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Wannabe Thief
- Thread starter Aozora
- Start date
Aozora
Blue Sky Reptiles
Thief #3, the one who we think is gravid, had some trouble with her shed while my mom was watching over all the critters. We had to put her in the bathtub and slowly and carefully help her shed pretty much her entire skin. She was *not* pleased with us. She musked my roommate, and she hissed on every breath she took until her skin began to peel off easily and she figured out what we were getting at.
I counted at least 4 lumps. I hope they're actually eggs and not my eyes playing tricks on me. I also hope that if they are eggs, the firmness with which I was holding her did not damage them inside of her. She's a good-sized snake, and she took some restraining to get the shed skin off.
Since she did shed, we'll find out about whether those are eggs or not pretty soon! Debating about offering her food again, I'm thinking that even though our captive corns refuse food before laying a wild snake will not.
I counted at least 4 lumps. I hope they're actually eggs and not my eyes playing tricks on me. I also hope that if they are eggs, the firmness with which I was holding her did not damage them inside of her. She's a good-sized snake, and she took some restraining to get the shed skin off.
Since she did shed, we'll find out about whether those are eggs or not pretty soon! Debating about offering her food again, I'm thinking that even though our captive corns refuse food before laying a wild snake will not.
Aozora
Blue Sky Reptiles
Look who we caught red...scaled?... trying to sneak into the quail shed! Meet Thief #4! He's a lot heavier-bodied than the others, even though he's not all that big length-wise. He also has a huge head--we thought he was triangle-heading at us, but no, that's just him. But boy does he have a 'tude. No biting, but he's a musk machine and he doesn't stop rattling. He really disliked the camera, as evidenced by the way he 'tuded at it.
Kind of a sad day, we butchered off 10 of our extra quail roosters. It's so much quieter without them. But I look at the home-raised meat in our freezer, and it's all worthwhile. Still have lots of birdies left, and we're up to 9-11 eggs a day! Gonna start up the incubator this weekend and try to hatch us some more.
Kind of a sad day, we butchered off 10 of our extra quail roosters. It's so much quieter without them. But I look at the home-raised meat in our freezer, and it's all worthwhile. Still have lots of birdies left, and we're up to 9-11 eggs a day! Gonna start up the incubator this weekend and try to hatch us some more.
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Aozora
Blue Sky Reptiles
Thief #5! Has to be a new snake, he's too big for #1, too small for #2, and not stocky enough for #4. (#3 is still playing games with her lay box.)
He's been an interesting one. I had to play tug-of-war to get him out of the quail hutch. Then, when we brought him inside, he managed to jailbreak his tank after 3 solid hours of shoving the lid. We found him curled up in our "hospital" closet where we're nursing an injured box turtle under an array of nice warm lights. (The lid has been fixed and clipped in place.) He's been very good-natured about it the whole time, at least.
Also, spot the kitty photobomb.
He's been an interesting one. I had to play tug-of-war to get him out of the quail hutch. Then, when we brought him inside, he managed to jailbreak his tank after 3 solid hours of shoving the lid. We found him curled up in our "hospital" closet where we're nursing an injured box turtle under an array of nice warm lights. (The lid has been fixed and clipped in place.) He's been very good-natured about it the whole time, at least.
Also, spot the kitty photobomb.
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Aozora
Blue Sky Reptiles
Guess who showed up today?
Thief #1!
He's starting to understand how the game works. He tried to run away from us for a little bit while he was in the quail hutch, but gave up pretty quickly. No biting or musking or flailing. Then, when we put him into his temporary home, he went right into his favorite hide and curled right up.
Thief #1!
He's starting to understand how the game works. He tried to run away from us for a little bit while he was in the quail hutch, but gave up pretty quickly. No biting or musking or flailing. Then, when we put him into his temporary home, he went right into his favorite hide and curled right up.
Aozora
Blue Sky Reptiles
This is getting ridiculous... Went out to check on the quail, and #4 was curled up on the waste tray, just hanging out. Didn't struggle or musk, and actually wanted to climb on my head (I didn't let him). We have 3 wild black rat snakes in the house right now: #1 hasn't finished digesting his mouse yet and will be released in the morning, #3 isn't laying and we're suspecting she might not be gravid after all, and #4 is hanging out in a temporary bin. We're rapidly running out of room for everyone!
smigon
Old enough to know better
Some would call it "prison"! :grabbit:
Aozora
Blue Sky Reptiles
We'd been remarking on how we haven't had any guests lately. We went out to check on the quail and found #4 inside one of the cages with a quail halfway down his gullet. He had literally broken into the cage--the screen is all bent to (&(^# where he got through.
