| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Tawfik47 |
Posted - 05/04/2011 : 15:16:38
it's been 8 days since i bought Blitz, today i tried to feed him, i removed the hide he were under and placed the hamster infront of him,
believe my he didn't move !! still the way he is, like a ball :P
i waited couple of minutes and he still without a move, although the hamster were moving all around the viv :P
Anyway, i removed the hamster after that and placed back the hide over Blitz (Still not moving, just breathing).
Then i came up with an idea :D
I thought i can handle him from now on since he showes no interest in eating the hamster.
I think he won't eat befor month or two, so in this period i'll handle him and make him used to me and used to be handled, and then he will not be stressed so much and maybe he will eat.
I know it sounds strange, but i don't know why i think it will Succeed !!
I don't know if somebody tried this before, but really, what do u think guys ?
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| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Tawfik47 |
Posted - 07/04/2011 : 13:12:12
Ok, I'll going to do that as soon as i get home :) |
| n/a |
Posted - 07/04/2011 : 11:48:21
Yes, so that Blitz can watch it and even smell it and work up an appetite. |
| Tawfik47 |
Posted - 07/04/2011 : 11:36:24
You mean put hamster viv close to Blitz viv ? |
| n/a |
Posted - 07/04/2011 : 11:17:35
Ah, no, sorry, I didn't put that very well. I should have said, within sight and smell of the snake's viv, so that the snake can see and smell the hamster but not actually get at it, and vice versa, to get the snake all excited about the next meal. Will amend my last post. |
| Tawfik47 |
Posted - 07/04/2011 : 08:11:07
Seems to me a good idea :D
I'll try to put the hamster in a container without lid and put it in Blitz viv. So if he feels hungry he will go for the hamster, and in the same time the hamster can jump out of the container and freak Blitz :) |
| n/a |
Posted - 06/04/2011 : 14:40:37
You know I can see another downside to live feeding ...
Blitz refuses a couple of times more (nothing to worry about, I might add) and in the meantime you've got attached to the hamster lol!
I suppose if chicks are what he's used to, it might be an idea to let him go on eating them until he's feeding well for you. (And in the meantime you will have definitely got attached to Hammy ...) But I would definitely try to get him on to hamsters, as chicks have absolutely no nutriment ... it's a bit like letting a child off eating a good dinner and then allowing him to fill up on crisps.
One feeding tip that's said to work very well is to put a live rodent's cage within sight and smell of the snake's viv, so that it can watch the rodent. This shouldn't stress out the rodent, and while you may be tantalising your snake, that's what you want to happen - when the rodent (or another prekilled rodent) goes into the cage, the snake may grab! |
| Tawfik47 |
Posted - 06/04/2011 : 11:53:47
I see, maybe if i found frozen rodents i wouldn't think of live ones to feed my snake.
Anyway, the hamster i get is too small to harm Blitz, so i'm NOT afrair of this threat, I'm just afraid of refusing Blitz to eat hamster, since he is used to feed on chicks. |
| Kelfezond |
Posted - 06/04/2011 : 11:42:39
Yeah I was always under the impression is was okay if your snake refused other methods otherwise its cruelty to the snake. |
| n/a |
Posted - 06/04/2011 : 10:43:49
Yes, I'd always understood it was illegal here - that's why I wondered if there was an embargo on discussing it. I believe, though, that there is some sort of loophole that permits you to feed live if your snake refuses to eat prekilled, and would otherwise starve to death, but even so you're advised not to publicise the fact ...may have got my wires crossed a little here, but I believe that's the gist.
But 'humane' rodent poison is still widely available. I've seen a sick rat several days after the council operative came to put down poison on the site where I had an allotment. Humane? Luckily I was able to finish the job instantly.
