Vladimir- update, more questions!

[FearlessLeader]

UPDATE POST!!!

I have been off the wall with illness, overtime at work, etc...I've finally sat down and returned to the site. Everyone who replied/I've contacted on this forum are wonderful. Vlad has now eaten for me twice, I feed him on Saturday nights. He took down two F/T fuzzy mice my first time feeding him. He came right out after it, didn't struggle, and promptly took a long nap lol. Now this weekend, I was a little concerned!!! I was talking to another owner and I was having a look at Vlad- I thought it appropriate to size up a tad. It seemed he took the mice down like tic-tacs. Anyway- I offered a smaller than average adult mouse. I did the usual prep, dangled the guy in there, and for the first time Vlad struck and constricted his feeder. Yes, it was F/T again- but when I gave him the mice last week, he basically just slithered up and licked (smelled) them before slowly opening his mouth and inhaling them lol.

This time I was so ecstatic to see him do that instinctual snap!!! He dragged the mouse into his hide, which is what I like to see, but I was worried about the size of the mouse and like to watch him eat regardless. So I plopped on the floor out of his field of viewing and peeked in every 5 minutes or so. I was super worried that Vlad couldn't get past those shoulders. One arm just wouldn't go in, and I was starting to panic ("this is too big, hes going to choke, its gonna rupture his belly...") After a lot of moving about, straightening and standing his body up, he finally got the mouse down!!! I noticed he took a little substrate (forest floor) down with the mouse. This intensified my panic as I had to leave town the next day!!! Well I got home to a plumper, well rested snake. He is already looking bigger. But do I go back to the smaller mice or do I continue on with these adult mice?

Also, I added a 5 foot long vine with many leaves to his tank. It offers him constant cover while moving from hide to water or whatever else he enjoys to do. I also took his green leaves and moved them so they hang over his cool hide entry, as he loves it in there and I feel bad he can see me when I come into my room or what have you.

My temperatures are finally perfect 24/7, but the CHE is on the cool side and I'm wondering if this is cause for concern. It is strictly for the ambient air and I didn't want to add it to the warm side at first, figuring it wouldn't really matter. the stand is 3M'd to the outside of the Viv and I wanna know if when I tear down for cleaning this week I should move that thing to the warm side. It's gotten to the point that the ambient air is looking good all day and night, added moss for humidity, but when my CHE runs too long (yes, it is hooked up to thermostat as well)- the cool side seems to become the warm side. it makes my gradient warmest-cool-slightly warm (where it should be coolest). I think I gotta move the CHE or the UTH, it just freaks me out cuz where he spends all his time is the cool side and the CHE is 3M'd to the outside of the viv. I can easily place the UTH over there, just worried about confusing him. Should I flip flop the hides or won't he be able to tell? The place he enjoys resting will suddenly have belly heat. Thats why I really want to move the CHE but I have no F-ing clue how to unstick it. He was too cold when I bought it and I installed in a mad rush to warm him up.

ALSO- my dad keeps bothering me about handling my snake. When I tell him he needs to wait, as I am not even handling regularly yet, he gets snippy and says he'll just do it when I'm not home. This makes me so mad, I know there isn't any help y'all can give for this but had to vent it.

thanks all, xo.

[Newbie39]

Lots of different thoughts on handling. I waited for three successful feeds, but handled her to weigh her and when I had to clean the tank.

You say you feed on Saturdays. Tell your dad next Monday evening you will sit with him and he can handle her. You can show him and teach him about balls. Maybe explain to him why you can't handle a lot at this point.

Happy to hear about the 2 great feeds.

[FearlessLeader]

Hey there, thanks for your response!!!
So I took vlad out lastnight- I opened his viv and waited for him to come slinking up the side of the plants. Sure enough he popped his head out. I put my arm next to the viv and he got onto me like I was a branch, lol. I sat in very low light on my bed with him for around 10 minutes. I told my dad he could sit next to me, and he walks up to vlad and sticks his hand in his face. "I'm trying to get him to smell me." Snake, not dog!!! Vlad didn't nip. I put him inside after that. Pics to follow when I can access my computer tonight

[FearlessLeader]

[Newbie39]

Hey there, thanks for your response!!!
So I took vlad out lastnight- I opened his viv and waited for him to come slinking up the side of the plants. Sure enough he popped his head out. I put my arm next to the viv and he got onto me like I was a branch, lol. I sat in very low light on my bed with him for around 10 minutes. I told my dad he could sit next to me, and he walks up to vlad and sticks his hand in his face. "I'm trying to get him to smell me." Snake, not dog!!! Vlad didn't nip. I put him inside after that. Pics to follow when I can access my computer tonight

Awesome. To bad about the face thing. Keep educating him.