He ended up spitting my bird out--it was too large for him. He's currently sitting in a spare bin while a more appropriate meal thaws. I don't begrudge a snake for being a snake, but I'm really pissed that he killed a meal too big for him.
The quail who died was a rooster. He did exactly as a rooster should, took the hit protecting his hens. We buried him with our other pets, because he deserved a hero's funeral. We'll be fixing the quail cages tomorrow, and snake-proofing the whole shed in the very near future.
He ended up spitting my bird out--it was too large for him. He's currently sitting in a spare bin while a more appropriate meal thaws. I don't begrudge a snake for being a snake, but I'm really pissed that he killed a meal too big for him.
The quail who died was a rooster. He did exactly as a rooster should, took the hit protecting his hens. We buried him with our other pets, because he deserved a hero's funeral. We'll be fixing the quail cages tomorrow, and snake-proofing the whole shed in the very near future.
Aozora
Blue Sky Reptiles
We marked the snake who had killed one of the quail roosters and let him go this morning. Guess what we found this afternoon.
He'd gotten in and eaten one of the quail, but he couldn't get back out due to a massive lump. He will be staying in the house for the rest of the year, since he apparently has learned how to break into the cages. We're also going to get a chicken rooster and set up his coop in the quail shed. Roosters will happily beat the snot out of any snake who tries to come near.
Behold, the snake we're calling a whole bunch of names we can't post on a family forum, and one of the quail hens.
He'd gotten in and eaten one of the quail, but he couldn't get back out due to a massive lump. He will be staying in the house for the rest of the year, since he apparently has learned how to break into the cages. We're also going to get a chicken rooster and set up his coop in the quail shed. Roosters will happily beat the snot out of any snake who tries to come near.
Behold, the snake we're calling a whole bunch of names we can't post on a family forum, and one of the quail hens.
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Aozora
Blue Sky Reptiles
We've had a few come and go, and I haven't really chronicled their actions, but today we had an interesting one.
#1 showed up again--in the rabbit shed. He was sitting on top of the cage with a momma and her 7 three-week-old babies. He saw me and decided to try to move away, but at one point he did stick his head through the wire to get a sniff. I tapped his nose, and he backed off and made for the quail shed a few feet away. We did end up catching him as he was entering the quail shed.
It was probably best for him that he did not go after a rabbit kit. Mama Rabbit takes umbrage when I handle her babies, and I am the food bringer and head rubber. She would take a lot more umbrage from a snake, and Mama Rabbit is every bit of 9 pounds. It would not have gone well for #1.
#1 is looking good--he's filled out since June when we first put the quail out. All those extra mouse meals. I'll have to take a picture of him.
#1 showed up again--in the rabbit shed. He was sitting on top of the cage with a momma and her 7 three-week-old babies. He saw me and decided to try to move away, but at one point he did stick his head through the wire to get a sniff. I tapped his nose, and he backed off and made for the quail shed a few feet away. We did end up catching him as he was entering the quail shed.
It was probably best for him that he did not go after a rabbit kit. Mama Rabbit takes umbrage when I handle her babies, and I am the food bringer and head rubber. She would take a lot more umbrage from a snake, and Mama Rabbit is every bit of 9 pounds. It would not have gone well for #1.
#1 is looking good--he's filled out since June when we first put the quail out. All those extra mouse meals. I'll have to take a picture of him.
MysticExotics
(formerly NWHeather)
Love the updates! 
Aozora
Blue Sky Reptiles
Here is #1, looking just as unrepentant as always. Compare him here to his very first photo in the thread--several months of free meals has agreed with him.
#4 the quail eater is deep in blue. There are few things as miserable as a black snake in blue, and so I didn't torment him by getting a picture.
#4 the quail eater is deep in blue. There are few things as miserable as a black snake in blue, and so I didn't torment him by getting a picture.
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rainbow_bright83
New member
He looks very smug. Lol
ShelbyScott
Owned by Paisley
This. Is. Hilarious. I'm so jealous that you get so many visitors! Very sorry about all those quail though...