Pinkies due next wednesday

[carnivorouszoo]

My snake is about 16 inches, and eats 1 to 2 pinks a week (I feed on sundays). My colony of 1.4 mice should be giving me babies next week. I was wondering should I take all of them at the pink stage or should I stagger how often I take some until they are all gone? One of the females I want to cull out so I will be leaving a female baby to grow up. Should I stagger so the milk supply is maintained for this one and just CO2 the rest in stages and freeze for future use? I can always post at my vet's that I have f/t available for others who might need them right? Or even Craigslist? What would you do?

 

[Buzzard]

I don't know how your snake is (might be really skinny), sounds like you might wanna up your food size to a small fuzzy. I noticed when I started raising mice I could actually get the between sizes, You might wanna take 2 for the first feeding, then check on the mice until you get them to the size you feel is acceptable for your snake. Gas and freeze.

My colonies are established and I have a litter (in each colony) about every 10 days, So you might wanna leave 2-3pinkies with the girls until they get well established, However if these are the females first litters the litter size might be smaller (due to a small uteres??). So I think I would make that call after the pinkies come along.

Side Note.... I find the smaller the litter (or the more I cull out) the faster they seem to grow. They also seem more healthy.

 

[carnivorouszoo]

Um, this colony was established when I got them. Except the smallest is a new addition along with the male.

My snake is 16 inches long, I have no clue how to measure her girth. When I gave her the two pinks at her last feeding she acted like she did at the first feeding I gave her 3 weeks ago (or so) after getting her. She was quiet for 2 days (give or take a couple hours) then came out early this morning to check out her viv. The first feeding she was active again about 3 days after being fed, the second feeding she was active again about 3 days after but on the Friday before she was due to be fed this time she was actively "hunting". Saturday night when I went to handle her she "struck" at my hand. Didn't bite just slammed her head at me and looped a coil around my fingers and squeezed. After sniffing at me she climbed into my hand. I figured the pinks must be too small and gave her two. The petshop has these pinks then fuzzies. The fuzzies are WAY too big for her. So I gave 2. That's why I say she takes 1-2 pinks.

I'm guessing then that when I take the pinks depends on when I feel each one is the right size?

Ok then my question should be, how long will they keep in the freezer? I have access to jewelers zip bags the right size to hold 2-4 pinks (depending on size), 1-3 fuzzies (depending on size), or 1 hopper.

But the biggest question is do I take all but the one baby female I want to grow out to replace the one female or ???

 

[Floof]

First, the general rule of thumb that I've heard for keeping mice in the freezer is they'll be good for 6 months. Much longer if you vacuum freeze.

Anyway, if you take all but just the one baby, you run the risk of the mother's milk drying up without the demand of multiple babies. If the mother mouse only gives birth to 2 or 3 babies or something like that, feel free to take all but the one, but if she has, say, 10 and you take 9, her milk will most likely dry up before the remaining baby can grow up and be weaned.

 

[cornmorphs]

with 1.4 you will be over run with mice for one snake.
does sound like its probably on too small a food size.

 

[carnivorouszoo]

with 1.4 you will be over run with mice for one snake.
does sound like its probably on too small a food size.

I don't want to risk her not eating or regurgitating so I am not going to up the size until I have my own pinks to choose from. The fuzzies the pet shop has are 3x the size of her widest part. I do not feel good about that since her food should be as wide as her widest part or 1.5 times as wide. The pinks she has been eating are that size.

Trust me we are looking at getting another snake in the next few months, and another around December with possible a 4th the following March. It doesn't hurt that I have cats either :sidestep:

Hehehe, they are on a raw diet so the mice are for them too.

 

[cornmorphs]

fair enough, i wasnt having a go.. although someone did point out the snake sounds a bit skinny at 16 inches eating pinks.. if a fluff is 3 times the size of the thickest part of the snake, personally it think there may be somethin wrong there.. it doesnt all add up, unless you just guessed the length of the snake and its possibly a lot shorter?

