the saga continues........

[MerlinsPop]

Oooo... she is a pretty one!

 

[diamondlil]

Slightly better pictures from this morning. Lil's still not the most streamlined of snakes, I'm going to put her on 10 day feeding because I think she'll end up with hips otherwise!

 

[Susielea]

Oh boy she's a chunky little lady...lol...She looks like my RO girl when she's gravid?

It might be worth keeping an eye on her if that is sudden weight gain, if not then she's just enjoying her food...lol. Which is a good thing after all the troubles she gave you to start with, congratulations!

Best wishes,

 

[diamondlil]

Thanks Susie. Actually Lil's been chunky from when she first started to grow again, which is why I used to call her a 'sausage snake'. I did think she'd eventually start growing in length enough to look a bit more elegant, but I'm now wondering if she will.
Which makes me wonder, is she this shape because of the check in growth due to her early troubles, or would she have been this shape anyway? I'm never going to breed her, so there'll never be any mini-Lils to compare. Because I could never risk her in the potential risks of breeding and because I couldn't take the chance that she would pass on genetics for poor feeding or growth problems.
Seeing as she's over 300g, I suppose she could be ovulating. If so I'll just hope she reabsorbs the eggs. I know it may sound silly, but if anything happened to Lil I'm not sure I'd want to carry on with the hobby.

 

[diamondlil]

Here I go again! When I went to pick up my mousicle order yesterday, there was a request from the shop to foster a non-feeder and see if I can get it feeding again for them. The staff there didn't know which one it was, so I checked the corns over.
None of them stood out as excessively thin, but I was dismayed to see there were 2 groups in 2 critter keepers. Apparently the owner had them in seperate hatchling tubs and the vet who inspected them made him put them in the bigger keepers. One group were nice and plump, the other are IMO a bit thin in proportion to their heads.
So, I've spoken to the owner today, I'll pick up the non-feeder tomorrow, but I want the others all back in their seperate tubs. I've advised 5 day feedings rather than once a week, but now I'm going to need to find some back-up to use against the stupid vet.

 

[diamondlil]

And here's my new foster-snake! Last fed on 23rd January. He's been in the shop since October and only weighs 8g. His siblings didn't look much bigger, but they've been on one pink a week. I only took a couple of shots before settling him in his quarantine quarters in my bedroom.
The petshop owner has ordered hatchling tubs and is starting a 5-day feeding regime for the others in the shop.
I WILL NOT get attached and keep this little fellow, but I've called him Val in honour of today's date.

 

[diamondlil]

Well this was a push-over! I thawed half a large pinky, and Val made it disappear! I'll fatten him up for a couple of weeks, then he'll go back to the shop:dancer::dancer::dancer:

 

[Susielea]

Well done Janine! Sometimes all it takes is the right husbandry i.e. probably seperate living quarters in this case, for a snake to start feeding again!

He's pretty cute too, are you sure you couldn't keep a Valentine snake?...lol

Best wishes,

 

[diamondlil]

Nope, I don't mind doing a bit of snake-whispering by fostering, but as cute as he is, I've got good reason to resist. Even if there's no other health considerations, all the hatchlings in this batch looked about as scrawny as Val. I strongly feel that at the age of @ 4-6 months (the shop's had them since october) even with the once a week feeding the hatchlings should be bigger.
Maybe I was lucky that my 3 pippies last year were 9, 10 and 10g out of the egg, but even if these hatched at 6g, why are they so small?
As a second reason, I'm hopefully going to sell any hatchlings I get this year at this shop, so sorting out their husbandry issues and 'saving' this snake will both be beneficial to me personally and to any babies I place in the shop. Last year hatchlings that weren't feeding died before I could get my hands on them, so I'm glad they gave this little one a chance and are showing willing to improve the husbandry now.
If they don't improve the husbandry I won't sell my hatchlings to them, I'd rather feed them to Skeeter than have them die in a shop.

 

[diamondlil]

Oh, and I don't know if you've heard about the theory about taking non-feeders on a little journey 'stirs up' their stomachs so they'll feed? When I took Lil back to her shop she fed that night for the owner, who suggested I take her on a train ride every feeding day!
Val was in my shoulder bag for the 20 min walk home, then came to the Drs and to buy some pizza before I got him home, so maybe it was the journey that helped stimulate him too:shrugs:

 

[Susielea]

Oh yeah I've heard transporting non-feeders helps to stir up the juices...lol

My hubby thought I was absolutely crazy last year, when I took the one and only non-feeder round to visit my son, in my handbag! Later that evening he (the hatchling not the Hubby...lol) was offered a nice hot pinky and devoured it. He continued feeding from then on, although I don't know if it was the journey or the very hot pink, either way it worked!

I see what you mean about building a good relationship with you local pet shop, at least if they listen to your recommendations and get their practices ironed out, then you'll have a good outlet for your hatchlings.

Also agree with you that 4 - 6 month old hatchlings should be bigger, it's probably because they've been on a maintainance diet. Which I know some pet stores do to keep cost down and to keep the hatchlings smaller and cuter longer...not good I know....But some do do it.

Anyway congrats on the new feeder, keep up the good work, best wishes,

 

[MegF.]

Goes to show what separating and lowering the stress levels will do for them. Good job again Janine! You da bomb

 

[diamondlil]

Ah, but who do I owe a lot of my success to?! Re-reading my early posts, Meg, I had help from you as well as Kathy, Dean, Bitsy, the list goes on with too many people to mention. I'm not being disingenuous here, I admit I was more than motivated and capable of taking on board that advice and learning, but you people involved from the start made the learning process easier for me

 

[diamondlil]

:dancer: 'Phoned the shop owner, who is now a very happy man. I'll keep Val for 2 more feedings, then he can go back to the shop if he continues to be a good snakey. Again I reinforced that the snakelets really need separated and to be on a better feeding schedule in order to be big and healthy for a good start in life.
I'm considering loaning him my big boys after the breeding season as display snakes, so he can show customers how adult corns look

 

[diamondlil]

Second half of the large pink down the hatch last night! :dancer::dancer::dancer:

 

[MegF.]

I'm thinking that it wasn't really a problem feeder, it was just stressed from being with all the other snakes.

 

[diamondlil]

I'd agree totally. A good advert against co-habbing and maintenance feeding.

 

[diamondlil]

:dancer::dancer::dancer: Val went back to the shop today, having doubled his weight in less than a month! He's just going into blue and feisty enough to strike at me this morning.

 

[MegF.]

Looking good Janine...you snake rehabber you!! Hopefully they will keep him in better conditions so that he'll continue to thrive.

 

[diamondlil]

That's the best thing about it, Meg! The new setup of hatchling boxes inside a big viv is working out great, and as well as the benefits to the snakes, they've sold more corns than usual because you can see the hatchlings grooving around in their separate boxes, read accurate feeding records for each one, instead of a pile of skinny babies huddled in one hide!