I really really wouldn't want to feed live unless I was forced, but snakes are far more humane in their methods. |
| blackskull |
Posted - 06/04/2011 : 10:11:39
on the topic of live feeding apprently its now illigal to feed live in the uk. the better half was at her yearly cpd lectures in birmingham and in one of the lectures someone asked about live feeding. the speaker said they get this question alot regarding reptiles and they said its illigal |
| Tawfik47 |
Posted - 06/04/2011 : 09:23:38
Ok, I'll try to find something smaller :) |
| Lotabob |
Posted - 06/04/2011 : 00:13:08
Yeah Thats about as much as I see of Duke, they are very secretive animals. One small thing to consider is your hides are huge, they like their hides very tight fitting and may not feel very secure and this could result in more non feeding. If you have a small cardboard box that blitz can only just fit into it might be worth cutting a small snake sized hole in it and putting it in as a hide. |
| Tawfik47 |
Posted - 05/04/2011 : 23:27:56
This is some pics how he look like when he's hiding most of his time, with an exception in this photo that his head is out :D
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| Kelfezond |
Posted - 05/04/2011 : 23:11:06
Probably be the same, they don't tend to come out very often, some exceptions but most are shy |
| Tawfik47 |
Posted - 05/04/2011 : 23:07:55
LOOOOL @ Lotbob ...
Okay then, I'll wait till feeding attempt will succeed :)
and about the expencive live prey, it's actualy not here, i can buy live hamster with just 2 $.
anyway, i'll try to search again for a frozen rodent, and if i didn't fined them, i'll search for someone who can kill them for me :P
Thank u guys for the help.
just have another question.
Blitz always stays in his hides, never saw him moving in the viv. is that okay ? i mean when he'll sattle down in his viv, will he move out of his hids? or he will be just like that always ? even if he is settled ?
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| Lotabob |
Posted - 05/04/2011 : 22:44:43
I liked them when I had them but wouldn't have another, they stink, they bite, they are noisy all night long. In fact sod em, forget humane, beat them to death with a tea spoon. |
| Kelfezond |
Posted - 05/04/2011 : 22:23:02
I can imagine, I hate rodents I used to keep rats as a kid and all they did was attack my hands. |
| Lotabob |
Posted - 05/04/2011 : 22:15:37
quote:
Originally posted by Kelfezond
lol bob that's the first time "home made gas chamber" and "humane" has been used in the same sentence.
PMSL!
I agree snakes know what they are doing and precautions are the way forward. I didn't want to say it but the wallet impact is a big reason I wouldn't do it, they are expensive alive and vets cost a fortune should the snake get injured. Even a small bite can get infected and I've been bitten by a hamster, I used to have a few and if they get a good purchase on you their ridiculously sharp and long teeth go so deep and its agony. |
| Kelfezond |
Posted - 05/04/2011 : 21:33:48
lol bob that's the first time "home made gas chamber" and "humane" has been used in the same sentence.
I think people go way over the top with live feeding precautions snakes are extremely adept at taking down rodents, they do it as hatchlings it's built in they just know how to do it, the dangers are basically 0 if you supervise it correctly, I'm speaking as if I'm experienced at it but christ I really can't see how it can be so dangerous hehe. I know I've preached to others on the forum about doing frozen over live and I personally believe frozen is far better but I wouldn't say live in dangerous to the snake :P just dangerous to your wallet. |
| Lotabob |
Posted - 05/04/2011 : 21:28:24
I would be of the opinion that live feeding does have its dangers, well dangers is maybe a bit of a strong word but precautions need to be taken. Snakes are very capable of taking down a rodent, they've been doing it for many many millions of years but it comes with the risk of bites, scratches, broken teeth etc. It may also stress the snake out to have a rodent running around in its enclosure. Its personal choice as to whether its worth taking the risk.
Just because you can't buy prekilled prey items doesn't mean you can't feed them prekilled, but that brings its own questions of how do you kill a rodent without been cruel, you can gas them with CO2 in a home made gas chamber, this would be the most humane way to do it, I've heard of people hitting them off hard objects but if not done right it will cause huge amounts of suffering, and there is snapping their necks, again it needs to be done right and it more difficult than you might think in naturally flexible and chubby animals.
You have to be prepared for the worst case scenario when live feeding and be ready to intervene if necessary, I'm not a fan of live feeding, I think there is always a better way of feeding and would only consider live feeding if it was absolutely necessary.
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