 

[Buzzard]

If your feeding the mice to the cats too, I would take 1/2 the litter for the snake and grow the others for the cats.(Just my suggestion, doesnt count for anything)

When you got the colony of mice did you find out how long they had been together?? I am sure there is different meanings for establishment of a mice colony. Established colony to me means when one mothers babies are 3 weeks old and about to be weaned, I should have new pinkies, or in most cases fuzzies, in the containers. I just uped to 10 colonies, but only 6 are established.

If your upping your number of snakes, then go ahead and up your mice colony and or harvest a lot of mice before then.

As far as feeding Rose, it sounds like your on the right track. Your so correct in not trying her something too big. Once the mice start breeding consistantly for you, it will make it easier to pick out the right size.

 

[Buzzard]

Quick question I forgot to ask??? How often are you feeding your snake???

 

[carnivorouszoo]

fair enough, i wasnt having a go.. although someone did point out the snake sounds a bit skinny at 16 inches eating pinks.. if a fluff is 3 times the size of the thickest part of the snake, personally it think there may be somethin wrong there.. it doesnt all add up, unless you just guessed the length of the snake and its possibly a lot shorter?

I measured her when she was stretched out almost completely straight against the tank wall. 16 inches is to be sure I am not saying too long as I believe she is a touch longer but its what I am comfortable saying. Her head was around the "corner" her tail tip was about 4 inches from the other corner. This was the long side and its a ten gallon. She is a little thicker than a pencil. I already know she is thin. My vet said that the people who had her before us could not have been feeding her regularly. She's muscualr though and you can not feel her spine or anything, but he says she should be thicker too. All I can do is keep her on a good schedule and when she will let her eat 2 pinkies in one feeding. That's what the vet said to do. I'll take pics of her next to a pencil so you can compare. Maybe I am thinking she is thinner than she is. Her head is in good proportion to her body I think, but then this is my first snake.

I have also just been told that this petshop sells mouse and rat babies as just "pinks", "fuzzies", and "hoppers". Apparently they do not seperate or differentiate between them they just expect you to be able to tell them by looking at it if its too big. I'm too new at this for that! I've got one more feeding to give her from the petshop (they co2 their own pinks and what not) then we'll have our own. I'll post pics of the pinks next to a penny or something so I can get help gauging what size they should grow to for her.

I'll go get those pictures of Rose!

 

[carnivorouszoo]

Quick question I forgot to ask??? How often are you feeding your snake???

Every Sunday.

 

[carnivorouszoo]

If your feeding the mice to the cats too, I would take 1/2 the litter for the snake and grow the others for the cats.(Just my suggestion, doesnt count for anything)

When you got the colony of mice did you find out how long they had been together?? I am sure there is different meanings for establishment of a mice colony. Established colony to me means when one mothers babies are 3 weeks old and about to be weaned, I should have new pinkies, or in most cases fuzzies, in the containers. I just uped to 10 colonies, but only 6 are established.

If your upping your number of snakes, then go ahead and up your mice colony and or harvest a lot of mice before then.

As far as feeding Rose, it sounds like your on the right track. Your so correct in not trying her something too big. Once the mice start breeding consistantly for you, it will make it easier to pick out the right size.

Thanks, I hope I am not coming across as angry or anything I am just trying to figure things out here. The people I got her from (almost a month ago) were not taking care of her very well at all. She was with 2 other snakes in a 20 tall. They had a heat lamp but no uth. And only one water dish with NO hides. I'm putting pics of her on my photobucket account now. She is actually a lot bigger than when we got her. When we got her she was about 13 inches and her head looked too big.

 

[carnivorouszoo]

forgot to say the older two have been together from what I understood for about 4 months, the mid aged one was added 2 months ago and the youngest girl about a week before I got them. The male was new but the old one was being put in with the girls for a week every 5 weeks to give the girls a week off from babies and breeding. At least 2 are definitely preggers right now.

