, shed scales; the live scales, that the animal needs. It really, really has to stop.

What is your setup? What are the temps and humidity, and how are they measured? Please, start a new thread if need be. Sheds are a good way to gauge a snake's setup, and how it's actually doing. If the sheds are bad, then something in the setup is wrong. Most likely, humidity, followed by temperature. If you retool your husbandry, you should have perfect sheds. Even if that means adding a humid hide during wintertime sheds, when humidity can really drop. Please, please address this.


Anyway, my schedule . . .
Daily:
Everyone gets checked first thing in the morning.
Cages cleaned as needed.
If a snake has pooped, it may also be weighed -- especially females and youngsters, and males that are fasting.
Records are taken if someone has shed.
I check my thermostats and heaters.

Weekly:
Water bowls get changed every 3-4 days (usually Mon and Thurs) and as needed.
Tues and Wednesday -- general feeding days. The BPs are offered food on these days, with the iffier feeders offered a meal on Tuesday, the super reliable feeders the next day. I feed in the evenings.
Feeding activities are recorded.

Other:
The JCP is on a 4-6 week feeding schedule. I usually give her XL rats. Sometimes she'll get an additional small rat or two to mix things up.
The female Angolan is on a 4 week schedule.
The male Angolan, 2 weeks.
Most of the year, the Rosy Boa eats weekly. She slows down in winter and stops taking food between about November and Feb.


So, there are days when I don't have to do anything, 'cept maybe play with somebody and take photos , and days when pretty much everyone has done something horrible to their cages.

[cchardwick]

It's funny, I don't record sheds, when they poop, snake weights, etc. the only thing I keep track of is number and type of rodent eaten. I don't even weigh the rodents, just record '2x fresh killed rat' (for example). I just check weights when it's time to breed LOL. Or if I'm curious how many tens of pounds my retic weighs LOL.