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Need help with general care and budgeting.

Butter Motley

Butter Motley

butter motleyc
I recently adopted a butter motley from petsmart and need a little help figuring out general care. Right now i am using Aspen bedding and have a 20 gallons viv. with a water dish, cave, and large branch-like structure. I have been feeding my snake fuzzies and pinkies every week, and the budget on it is killing me. I have a very hungry snake and am wondering if someone knows of a website that sells quality mice at a reasonable price. I was also wondering if someone knew a website that sells good bedding and quality supplies.
 
I used to recommend eBay for supplies, but Amazon has taken over for cheapest, lately. I usually search for the item using Google Shopping and compare prices. Then I'll search for it on Amazon and see what prices I get. The good thing about Amazon is you can get free shipping often.

It's cheaper to buy mice at a local show. For one snake, it's pretty expensive to order on line.
 
I found this info doing a quick google search http://www.wireptileshows.com/index.php?link=vendors Looks like they only do shows twice a yr but there is a vendor for feeders and they have an email address listed. I would email them and see how close they are to you and if they would let you pick up or if they deliver to shops near and you could set up a time to meet on their route. Worth a try at least :)
 
Butter Motley said:
I recently adopted a butter motley from petsmart and need a little help figuring out general care. Right now i am using Aspen bedding and have a 20 gallons viv. with a water dish, cave, and large branch-like structure. I have been feeding my snake fuzzies and pinkies every week, and the budget on it is killing me. I have a very hungry snake and am wondering if someone knows of a website that sells quality mice at a reasonable price. I was also wondering if someone knew a website that sells good bedding and quality supplies.
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One pinky or fuzzy a week shouldn't break you.....
why acquire an animal if feeding it is a strain on the budget?
 
I own a pet store and sell pinks for .50 cents and fuzzies for a dime more. I know some stores are higher, but it should still be less than a couple bucks a week for one snake. Use your search engine and see if there are any local breeders (of mice or snakes) that might sell you some or let you go in on their next order. Another thought would be to look for local herp clubs.

Also, I'm just curious, you say you "adopted" this from a Pet Smart. Does this mean they gave it to you?
 
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Petsmart only adopts out animals that are unsellable. Animals with healed injuries, or were sick and now are too old to be caged on the floor or reintroduced to old cage mates, etc. Unless it was injured and then healed with visible blemishes, I can't image it would have been adopted out. If money was transferred for the snake, then it's not an adoption. So, I was curious too but didn't want to be the one to say something first :p
 
You can order aspen bedding and what not from petmountain, but as far as buying food, you will probably have to find a local source to feed a single snake. There is no way you can order bulk in order to feed one snake.
Also, it sounds like you are over feeding. Your snake only needs one food item a week, so instead of "pinkies and fuzzies" try just a fuzzie, or if those are too small, the next size up is a hopper.
 
i just wanted to ask if theirs any sort of regulation being used on the UTH or not, like a thermostat or dimmer? I didnt see it mentioned by the OP, and that sort of worries me..

and I was wondering the same thing, how a couple mice are 'breaking the bank'? I mean even for a 14 year old, why would the parents allow the animal into their home if they didnt know if they would be able to aford to feed it.. and snakes are terribly cheap animals to feed.. Even if you are paying a little more it shouldnt be more than 2$ per mouse and thats an adult, fuzzys and hoppers would be cheaper.

Of course this is just my 0.2, but i really would like know about the UTH, being regualted or not. :(
 
Ok, a lot of people are saying i am over feeding my motley, they are also saying that it shouldn't be breaking the bank to feed him 1 pinkie or fuzzy, but he is actually over 2 feet long now, and is eating up to 4 fuzzies a week. Although right now he is preparing to shed so he hasn't eaten yet this week. Also in order to feed him it is like $15 per 6 fuzzies. And it is not so much breaking the bank as being way over what my friends claim as a reasonable budget. I just feel i should clarify this. And am i feeding him too much at 2 fuzzies a week?
 
Does your mom or dad have a kitchen scale? If you can weigh him in grams this will help us a lot. Four fuzzies a week is a TON of food. If he is eating that much, he needs to be given a single larger mouse a week. Multiple food items increase your risk of him getting sick. It is better to give him one appropriate sized mouse than a bunch of little ones.
 
Usually you only ever double up on feeding pinkies, when your snake is big enough for larger prey they get only one. Snakes are opportunistic feeders, in the wild they don't know when their next meal will be so if the find multiple prey items they will eat them. When we keep them as pets though we know that they will be fed again soon, so we only give them what they need right now. Does that make sense?

Google or search the forum for munson feeding plan. It gives a good breakdown of how much and often you should be feeding your snake. You will need a scale that does weights in grams, a postal or kitchen scale should work.

Also it's easier to weigh your snake if you put it in a bowl. Just put the bowl on the scale before you turn it on and it will zero out, then you can set your snale in and get an accurate weight.
 
If he's eating 4 fuzzies a week, one hopper or small mouse should equal the same amount of food at 1/3rd the cost. Sounds like your snake is ready for much larger meals!
 
Pet Mountain .com has a lot of supplies. If you sign up for their email notices, they have a couple sales every year, I just got 60 water bowls for 60% off plus free shipping.
 
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