Thanks guys for your help. Pics of Rose in a couple minutes.

 

[carnivorouszoo]

Ok here are some pics of my little Rose. Please keep in mind she was smaller than this when we got her and this is an improved Rose. Also please keep in mind we have only had her for just under 4 weeks.

This one was taken about a week ago.

 

[Buzzard]

The pics help, Looks like she is getting fatter(a good thing). I would try feeding her every 5 days, or after she poops out, which for my smallest is every 3-4 days after feeding. This might help her bulk up a little bit faster and at this stage she will grow quite quickly with more food being added to her diet.

Once the mice start putting out pinkies I would feed her 2. Then wait 5-6 days feed her a smaller size fuzzy(6-7 day old pink/fuzz). I think(again I am not there) she could hack it.

I have never pulled males from the females but I have heard of people doing it. (I mass produce for me and a friend.) The males I found do a great job of protecting his colony, in fact one bit me last night while feeding and watering. He also will keep the babies warm when the females take a break for food and water. It also allows me to not have to go through a production(getting vanilla and rubbing everyones nose in it, did this when I have had to intro new males) just to reintroduce him. Also because I produce a lot of mice I need the females to produce every month, this does tend to "wear them out" but if you keep them on a good diet, wheel ect... they will produce large litters for about 7-9 months. Which is normal even for a mouse that is rested between litters. Then they get culled for the larger snakes(unless the wife likes them, then they go on to be pets).
There are so may ways that people raise mice. I am sure you'll find the way that works best for you.

 

[carnivorouszoo]

Thanks, I should have at least 2 litters next week. If they are good sized I'll feed 2, freeze 6 and grow the rest a few days then freeze all but 3 or 4. Those I will grow out.

 

[Buzzard]

Oh you didn't come off mean, I find people on this forum sometimes come off direct when they don't mean to. Some find it annoying to answer repeat question from the last new person and come off a little rude. Dont let it bother you. I feel learning about something takes time and by taking the time to listen and answer someone else's questions, you might actually learn something yourself that will help in the future. After all I think that is what these forums are for.

 

[cornmorphs]

I measured her when she was stretched out almost completely straight against the tank wall. 16 inches is to be sure I am not saying too long as I believe she is a touch longer but its what I am comfortable saying. Her head was around the "corner" her tail tip was about 4 inches from the other corner. This was the long side and its a ten gallon. She is a little thicker than a pencil. I already know she is thin. My vet said that the people who had her before us could not have been feeding her regularly. She's muscualr though and you can not feel her spine or anything, but he says she should be thicker too. All I can do is keep her on a good schedule and when she will let her eat 2 pinkies in one feeding. That's what the vet said to do. I'll take pics of her next to a pencil so you can compare. Maybe I am thinking she is thinner than she is. Her head is in good proportion to her body I think, but then this is my first snake.

I have also just been told that this petshop sells mouse and rat babies as just "pinks", "fuzzies", and "hoppers". Apparently they do not seperate or differentiate between them they just expect you to be able to tell them by looking at it if its too big. I'm too new at this for that! I've got one more feeding to give her from the petshop (they co2 their own pinks and what not) then we'll have our own. I'll post pics of the pinks next to a penny or something so I can get help gauging what size they should grow to for her.

I'll go get those pictures of Rose!

ah right i see now then..
doesnt look like there is anything wrong with her at all tho from those pictures.

 

[carnivorouszoo]

with 1.4 you will be over run with mice for one snake.
does sound like its probably on too small a food size.

You were right! I was feeding too small. I really did not think she could eat something that big compared to her. It amazes me that they are so stretchy like that!

My local shop will give me $0.25 each for pinks to hoppers and $0.60 each for weanlings and adults. The weanlings and adults they want some live some frozen. Live to sell as pets the frozen for food I can get the money in cash or store cred for suppies or other animals. I think I am going to save for a 20 long first. Then its lid, then a uth, then a nice water dish, and so on and so forth

 

[wade]

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