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First Feeding!

Gemini8910

Gemini8910

New member
I just fed my baby Lorenzo for the first time on Tuesday! :D I know it was a little early for getting him on Friday (exactly a week ago), but my mom kept bugging me and was all worried because the store said they usually feed the snakes on Thursdays but they hadn't yet so he'd gone a while without eating and he's really small. :/ My mom went to the store and picked up a LIVE pinky. I said I was fine with it because I hadn't found a good place to buy frozen pinkys yet and since they're so small they can't really fight back. :p But I am NEVER buying live again! I was sobbing last night, it was like a delayed reaction. Lorenzo ate the thing WITHOUT KILLING IT, feet first! At first I was fascinated but the little mouse kept squeaking and flailing all the way down. It kept trying to push on Lorenzo's snout, and his hind leg went down bent all the way back. I'm an animal lover so this was really upsetting. :(

So I have a couple of questions too.

First, does anyone know where I can buy frozen pinkys in Orange County? I think the store I bought him from sells frozen too, I have to ask.

Second, will eating it live and backwards hurt Lorenzo? I didn't think it would but my mom wanted to double check.

Third, when should I start looking for waste? He's been hiding in the plants on the warm side so I have no idea if he still has a lump in his body. And is their waste easy to spot or do I have to go digging in the substrate for it? -.- :awcrap:

Fourth, can I start handling him once he's totally digested his food? How much handling is too much? I don't want to stress him out but I also want him to be used to handling. :p

Fifth, unrelated, does anyone have a cat proof top they can recommend? I hate having to lock kitty out of my room. :(
 
Eating the pinky bakwards (and alive) won't hurt him at all, so don't worry about that.
You don't have to search for the poop. At this stage it's the tiniest little amout and it dries up like bird poop. You can try to find it next feeding day while he's out in his feeding tub, but don't worry at all if you don't find it.
You can handle hatchlings generally about 4 days after they eat, I prefer to keep the handling to a bare minimum for the first couple of months, really short sessions, as I want the babies to use their energy for growing. Little short sessions are enough for the snake to learn that you are nothing to be scared of or worried about.
 
If you can get to a reptile show, there may be some sellers there of frozen pinkies. Petco and Petsmart will have them, but they won't be cheap. I found a small reptile shop where I could buy them cheaper till I could place a bulk order.

I ordered from Layne, since I'm in Oregon and they are in CA I figured it was best. Ha. The route they took went from CA to DFW Texas, to Spokane WA, to Portland OR, to here. I may as well have ordered from some one else. I ordered enough to get a good price and bring the shipping down per item. In fact the shop wants to be contacted on the next shipment, so they can order too. Their local supplier is having a hard time keeping up.

And it is great to hear from you Gemini! I was wondering how it was going. What is the measurement of the top of your tank? A friend might be able to whip up a wood slatted top that could with stand the weight of a cat.

And if you don't mind me asking are you a Gemini? I wonder why people pick their screen names.
 
I can try, but my mom doesn't really want to go to those. :/ I'm going to check Reptile Island, the store I bought him from. If not I'll either have to buy from Petco or order in bulk online somewhere and just pay the shipping. :p

Hi Pugsley! :) My tanks around 20 x 11 x 7. I guess that's a ten gallon? I don't know, my mom was dealing with the sales person and my brother kept pulling me to look at the other reptiles they had. :p -.-

Haha yeah I'm a Gemini. :D I wonder about that too sometimes. :3
 
I get our frozen mice from reptile shows, they're SO much cheaper {I stock up, lol}. And yup, my are the same way... poo right in front, sometimes I wonder if it's to make sure I see it and clean it up for them lol.
 
I'll check my 10 gallons and verify the measurements, then see what my friend can do.

My screen name is my nick name. From the TV show The Addams Family. Pugsley Addams, the son. Do one mean thing to a yellow jacket and you are labeled for life.
 
My corns either hide their poo in the mulch like their going to harvest it later, or put it all over the glass in the corner to make things difficult.

My screen name is because of the Billy Joel song, but I'm not a pusher, but I do like Steppenwolf. It also has nothing to do with Captain Jack Sparrow, though I do like those movies and would eventually like to teach a class about the geography of pirates.
 
That'd be really cool, thanks! :D

Ah. :p I've actually never watched that show. I probably should. :p

Lol! XD And interesting name story too. :)
 
It is an old black and white TV show based on the comics drawn by Charles Addams usually published in the New Yorker magazine.

I don't know the Billy Joel song, will have to find it and give a listen.
 
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