| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Dottyj |
Posted - 08/04/2013 : 19:37:02
Hey all, well I have had dexter for a month now, he has a fantastic viv with loads of hides, temps are spot on. I got advice on here how best to feed him. He has only eaten once for me since I got him. I have tried a few times again with no joy... I left him alone and really did not bother him to allow him to settle . But now he has taken to hissing at me, and is not very happy to let me touch him or pick him up. Please help as I feel like a complete failure just now... 
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| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Mikeyboy1992 |
Posted - 19/04/2013 : 23:50:49
Have you had any luck with handling and feeding yet Dottyj? |
| boomslang |
Posted - 13/04/2013 : 15:46:58
No worries :) good idea on keeping a log,will help you out in the future  |
| Dottyj |
Posted - 13/04/2013 : 08:39:51
Thanks all for your help and friendliness guys. Its nice to get a response and with help and to also feel am not alone either. I am keeping a diary with him until he starts feeding regularly and everything settles down. Thanks all very much xx |
| eyeball |
Posted - 11/04/2013 : 23:17:51
As herriotfan says, you're definitely not a failure! I'm a beginner at this and I couldn't wait to get Noodle in his new viv. As soon as he was in I suddenly became really nervous about getting him out again!
I got myself a small snake hook just to stroke his side a couple of times to let him know he was going to get picked up and I wore a pair of soft leather gloves the first few times until I felt confident. As long as you move slowly you'll be fine. I would agree with not letting the hiss dictate what you do, just be firm but gentle and he'll be fine. Also, I waited for three consecutive feeds before I even thought about handling. I know you're having trouble getting him to take but it may be worth waiting a little longer for him to settle.
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| Zoe |
Posted - 09/04/2013 : 14:10:42
Phew glad not just me that got spooked, mine does phantom strikes - it's really wired he kinda strikes but with his mouth shut, like head butting. Don't half make me blooming jump. He hissed at me but to be fair was my fault, I'd just got him and kept buggering about in his viv. I left him and he was fine |
| Dottyj |
Posted - 08/04/2013 : 21:39:48
When I got him, he was in the middle of a shed, and his shed came off in bits and pieces. He retained some skin on his side which Is coming off. He fed on a rat fluff which I brained and used the hair dryer to cosy it up. I have a corn snake who is great, and I have done a lot of work with a reptile rescue centre, so I thought I d be ok. And to be honest I did buy gloves but felt really pathetic wearing them. And honestly again I did leave him when he hissed . I knew they were fussy eaters , but it's like worrying when your child won't eat. I have a vet in my work place and he is booked in next week for a check over. But thanks for all your support, it's greatly appreciated and needed. |
| Lotabob |
Posted - 08/04/2013 : 21:31:53
You have to love these golden sausage snakes, they are the ideal first snake and yet the ideal snake to give a newbie a heart attack. It sounds to me like you have a scaredy Royal, I have one of those too. As herriotfan says you become tuned into what they like and what they don't, for example I built a lovely vivstack to display my snakes yet one vivarium is dark and tucked away behind a couch, that's the way Duke likes it, dark and hidden, it totally ruins the look but its the way he likes its, when i ditched all lighting the improvement was amazing, a much happier snake. I have to sneak food in, if he sees me put it in, he won't eat so I have to carefully check he isn't looking out and sneak it into a corner, too much fuss and he won't eat. Anyway the point I'm making is once I figured him out it became much easier to feed him, he is now 4 foot and 1.6kg so have faith you'll get it figured out very soon and you'll never look back.
I would advise against handling at the moment, leave him alone, don't even try to feed him, it will do him no harm to have a little time out, after a week or so just sneak a rat in just before you go to bed and then leave him to it overnight, if he fancies a nibble he will eat if not dont despair he will eat when he is ready. Oh and hissing is a lot of bluff mostly, my Duke hisses so loud he scares the neighbours but he has only ever struck at me once and that was because I frightened him nothing to do with every day stuff. |
| herriotfan |
Posted - 08/04/2013 : 20:38:56
First off..you're not a failure!
It can take time to build up a bond with your snake, especially if it's all new to you.
Take your time and do short handling sessions. If needs be wear gloves. If he gets the idea that hissing stops you handling then he will hiss all the more. He needs to learn that hissing is pointless and you are not the big threat he sees you as at the moment.
What ways have you tried feeding? There are things that can be done to encourage a snake to eat.
If you tell us what you've done we could suggest other things to try.
There are lots of experienced owners on here who will be very happy to help so please don't fret and stop feeling bad.  |
| Evolution Morphs |
Posted - 08/04/2013 : 20:20:44
Don't panic if it helps my cinny just feed last week one a large mouse land she's been fasting for 4 months |
| rustyp1974 |
Posted - 08/04/2013 : 20:14:20
Is he about to shed? |
| boomslang |
Posted - 08/04/2013 : 20:09:22
It's only been a month,he's eaten once for you too.So it's not all bad :)The hissing could be stress etc,and might be affecting his eating.
Don't let him hiss,then leave him alone.Wear gloves if you're alittle scared  to get him used to you/handling.
You've checked over the viv,and say it's all correct.Have you check the snake over well? |
