sort of feeding question

[frankykeno]

It's actually better for a W/C to be the smallest tub possible that still allows for thermoregulation Jen while trying to get it settled in. Let me try to describe the setup that Adam recommended we use in Saoirse's early days.

We used a tub we normally use for juveniles (sorry I will have to run get the dimensions later). She had already been treated for parasites so we didn't go the paper towel route. We filled her tub very deeply with a natural type substrate (it was a mix of aspen and a lot of baked cypress mulch). So deep that basically her hides were almost buried and she had to go down into the hide (like they go down into burrows in the wild). We left a small amount of head room and of course a water dish. This does make the tub a tad harder to maintain temps and humidity wise. We put her in a bedroom and kept the curtain closed as much as possible (Adam suggested a walk in closet but at the time we didn't have one large enough). We allowed no one near her, no noise or disturbance in that room...heck we had her for months and our kids had never even seen her LOL. We offered her very small meals...nothing bigger than a large pup or small weanling rat. We fed her in complete darkness and monitored her feeds by sitting dead still close by and covering a low light flashlight with a dark t-shirt. As soon as she struck successfully we crept out of the room (she would not eat if any movement in the room was detected). We never handled her at all until she was eating consistently and had started to gain significant weight.

It's a LOT of hassle but for this one snake this worked. It doesn't always work and W/C adults can break your heart. Best of luck with this one.

[joepythons]

Joe, he said that the belly has healed- if it was mild scale rot, it would have been shed with her skin.


Sounds more like she may be striking in self-defence. Or the prey may be too big and intimidating her. I agree that leaving her alone completely for a week and trying again is the best idea.

Also do not leave her alone with a large live rodent. If you do try this, make sure that it is a small one, and leave food in the enclosure for it.

Sometimes sellers lie about the snake eating, esp. wild caught. But it sounds like she'll come around.

Also make sure that you quarantine her for a couple months before trying to breed.

Sadie,in my opinion scale rot(if thats what is wrong with this snake) has no mild stage once its started.Thats why i asked how this person treated it.

[phantommaggot]

Hi,
the amount of time i gave her was 7days, i got her on a monday, and when i typed it up the first time i just counted up till saturday which is the day i feed all my other snakes.. but my lady here reminded me that i waited till monday.. i completely forgot.. as feeding day has become a bit of a habit here..

as far as her belly goes.. its completely healed since she shed.. and she may be stressed since i checked her belly once a day.. i also put antibiotic on the spots as i was told to do. i also checked her box once every couple days while she was waiting to shed.. so .. that may be it.. she could just be stressed...

the guy that sold me the snake said she had been in captivity for around 2 years. and its someone i see on a fairly regular basis, i dont think hed lie.. but either way.. i guess well find out..

o and im trying to feed her a medium rat, well the mediums my pet store sells...

so i should give her a solid week and not touch her, open her tub, or anything unless i need to.. and then try a small rat??

what if i need to straighten out her bedding.. or something of that natrue... she has this nasty habit of pushing her hide over her water and then setting behind it...



thanks again..
-josh

[joepythons]

Hi,
the amount of time i gave her was 7days, i got her on a monday, and when i typed it up the first time i just counted up till saturday which is the day i feed all my other snakes.. but my lady here reminded me that i waited till monday.. i completely forgot.. as feeding day has become a bit of a habit here..

as far as her belly goes.. its completely healed since she shed.. and she may be stressed since i checked her belly once a day.. i also put antibiotic on the spots as i was told to do. i also checked her box once every couple days while she was waiting to shed.. so .. that may be it.. she could just be stressed...

the guy that sold me the snake said she had been in captivity for around 2 years. and its someone i see on a fairly regular basis, i dont think hed lie.. but either way.. i guess well find out..

o and im trying to feed her a medium rat, well the mediums my pet store sells...

so i should give her a solid week and not touch her, open her tub, or anything unless i need to.. and then try a small rat??

what if i need to straighten out her bedding.. or something of that natrue... she has this nasty habit of pushing her hide over her water and then setting behind it...



thanks again..
-josh

Josh,i thank you for answering my additional questions.I was just trying to help you figure out how to get her to eat,when i noticed the days left alone to settle in were differant.Thats great her belly is better now i am sure your giving the antibiotics and keeping her dry were the reasons it has cleared up.Now the part of not disturbing her for a full week i would just spot clean any messes and clean water daily.Is it possible to use a heavier hide or place something on it so the little bugger will not push it over the water lol? Maybe she does not like the color,you know how females are .