hiddenhollowherp
Community Punchbag
I have a 3'4", 7 year old snake, named Drake. When I got drake 6 years ago, he was very, very near death. I took him to a vet who did many, many tests on him and came back to tell me that Drake had a deformed stomach which simply didn't expand. She told me he needed to be fed tiny meals often. This sounded absolutely bizarre to me, so I went to another vet, who was highly recommended. He told me "She was absolutely right, this snake needs tiny, frequent meals and a little extra heat." Well, I figured he didn't want to deal with it, so just agreed with the first vet. I went to another vet a 3 hour drive away and told her NOTHING about visiting two vets previously. She told me the following: "He's very small for his age. The results I'm getting point towards an underdeveloped stomach. He's regurgitating his food because it just can't fit in his stomach. For now, feed him half a pink mouse per day. Come and see me in five weeks." Five weeks later, I go back. "He's improved quite a bit, I'd say. Take this serum and add it to his water to aid his digestion. Come and see me again in five weeks." Five weeks later: "He is a whole different snake, isn't he? He's put on alot of weight, but he might just not get to be a normal size, you know? Some of them are just smaller. I'd like to modify his diet every six months or so, and he's going to need check-ups..."
Well, Drake is still having checkups every 3-6 months as needed, and he's still getting medication on a supplemental basis to aid in his digestion. At the present time, this small boy is getting 1 pinky per day with no food on shedding day (which I can usually tell because he becomes very, very grumpy). Drake is prone to regurging his meals, so he is simply NOT handled. He receives his F/T newborn pinks in a marble feeding bowl, which he will sit coiled up in when he is hungry. This is the system I have developed with him over the years, and it seems to work out okay. He has his own colony of mice, led by male Oscar, who receive carefully-measured fresh foods and supplements to guarantee their health. Drake is an expensive snake to keep. He always will be. I do not believe that many people would have the drive needed to keep up with this special boy, but I love him so much that it's more than worth it. He truly is very special to me.
Recently I've been told that Drake's diet is incomplete. I've been told that pinks are not good enough to sustain him. I've been told that pinks are nutritionally incomplete and don't include everything he needs to be healthy. Drake will never be the world's healthiest snake, but I want to know that he is as healthy as he can be, and I want to do everything in my power to make that happen.
I've recently tried cutting larger fuzzies in half, so that he gets the same quantity but a different quality. He likes this alot! Thawing and cutting and refreezing fuzzy portions is not ideal to me. What I'd like to know is this:
Does this make a difference at all? Is a fuzzy really that much better than a pinky? After the fuzzy is frozen, thawed, cut, and refrozen (the remaining half), is there enough nutrition left in it to make it any better than a whole pinky?
I've yet to discuss this with my vet, but since she's the one who recommended whole pinkies and not half fuzzies, I'd have to assume she'd stand by her decision.
What are your opinions on this? :???:
Well, Drake is still having checkups every 3-6 months as needed, and he's still getting medication on a supplemental basis to aid in his digestion. At the present time, this small boy is getting 1 pinky per day with no food on shedding day (which I can usually tell because he becomes very, very grumpy). Drake is prone to regurging his meals, so he is simply NOT handled. He receives his F/T newborn pinks in a marble feeding bowl, which he will sit coiled up in when he is hungry. This is the system I have developed with him over the years, and it seems to work out okay. He has his own colony of mice, led by male Oscar, who receive carefully-measured fresh foods and supplements to guarantee their health. Drake is an expensive snake to keep. He always will be. I do not believe that many people would have the drive needed to keep up with this special boy, but I love him so much that it's more than worth it. He truly is very special to me.
Recently I've been told that Drake's diet is incomplete. I've been told that pinks are not good enough to sustain him. I've been told that pinks are nutritionally incomplete and don't include everything he needs to be healthy. Drake will never be the world's healthiest snake, but I want to know that he is as healthy as he can be, and I want to do everything in my power to make that happen.
I've recently tried cutting larger fuzzies in half, so that he gets the same quantity but a different quality. He likes this alot! Thawing and cutting and refreezing fuzzy portions is not ideal to me. What I'd like to know is this:
Does this make a difference at all? Is a fuzzy really that much better than a pinky? After the fuzzy is frozen, thawed, cut, and refrozen (the remaining half), is there enough nutrition left in it to make it any better than a whole pinky?
I've yet to discuss this with my vet, but since she's the one who recommended whole pinkies and not half fuzzies, I'd have to assume she'd stand by her decision.
What are your opinions on this? :???:
