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james.g
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
33 Posts |
 Posted - 03/07/2012 : 10:28:34
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| hi, we've had our royal nearly 2 weeks now. he's very docile, i knew him for 3 months before buying him. first feed went well,giving one large mouse, but last feed he snapped. we put the mouse in and twice he leaped and snapped at the glass. out of character for him. anyone's ideas greatly appreciated. was he just hungry? (- feeding once a week.) |
1 Royal: Eric (3 years old)
1 Leopard Gecko: Stevie |
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BlueDragon
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
876 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 10:34:02
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Yeah, if he's not in blue then he's was probably just a hungry boy. How old/big is he?
Congrats on haveing such an enthusiastic feeder for a Royal. You should be proud ; ) |
Just me and my zoo. |
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james.g
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
33 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 10:38:22
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| thanks for that. i believe him to be 6. he's soo lovely we were completely taken aback. do you think he may need 2 large mice or feed maybe every 6 days?. don't want to clog him up!! |
1 Royal: Eric (3 years old)
1 Leopard Gecko: Stevie |
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austin_89
Fully Grown Royal
United Kingdom
1248 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 11:19:19
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| My male royal is really soppy usually but when I've accidently gone past his feeding day and hes hungry feeding becomes like a survival test. Getting him out and into his feeding box is a nightmare then once he's in he starts coming for anything that moves. On a normal feeding day he stares at the rat for about 10/15 seconds but when hes really hungry i barely have chance to dangle it before hes ripped it from the tongs! Lol |
1.1.0 Normal Royal Pythons... Kane (CF11) + Frankie (CB11)
1.0.0 Spider Royal Python (CB13)
1.0.0 100% het kahl albino boa Dexter (CB13)
1.0.0 Butter Corn...
0.1.0 Snow Corn... Alice
0.1.0 Red Harlequin Crested Gecko... Charlie
0.1.0 Albino Leopard Gecko... Cleo
1.1.0 African Green Mantis
1.0.0 Staffy... Alfie
1.1.0 Cats... Ebony and DK
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james.g
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
33 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 11:23:48
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| that's great to know. thanks alot!! maybe i'll try 2 mice next time!! ;) |
1 Royal: Eric (3 years old)
1 Leopard Gecko: Stevie |
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Jayde
Yearling
United Kingdom
291 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 12:27:37
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I would say that if his age is approx. 6 years then a large mouse once a weeks isn't enough for him and it's his way of telling you he's pretty hungry!! Has he always been on mice? I would recommend trying to switch over to rats as they are more of a substantial meal per one item than multiple feeding mice in one sitting. If he's having a good feeding response the switch over may be quicker/ easier than some who take a while to take the swap in food.
General rules are no bigger than the biggest girth of the snake or 10/15% of body weight. And then buy rats accordingly.
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james.g
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
33 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 13:32:43
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| ok thanks. the shop i brought him from had him for 3 months and they told me he had shed after hibernation and was having a weekly large mouse and he was eating ok. that's all they said so that's what i've kept him on. i did have a different member of staff tell me he was 2 years old but it was the manager that told me he was 6 so i'm not 100% sure opn age. i've also recently found out with the help of this forum, all the care and information he told me about my royal and how to look after him, has been wrong. think this dealer may not of been the best. thanks for your help. i'll go get some rats - yum!! |
1 Royal: Eric (3 years old)
1 Leopard Gecko: Stevie |
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james.g
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
33 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 13:43:53
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| i also do not know whether to believe the shedding as he has a slightly blue head, having looked closer. this could explain the aggression too couldn't it? can they have a blue head any other time to shedding? i'm such a newbie to it all!! |
1 Royal: Eric (3 years old)
1 Leopard Gecko: Stevie |
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austin_89
Fully Grown Royal
United Kingdom
1248 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 14:13:35
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| Some times Kane's head looks blue in the light. Was told its something todo with their scales. |
1.1.0 Normal Royal Pythons... Kane (CF11) + Frankie (CB11)
1.0.0 Spider Royal Python (CB13)
1.0.0 100% het kahl albino boa Dexter (CB13)
1.0.0 Butter Corn...
0.1.0 Snow Corn... Alice
0.1.0 Red Harlequin Crested Gecko... Charlie
0.1.0 Albino Leopard Gecko... Cleo
1.1.0 African Green Mantis
1.0.0 Staffy... Alfie
1.1.0 Cats... Ebony and DK
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james.g
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
33 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 14:18:01
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| ah ok thank you!! think i'd go crazy if it weren't for this forum!! |
1 Royal: Eric (3 years old)
1 Leopard Gecko: Stevie |
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austin_89
Fully Grown Royal
United Kingdom
1248 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 14:43:27
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| It's ok :) google the blue tint in their scales though just to be sure :) |
1.1.0 Normal Royal Pythons... Kane (CF11) + Frankie (CB11)
1.0.0 Spider Royal Python (CB13)
1.0.0 100% het kahl albino boa Dexter (CB13)
1.0.0 Butter Corn...
0.1.0 Snow Corn... Alice
0.1.0 Red Harlequin Crested Gecko... Charlie
0.1.0 Albino Leopard Gecko... Cleo
1.1.0 African Green Mantis
1.0.0 Staffy... Alfie
1.1.0 Cats... Ebony and DK
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Jayde
Yearling
United Kingdom
291 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 19:04:38
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It's quite normal for them to have a slightly blue irridesence to their scales, quite often people will post pictures and you see it, I think it makes them even more attractive :) if it's a misty blue/ grey colour on a larger area of skin ( in this case over his head) then it could be retained shed, so may be worth feeling him over just to check, or if he has any noticeable peeled skin around that area, but does just sound like a healthy shine :)
Do you know why he was brumated? I've never heard of royals going through it, doesn't mean to say it doesn't happen, but fasts are more their style! (please don't take that as me being rude, simply curious as it may be something his previous Owner did or the shop do with all their reptiles)
Anyway, to add more things to the mix, if he has just come out of a fast, then that may be why he was on smaller prey items, as quite often they are offered smaller prey and then built back up To their regular size. However, he sounds like he is deffinitly ready to start feeding again, so maybe buy the equivalant, or next up from a large mouse but on the rat scale, which if my mind serves me right would be
Rat pups @ 21-30g each = to large mouse
Weaned rat s/L @ 31-45g / 35-49g each = to XL mouse
Small rat @ 46-79g each
(weights based on the prey I get from my local store)
So again it's best to use your judgement based on girth size or 10-15% body weight to work out which would e his most appropriate prey, as I'm guessing if he is 6 years old then he'd ideally be on an adult meal of a large rat every 14 days, which would be your aim at the end of changing the prey over, but as I said, best to build up prey again over a small period (maybe 4-6 weeks), keeping feeds weekly, until end goal is met, so that he's not put off by the sudden change is size if he has been in a fast. Do keep in mind though that royals can be fussy eaters at times so it may be that he will sit at taking medium rats but on a slightly more frequent basis, you have to go with the flor with your royal! Lol
But this is all what I'd do Personally, not saying its he gospel and can't be done differently just my personal view :)
Hope it helps all the same! |
Edited by - Jayde on 03/07/2012 19:11:26 |
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james.g
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
33 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 19:26:41
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| hi. thank you for your reply. of course i wouldn't take you as being rude, i'm asking for help after all. the shop have been very vague on everything about him really. all i know that it is definately not retained shed on his head - it is quite beautiful but as a newbie just wanted to make sure it was nothing else!! i feel i may be becoming slightly paranoid with him, he is so lovely i want to get it perfect but realistically he is prob more steardy that i give him credit for!! i've had to look up brumated i'm afraid as i wasn't sure what you meant. sorry!! the shop never said a thing about it so i can't comment on that. all they said was he was in hibernation - think they don't really know alot to be honest. all i can say is that he seems happy generally and eating well. i will weigh him later today and see what he is. i have checked his skin ( when we brought him) and he seems ok. i will go grab some rats as soon as poss as he is due for a feed in a couple of days. should i give him a large mouse more frequent till then? really appreciate your help because it's all a bit daunting if you know, not a lot!!i think he'll eat a small rat no prob!! |
1 Royal: Eric (3 years old)
1 Leopard Gecko: Stevie |
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Lotabob
Royal Python Moderator
United Kingdom
5008 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 19:55:49
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Snake's dont do hungry. They do do feeding when food is available. With the air filled with prey-smell anything that moves is a target and with eyes and 'heat seeking face holes' targets are easily acquired.
