| T O P I C R E V I E W |
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Posted - 12/11/2011 : 16:32:54
It's so very true - they are all different!
Shiva, aka Brian, arrived last Tuesday. He's a cb09, originally from the US, very confident and laid back and an efficient strike feeder. His full feeding history isn't known but Lou, his previous owner, was told he was feeding on mice, but we agreed he could well move on to rats.
Friday is his usual feeding day, and he was watching me from a hide, so I thought ...well ...try today, just once, and see if he takes. A week is the usual settling in period before the first feed but he seemed relaxed and inquisitive, so ...
I picked out a white weaner rat, to resemble a mouse in appearance if not smell. Not quite big enough for him but plenty of time to move up in size. I used Hodgie's tip of opening the viv window and giving ratty a blast with the hairdryer next to the viv, to blow the smell in and get Shiva's juices working ...it did. Within seconds an inquisitive head had appeared. I grabbed the tongs and offered ratty. Shiva seemed puzzled. I danced ratty about and he perked up ...makes me wonder if he'd eaten live in the US, because he struck and coiled and ...first feed, job done ...yaaay!!
As I do with my other royals, I retired and left him to it. When I returned ...ah. NOT good. He'd let go of the rat and was sniffing it over but not taking. Should I rewarm and retry or not bother him again? Early days after all.
I decided to rewarm and retry and opened the viv window. I slid the tongs in to retrieve the rat and his eyes fair gleamed as he sensed the heat of my hand. He was hungry! He was keen! And knowing the swiftness of the hungry royal's feeding response, it would not be wise to put my hand any nearer to the viv door. I paused, and, distracted by the smell of rat, he returned to it before losing interest a little and turning his back on me. I used the tongs to fish the rat out by the tail, fast, and shut the viv windows before Shiva, outraged at the theft of his rat, could chase after it.
I've never seen a snake respond like this before. You learn something new all the time. He watched my every move as I rewarmed the rat - HIS RAT! He was frantic! His head was going up and down like a manic yoyo - what the hell was I doing to HIS RAT??
Ratty prepared, I opened the viv window and offered again and he was on to it in seconds. He didn't coil though, so, just to get him a bit excited, instead of letting go with the tongs as I'd normally do, I wiggled the rat gently. That did it! He coiled, hard! Hanging out of the viv, he started to take the rat down with enthusiasm.
Going down nicely ...
The Smile ...
A satisfied Shiva ...
Of course, I joked, after telling him what a brilliant boy he is, if you hadn't eaten it, Shahi would.
Shahi? Who's Shahi?
Nobody gets my rat!
Thanks for looking.
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| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| n/a |
Posted - 20/11/2011 : 18:59:04
Thanks Sultanheart - the hides and the beautiful piece of bark and some plants are what he came with from Lou and we both use the aspen bedding. I had to put him into a temporary viv at first as I had to wait for help with a bit of furniture removing to get Shiva's own viv put in place - I confess I do love fussing about with setups and even if the plants are artificial, they all give a royal more cover and confidence. |
| sultanheart |
Posted - 20/11/2011 : 18:19:20
waw.. i like the environment around ur bp.. so nice really.. i think my comment is # 20.. (hot topic) :) |
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Posted - 20/11/2011 : 18:13:35
And a second feed tonight - finally got his own viv set up yesterday; he moved in with all his personal belongings, and this evening I offered him a rat ...no pics as he dragged it into a hide, but have just checked quickly and found no rat in the hide - therefore it must be in Shiva.
Very proud of him; he's settled in so well! |
| n/a |
Posted - 14/11/2011 : 22:37:28
Thanks guys!
It's awesome every time, when they eat - and the first time with you, wow! |
| Tawfik47 |
Posted - 14/11/2011 : 21:33:53
Nice story Bats !! |
| Animal |
Posted - 14/11/2011 : 18:48:32
He is gorgeous, and its always good to see them have a good chomp |
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Posted - 14/11/2011 : 18:38:55
Ah thanks Mamma - hopefully my emails will have reached her and she can see how the lad is doing (striking and WOLFING lol!) on the forum too - thanks again for him Lou - he's GREAT!!! |
| Mamma |
Posted - 14/11/2011 : 18:17:09
Lous internet is back up and running |
| n/a |
Posted - 14/11/2011 : 17:59:05
Aww thanks Reptilemadd but again I really think she'd think I'm ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6GlUhK9hSs&feature=related
Batssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!! |
| reptilemadd |
Posted - 14/11/2011 : 17:03:03
See I'm not the only one who thinks you sould put a book together lol, send it to jk rowling after all the trouble she had getting the first harry potter book published I'm sure if anyone could help it'd be her lol |
| n/a |
Posted - 14/11/2011 : 16:08:06
quote:
Originally posted by Lorraine
Jeez, that's a bummer. It doesn't sound like there's much hope for anybody anymore does it. Although.....maybe Max Clifford is free? ha, ha.
LOL - I had to google this guy - just shows how out of touch I am. Mind you I can imagine his answer if I approached him:-
'Are you BATS????' |
| Lorraine |
Posted - 14/11/2011 : 11:57:20
Jeez, that's a bummer. It doesn't sound like there's much hope for anybody anymore does it. Although.....maybe Max Clifford is free? ha, ha. |
| n/a |
Posted - 14/11/2011 : 11:11:55
quote:
Originally posted by Lorraine
quote:
Originally posted by BurnedAtTheStake
but not much hope of being published when you're unknown, alas.
Ummm....everybody's unknown when they write their first book, Bats. Get in there..you never know your luck.
Thanks, The Novel is waiting in the wings but nowadays you can't submit to a publisher as you could in my youth; an agent must be found and, according to one writer's forum, a publicist is a good idea ... Supposed to network and be a Personality and get your name known and then you've got a chance of someone deigning to look at your work ...I've no chance, I won't even do facebook lol. |
| Lorraine |
Posted - 14/11/2011 : 01:59:22
quote:
Originally posted by BurnedAtTheStake
but not much hope of being published when you're unknown, alas.
Ummm....everybody's unknown when they write their first book, Bats. Get in there..you never know your luck. |
| n/a |
Posted - 13/11/2011 : 23:17:27
Thanks Lorraine - I do write a bit ... but not much hope of being published when you're unknown, alas.
I'm so pleased with him ...he is a great guy! |
| Lorraine |
Posted - 13/11/2011 : 21:43:23
Very confusing...my mates call me Lou...thought you were talking to me for a minute, lol.
Super pics Bats and WTG Shiva. You really should write a book Bats, you tell 'em so well.
Oscar's been doing a bit of sniffing lately too, after he's struck and coiled and last night he dragged it into his hide and ate it!!! |
| n/a |
Posted - 12/11/2011 : 20:43:28
Thanks Mamma - ah that makes two of us as I've tried to send myself a test email ...
modern technology eh?? |
| Mamma |
Posted - 12/11/2011 : 20:28:56
Lous got no internet just now.
Loving the pics |
| n/a |
Posted - 12/11/2011 : 17:58:26
Have sent some pics off to Lou as we're keeping in touch, but my dratted email's down - sorry Lou if you're on the forum, meant to give you a snake - sneak - peek first ...
Can't get over what a great character he is! |
| n/a |
Posted - 12/11/2011 : 17:22:08
Thanks GMac! |
