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brad37
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
22 Posts |
 Posted - 18/04/2012 : 20:21:33
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| hi my royal has not had any food in 8 weeks its starting to worry me now i have try most thing up to now but nothing is working he must be fasting but he is not that old he is just over a foot long any tips or should i just leave him till he is ready |
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n/a
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7384 Posts |
Posted - 18/04/2012 : 20:33:25
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How old is he? At his length I'm assuming he's too young to be doing the adult mating fast. 8 weeks is a long time for a very young snake to fast. did his supplier give you feeding/shedding records?
Have you monitored his weight and has he lost much weight? Imagine his shape in cross-section. If he's rounded like a mars bar, he's ok for the time being, though would be good if he ate, if he's triangular like a toblerone, then he's underweight.
If he is underweight, he may need intervention such as assist-feeding, and the person you got him from may be able to help with this - or, which area do you live in? There may be a forum member who can help. I know I'd be happy to. (I'm in Wakefield.) Otherwise, could be a good idea to consult a reptile vet and get him checked over and get help with starting him eating.
Do hope this is a false alarm and that he starts eating by himself, and all the best with him. |
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Edited by - n/a on 18/04/2012 20:34:21 |
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brad37
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
22 Posts |
Posted - 19/04/2012 : 13:59:04
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| hi i am going to have to do something its getting very worrying now i did get some feeding info when i got him but it all could of been made up for all i know you take there word for it. its like any thing you buy they said its been feeding well and pooing fine and they did show me records i love him now so i dont want to ask for my money back i want to try and help him and sort it out i live in blackburn thanks brad |
d.j.green |
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hodgie
Fully Grown Royal
United Kingdom
1197 Posts |
Posted - 19/04/2012 : 14:25:22
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Hi Brad i`ve just done a quick search for rep shops in your area and theres one fairly close to you. Robertson Reef & Reptile 13 Whalley Rd, Accrington BB5 1AD. Your best bet maybe to go and have a chat with them. On positive note its very rare to lose a young snake. My Mojave was in need of assit feeding when i got her but she only needed to be helped 4 times before she got the idea.
http://www.robertsonsreefandreptile.co.uk/home
Have you made sure your food item is nice and warm, some small detail like this can make all the difference |
Royals owned "lots"
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Edited by - hodgie on 19/04/2012 14:35:38 |
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hodgie
Fully Grown Royal
United Kingdom
1197 Posts |
Posted - 19/04/2012 : 14:45:27
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Right i`ve just had a look back over your previous posts and appears your snake husbandry may not be correct. You need to get this sorted as it appears you have no way of controlling the temp of the viv. 2 unstated different wattage bulbs and a heat rock aren`t going to work with a Royal. You need a stat, one bulb that is relevent to the size of your viv and a temp prob.
Have a good read of the care sheet please and set up accordingly then you will have a happy snake that will start to feed
http://www.theroyalpython.co.uk/royal_python_care_sheet.htm |
Royals owned "lots"
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Edited by - hodgie on 19/04/2012 14:45:40 |
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n/a
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7384 Posts |
Posted - 19/04/2012 : 15:03:28
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Hi again - can't add much to Hodgie's very good advice, except to say I too had to assist Shahi when he was a baby and after that all was well - what a relief! Some hatchies just are like this. If you can get some expert advice and assistance from a shop, all the better. It's a bit terrifying when you haven't done it before, I know.
All the very best with him - keep us posted. |
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brad37
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
22 Posts |
Posted - 19/04/2012 : 17:24:00
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| hi thanks all of you he not far off 2 foot i got it wrong does this make any diff or should i still be worrying i got rid of the rock and i got a red spot and its 32.5 in hot end and 26.8 in cool end but i have just found mites on him would this stop him from eating? so i have just cleaned every thing and him and just put white paper down saw i can see if he has still got them? but i have some spot on for my cat but i don't know if i should risk using that i would not know where to start with it. thanks everybody brad |
d.j.green |
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n/a
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7384 Posts |
Posted - 19/04/2012 : 17:33:35
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Ah, that's rotten luck! He sounds a lot bigger but have you got an idea of his weight and age - that gives a better guide. As for them pesky mites -
http://www.surreypetsupplies.co.uk/Callington-Mite-Spray-100g.html
This is the stuff to get - shocking price but it really works and it's very safe.