When food is about all bets are off, all niceties are revoked, they may show restraint but its just as likely to grab you, all part of the fun. |
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james.g
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
33 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 19:58:45
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| ha ha cheers! yes definately upping the grub!! |
1 Royal: Eric (3 years old)
1 Leopard Gecko: Stevie |
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Jayde
Yearling
United Kingdom
291 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 21:15:38
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Good, I just didnt want it to come across as so, because i know sometimes things are taken out of context and obviously tones of voice (mine showing curiosity over the question)are sometimes hard to gauge in a written format!
But anyway!!
As to the brumation thing, I should have mentioned that it's the reptile version of a mammals hibernation.. my bad, sorry!
Giving him a weigh sounds good, gives you a rough idea on how to base food then, and its never a bad idea just to know their weight anyway!
Thats good on the skin front :)
And if the snkae is happy and is active (normally in the evenings most people find) then thats a good sign that he's happy, and things are well.
If he's due a feed in the next couple of days I wouldnt worry about giving him anything inbetween. Personally, I would maybe go straight for the large weener rat (if your local supply does that option, as everywhere is different) so it's a relative step up in size in comparison to what he had for his last feed, as I would say anything below that is probably not going to be filling enough for him, especially as the rat equivalant of what he's having atm is normally given to young royals, so I'm sure he'll be drooling for something with abit more meat!! Feed a weaner rat onc a week for a few feeds then if all goes well, go up the sizes. (Again personal opinion, if you think small rat is the way to go, then it's entirely your decision)
Also don't panic if he doesnt show interest, it may take a few times of offering for him to take it, as i said before, some royal take instantly, other mayb take weeks of offering before complying and taking the rat! It's very rare that a royal will let it's starve, so just be patient and persistent. But hopefully with how good his feeding response has been since youve had him, he'll feed like a gem :)
(theres also plenty of helpful threads on tricks and methods of feeding on the site to browse through if it feels like there needs to be a little sourcery to get him to take the rat!!) |
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james.g
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
33 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 21:23:17
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| yes i've seen the braining thing- yuk. thank you for your advice though. he's about a kilo and has tonight been out to play on the bed so i know the aggression was for food - i'm getting him to know my smell and i have to say that i am looking forward to giving him a decent meal now i know what's up. nothing worse than being hungry myself!!! why did that dealer not explain he would need a bigger meal soon - useless! i get the feeling eric may take to the rat well. i'll go on your advice ( as i don't know all the names of the different types and sizes yet !! )and find the large weener ones!!!thank you loads! |
1 Royal: Eric (3 years old)
1 Leopard Gecko: Stevie |
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james.g
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
33 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 22:05:11
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Meet Eric. :)
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1 Royal: Eric (3 years old)
1 Leopard Gecko: Stevie |
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Meadow
Yearling
United Kingdom
196 Posts |
Posted - 04/07/2012 : 20:57:47
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Awww, he's lovely  |
1.1.0 human beasties
0.1.0 royal python
“It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.” - Alan Cohen |
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Jayde
Yearling
United Kingdom
291 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2012 : 15:03:27
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| How did the feed go? |
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james.g
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
33 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2012 : 09:11:59
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hi, sorry for delay in reply!!
i've been having real trouble getting weener rats locally so as he was due a feed i gave in and gave him 2 large mice which he scoffed of course. looking at maybe buying them online but want good healthy ones..watch this space. just out of interest, he is 3 and a half foot long and weighs approx 930 grams. does this sound like a 6 year old to you?as you can see from previous discussion i was also told he was 2 years old and really i'd like to know ( unlikely i'm sure ). i thought they grew to about 5 foot fully grown adult? also do you think this is a healthy weight for size? sorry to ask only i have nothing to go on!! thanks again. :) |
1 Royal: Eric (3 years old)
1 Leopard Gecko: Stevie |
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Topic |
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snappy feeding
