Awkward behavior

[swkirrel]

I don’t see mine at all when they are shedding. Sometimes I think they got out of the vivarium, but they are just hiding. Sounds normal to me.

[Johnny Hive X]

Wow, thanks everyone for your input. I'm less worried now. I noticed my humidity dipped quite a bit lately when it was at a good steady spot. I'll probably try the misting/sponge technique. I never thought about the sponge.

I'll probably try feeding him again.

I'm trying to avoid handling him to get that extra shed off until he has 1 or 2 more good feeds. He's only had 1 since I got him.

I thought about pre-scenting, but I'm afraid the mouse will stress him out because usually they go crazy in the little cardboard box they come in and I don't want the mouse stressing the snake out. I might give it a try and see if it works. The mouse usually craps and pisses all inside the cardboard box

[starmom]

Careful with the sponge idea-- they breed bacteria very quickly... Sphagnum moss is a better and safer trick!!

Pre-scenting allows the snake to realize that there is prey around and gives the snake time to get prepared and into the hunt mode. Feeding responses are usually better after pre-scenting.

I pre-scent for about an hour or so (actually, I thaw all of the rodents in the room that the snakes are in and so it is pre-scenting at various levels throughout the day.) For the snake who eats live, I prescent for about an hour and then put the mouse into her tub and walk away. BAM!!!! Job is done. I feed at night (when the snakes are active) and then I leave the snakes alone for two days while they happily digest!!

Just a thought: I leave my snakes alone for 48 hours based on their tub or cage temps and the amount of prey I have given. If temps were cooler, digestion would be slower, and I'd leave them alone longer.....

[dr del]

Hi,

I probably wouldn't wait 10-14 days to remove the piece of stuck shed on his tail if it circles it completely.

Getting it sorted shouldn't be that long an ordeal if you follow the advice in the bad shed sticky.

As long as it has been at least 48 hours since he last ate (or more if your temps were cool as Starmom says ) I would try and remove it - and though the piece on his head matters less you might as well try and remove it at the same time I think.

On the mouse front you could buy a small "critter keeper" and put the mouse in there with some bedding, food and a waterbottle then leave him near the snakes cage for an hour or two without having to worry about him chewing out fo the cardboard or anything.

It is always a good idea to have a cage like that anyway for those times when he doesn't want to eat - you can just keep the mouse till next feeding day and try again.


dr del

[starmom]

...On the mouse front you could buy a small "critter keeper" and put the mouse in there with some bedding, food and a waterbottle then leave him near the snakes cage for an hour or two without having to worry about him chewing out fo the cardboard or anything.

It is always a good idea to have a cage like that anyway for those times when he doesn't want to eat - you can just keep the mouse till next feeding day and try again.


dr del

This is a great suggestion Derek and it is just what I do. For my snake who eats live, the mice I can get are always so puny. I buy several of them and put them into cages and fatten them up