And this is what happened to me a couple of months back - same as you, I got a new snake and the damn mites struck -
http://www.theroyalpython.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8220&SearchTerms=call+for+the+callingtons
I've only just realised - I never saw any on her for ages because the little bleeders aren't visible until they're adult. Yes, it can stop them feeding, but she's a carpet and nothing stops them. Oh, and the Ardap I used to spray her kit, that can be got post free from Amazon - bit better value but can't be used near the snake alas.
My girl's fine now, and your lad will be too - best of luck. |
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Edited by - n/a on 19/04/2012 17:36:51 |
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hodgie
Fully Grown Royal
United Kingdom
1197 Posts |
Posted - 19/04/2012 : 19:30:03
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quote:
Originally posted by brad37
hi thanks all of you he not far off 2 foot i got it wrong does this make any diff or should i still be worrying i got rid of the rock and i got a red spot and its 32.5 in hot end and 26.8 in cool end but i have just found mites on him would this stop him from eating? so i have just cleaned every thing and him and just put white paper down saw i can see if he has still got them? but i have some spot on for my cat but i don't know if i should risk using that i would not know where to start with it. thanks everybody brad
Have you got a stat yet? |
Royals owned "lots"
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Lotabob
Royal Python Moderator
United Kingdom
5008 Posts |
Posted - 19/04/2012 : 20:39:50
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quote:
Originally posted by brad37
i have some spot on for my cat
Big clue there as to whether to use it on a snake.  (without specialist exotic veterinary prescribed dosage info)
Mites are a MASSIVE irritation to the snake, they can also make it anaemic so you might want to get some Reptoboost for the water to help keep him perky. Callingtons will nuke those vampire beasties. A bath will get all the mites that are on the snake now off it and drown them which will instantly make the snake more comfortable. Unfortunately its likely all this fuss will unsettle your snakey and it wont eat during this time but unfortunately its a necessary evil.
As for the husbandry (how you keep the snake), if you haven't got a thermostat then you need one ASAP (as advised in February), you only need 1 heat bulb creating a hot spot of 32oC, the ambient temperature will take care of itself. Because Royals are usually shy nocturnal animals its best to avoid bulbs that give off any white light, this includes red spots, you would need a special Infra Red bulb (bit of a lie in the name as its not technically infra red but filters out white light so its good anyway) or a ceramic bulb that emits no light at all, just heat. With all bulbs you need a guard, not only will a nosey snake burn itself climbing up onto the bulb as snakes dont feel heat like we do but they can also squeeze it until it breaks which leads to glass injury. Oh and not to mention electrocution. |
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brad37
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
22 Posts |
Posted - 19/04/2012 : 20:45:23
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| thanks stake and hodgie you do not know how hard it is to get a stat in blackburn i have been looking all over can not seen to get one so i have been looking on e bay i need one a.s.a.p. i don't know how long he has had the mites i have been keeping away till he has is first feeds so now i have seen them and get rid of them. hopefully he will eat soon i tried to post a pic but can.t seem to get one up to see if thought he was in good shape thanks |
d.j.green |
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n/a
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7384 Posts |
Posted - 19/04/2012 : 20:57:26
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Surrey pet supplies do the cheapest stats - you'll need a dimmer stat for a bulb and a guard too (sorry if you've already got that) but here is the stat I'd buy -
http://www.surreypetsupplies.co.uk/Microclimate-B1-Dimmer-Stat-600w.html
If you order it with the Callingtons, if you're going to use Callingtons, you'll probably get both for the same postage as the spray (expense again  these snakes eh? But a lot cheaper than local rep shops - if they sell them.) But it'll last you years - it's a good bit of kit.
All the very best! Worrying times I know, I was devastated about Shahi not eating and Sulah's mites but we get through them - you and your lad will get there and you'll have learned a load more about snake keeping, even if it has been a bit of a baptism by fire. Keep us posted. |
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Lotabob
Royal Python Moderator
United Kingdom
5008 Posts |
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n/a
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7384 Posts |
Posted - 19/04/2012 : 21:56:20
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Ah well, yes, if you can get your head round Ebay, they're even cheaper, but pulse stats for a red bulb, no. It'll flash on and off like a lighthouse.
But yes, if you can get a a dimmer on ebay you can get a bargain. |
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Lotabob
Royal Python Moderator
United Kingdom
5008 Posts |
Posted - 19/04/2012 : 22:34:00
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| Yes I forgot to say the pulse is for ceramic bulbs only. Thanks for that BATS. |
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7384 Posts |
Posted - 19/04/2012 : 22:36:36
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| Lol no probs - was just being a smartass! |
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Lotabob
Royal Python Moderator
United Kingdom
5008 Posts |
Posted - 19/04/2012 : 22:44:13
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| Your a Yorkshire lass, is there any other kind lol. |
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7384 Posts |
Posted - 19/04/2012 : 23:03:43
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LOL I was born in Yorks but I'm a bitser - ie bitser this and bitser that ...Irish and lotsa other things lol.
But still a smartass! |
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brad37
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
22 Posts |
Posted - 20/04/2012 : 00:40:16
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| hi i have not just sat at home i have been out looking for one i have spent a far bit on taxies looking if i had a car i would go out of town.i have even rang up for one out of town and they said they had some in stock and when i got there they had none and it cost me a lot in a cab. if they would of said i needed one when i bought my set up i would of got one that day and we all don't have credit cards some of us owe money to the bank. sorry sill new to this really when i did my reading up on snakes it didn't say any thing about having a stats even on y tube it said nothing i will make sure i get one over the weekend thanks |
d.j.green |
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hodgie
Fully Grown Royal
United Kingdom
1197 Posts |
Posted - 20/04/2012 : 10:12:10
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quote:
Originally posted by brad37
hi i have not just sat at home i have been out looking for one i have spent a far bit on taxies looking if i had a car i would go out of town.i have even rang up for one out of town and they said they had some in stock and when i got there they had none and it cost me a lot in a cab. if they would of said i needed one when i bought my set up i would of got one that day and we all don't have credit cards some of us owe money to the bank. sorry sill new to this really when i did my reading up on snakes it didn't say any thing about having a stats even on y tube it said nothing i will make sure i get one over the weekend thanks
you aren`t the first person who`s been given crap advive from a pet shop and you definately wont be the last. When i bought my 1st Royal i was sold all the wrong gear, i think the only thing correct was the viv. I had a heat mat that covered 2/3 of he viv and a glass thermometer as used in fish tanks. So dont beat yourelf up. As before read the care sheet, get your husbandry sorted and you can soon have everything sorted, |
Royals owned "lots"
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Edited by - hodgie on 20/04/2012 10:12:48 |
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n/a
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7384 Posts |
Posted - 20/04/2012 : 10:26:04
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I know how you feel - when I started with snakes nothing was ever said about stats - I'd no idea I needed one - had never even heard of stats until I found the snake forums. (Mercifully the corn hatchling sensibly chose its own place in the viv, away from the unstatted mat, but even so, I still cringe ...)You think the shop person knows what they're talking about - but they don't always. Plus, as you've found out, shops don't always carry essential kit. The first stat I bought had to be specially ordered for me by a rep shop, at great expense ...mercifully I discovered online shops after that.
Yes, it can feel like a minefield to begin with - sorry to hear you've had such a frustrating time, but there's plenty of reliable info on this forum - it's certainly helped me. |
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snake
