| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| stevethornley |
Posted - 12/03/2011 : 20:28:14
... was a success!
Picture this: myself, my son (age 8) my daughter (age 4) knealing around Kate the snake on the bedroom floor (wife in the doorway) as she first strikes (I still had the rat's tail between my tongs!) then wraps, then swallows a rat weener. Whole process took about 10 mins. Can't tell you how relieved we are (it's her first successful feed with us) and what an amazing experience this was! Have seen it on telly and YouTube lots of times but it's somehow different when it's happening in your own house!
Here are the things we did differently to the first unsuccessful attempt last weekend. Would be interested to know which you think might have been decisive. Or do we just have to accept that Royal's are 'fussy eaters'?
1. Rat was from TSM Reptiles (recommended by breeder) rather than the local pet shop. We noticed that this one didn't smell as much as the first which seemed to smell of wee.
2. Rat had black head, white body. First one was all white.
3. Warmed up for 10 minutes rather than 5 and gave a good go with a hair-dryer.
4. I put her in a tupperware, similar to the RUB she was brought up in, outside of the viv, prior to dangling the rat in front of her. Thought it might remind her of the last time she fed LOL!
5. Haven't handled her all week. Although, bear in mind, this is only her second week in her new home.
Thanks for your advice everyone. Feel a lot happier now than I did last weekend. 
Cheers
Steve |
| 14 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Lotabob |
Posted - 15/03/2011 : 19:56:46
I know that feeling when you've had a big meal, undo the top button of the pants and fall asleep infront of the TV, its no wonder they fall asleep for a few days after a weeks worth of food in one meal. I know Duke quite often pokes his head out but only for a drink, buts thats nothing unusual, he doesn't do much generally. |
| stevethornley |
Posted - 15/03/2011 : 19:46:23
RoyalBob: she's just over 8 months and an average weight and length from what we can work out but, as is often said here, every snake's different.
I've just been in to change her water and, as we haven't seen her move from her snake cave since her feed on Saturday, I thought I'd just lift the lid and check on the occupant. She's fine. No hissing or striking out. Just lifted her head inquisitively and so I gently put the lid back. Won't get her out until next feed at the weekend. Just nice to see her... we've missed her not having the nighttime viv walkies we've been used to.
Steve |
| Royalbob |
Posted - 14/03/2011 : 22:16:17
RAC for snakes lol i love that.
As bats already said steve sleeping it off, once they get one feed down em and feel secure being left to digest your normally on to a winner.
can't recall how old Kate is but youngsters usually go a lot more frequent. mine are about once a week. |
| n/a |
Posted - 14/03/2011 : 21:31:27
quote:
Originally posted by stevethornley
Thanks BATS - you're always so quick! Like the RAC for snakes!
We're going to leave serious handling until we've got those 3 consecutive feeds down her... then regular armchair walkies, like you say. My son is being very patient - not bad for an 8-year-old!
Already looking forward to the next feed. Will look out for the mint imperials and will try not to be tempted to eat them!
Steve
LOL - I like that - RAC - Royal Active Communication perhaps?
But only during active hours - otherwise I spend most of the time asleep ... in my warm hide ...like my royals ... zzzzzzzz.... |
| stevethornley |
Posted - 14/03/2011 : 20:27:27
Thanks BATS - you're always so quick! Like the RAC for snakes!
We're going to leave serious handling until we've got those 3 consecutive feeds down her... then regular armchair walkies, like you say. My son is being very patient - not bad for an 8-year-old!
Already looking forward to the next feed. Will look out for the mint imperials and will try not to be tempted to eat them!
Steve |
| n/a |
Posted - 14/03/2011 : 20:07:51
quote:
Originally posted by stevethornley
Thanks everyone. Yep, I think we'll keep it simple and do it all the same this coming weekend and fingers crossed, it will go well again. Kate has stayed in her cool snake cave since - we haven't seen her out at all. Is this normal? We've been used to her coming out 'to play' once it's dark. I guess no need to look for anything as the thing she's programmed to find is currently in her tum. How long before we see poo?!
Steve
Hi, she may not take a dump until she sheds - although they are all different. You may also find a big smelly wee - or simply things that look like mint imperials and are called urate balls (solid urine.) It's fun!
Yes, she's digesting. Again, they're all different. Some are happy to come out for armchair walkies once the 48 hr digestion period has passed, some stay in hiding, sleeping it off.
Leave it up to Kate! |
| stevethornley |
Posted - 14/03/2011 : 20:00:32
Thanks everyone. Yep, I think we'll keep it simple and do it all the same this coming weekend and fingers crossed, it will go well again. Kate has stayed in her cool snake cave since - we haven't seen her out at all. Is this normal? We've been used to her coming out 'to play' once it's dark. I guess no need to look for anything as the thing she's programmed to find is currently in her tum. How long before we see poo?!
Steve |
| Royalbob |
Posted - 13/03/2011 : 23:29:22
great news Steve. Your kids must of been buzzing. |
| scubadude |
Posted - 13/03/2011 : 07:02:55
Congrats on the succesful feed, it's always a relief to get that, as to what was the magic touch, aah well that's the question  one thing I do know is that if any of mine are being finiky a rat at 37c - 38c always elicits a response (thankyou IR thermometer), most of the time the don't care as long as it's room temp and rodent shaped,but the extra heat usually does it. |
| reptilemadd |
Posted - 12/03/2011 : 22:51:23
Congrats, now you've found that oh so secret formula I wouldn't change a thing even down to the colour of the rat or if you did change it change it to all black like the saying goes if it's not broke don't fix it :) |
| hodgie |
Posted - 12/03/2011 : 22:08:53
Congrats, the hair dryer trick always does the job. |
| n/a |
Posted - 12/03/2011 : 21:41:55
Ha - nice one! Congrats!
Kate will soon be enjoying her armchair walkies! |
| Lotabob |
Posted - 12/03/2011 : 21:29:40
Brilliant, it could have been one or all of them though smelling of wee is like waving apple pie in front of us, they should be attracted to the smell. Maybe you just looked at her wrong the first time lol. Kidding aside its probabaly that she is more settled in her new environment, only 2 to go and then regular armchair walkies can start (thanks for that saying BATS I am regularly using it now). Royals seem to have a preference for how they like their food served its down to us to figure it out, like cracking a safe all the bits need to slot into place. I would say if there is anything you want to change about how you fed differently from today do it one at a time so you'll know straight away what it was that stopped her eating.
On a different note, its amazing watching them eat isn't it, totally alien process, what were they thinking evolving that way but glad they did or my Sunday evenings would be boring. |
| sandi |
Posted - 12/03/2011 : 21:21:04
Woohoo! job done!
Thats the first of many but they are all, somehow, exciting! |
