Woe Is Noah

[Nanci]

So a few weeks ago I got Noah out to feed, and he was blue. Maybe. I couldn't tell. He has blue eyes. I took him out into the sunlight. I still couldn't tell. I thawed out a smaller-than-usual hopper, just in case. He'd been on hoppers for a couple meals. I offered him the hopper off tongs. He struck, then dropped it. So I teased him again. He struck, coiled, then dropped it. Third time's a charm! He began swallowing. With it a third of the way down, I started to doubt. But I didn't think I could get it back. It looked so difficult to swallow! But I had picked out a smaller one...

The next day I was in a quandary. Was he blue? I was pretty sure. I lightly misted his viv.

The next morning, second day post-feeding, I was getting ready for work. Noah is kept in my bedroom. I went out into the kitchen, came back to my bedroom, and WHAM- dead body smell. *^%^*%&* I sniffed Noah's viv- yup, regurge. Why is it always the most precious???

I take an aggressive approach to regurges. Since rosies may not be great water drinkers, I decided to tube Nutribac every other day for his ten day waiting period. I made a mixture of Nutribac and water- about as much Nutribac as I could get dissolved in a small amount of water. I drew up 1 ml of it and flushed it down a 5 fr infant feeding tube.

Here's Noah and the tube: (See the black mark on the tube? That's how far I put it down- not to his stomach, but a good ways down his esophagus).

 

[Nanci]

This is how I restrained his head:

 

[Nanci]

This is the tube in place. I didn't pry open his mouth- just snuck the tube in the back corner, far from his trachea. You can see the opening to his trachea in this pic- far from the tube. Noah helpfully swallows the tube, which is lubricated with water. He doesn't seem afraid or uncomfortable at all.

 

[Nanci]

During the waiting period, I couldn't help myself- I checked him twice a day. I was very worried, although I knew the cause of the regurge. He will never be fed in blue again. Five days ago I gave Noah a very large pink doused in Nutribac powder. Fortunately he just ate it, powder and all! He then had to have a little bath because it is so sticky. Then the wait. Sniffing his viv every time I passed. Another tube feeding of Nutribac, the last, on the fourth day. Tonight, I fed Noah a peach fuzzy, slit in a whole lot of places and doused with Nutribac. I'll keep him on Nutribac for a year, now.

Here he is with his tiny mouse. He lost 15 grams and has gained back two.

 

[tricksterpup]

Wow..
I know you and Lboz are having a heck of a time with your Rosy boas but I gotta tell you. I can stick a hook in that cage and they will want to eat it. Mine are just ravenous monsters.
I wish you the best of luck with your boy Noah.

I have had phone conversations with LBoz as well and I have explained to her when my guys are in shed. Some times they get a bath. Heck, I have even walked into the room and seen one soaking in his water dish post shed. I guess after seeing that, i do not freak out with the humidity issue. If he wants to take a bath, he is welcome to it.

I think once Noah gets out and to the yearling stage you might be home free with his eating. Like I have posted before, except my pythons and a few other snakes, These guys only get meals heated up to only room temp and they don't mind it, its gone in 5 minutes. They are my piglets.

 

[Nanci]

Noah is normally a good eater- so much so that I have to put him in his feeding bin before I get any mice out. He just didn't want to eat when he was blue but I made him...Way to go! He is a yearling, BTW.

 

[dogsNdragons]

Oh Nanci,
Sorry you had to go through that. I am glad Noah is doing well now.

Lisa

 

[The_Thunderer]

I didn't even know you were having problems with Noah!!! Did I miss something??? However, I'm glad that he's back and on the mend AND in good caring hands.

Congrats on getting him "back in the saddle"!!!

 

[Toshiro]

I hope Noah keeps gaining. Good Luck.

 

[Rich in KY]

Nanci, Noah, and all your snakies, are lucky that you are their mommy! You are amazing at the difficult stuff.

 

[Matthew]

Wow..
I know you and Lboz are having a heck of a time with your Rosy boas but I gotta tell you. I can stick a hook in that cage and they will want to eat it. Mine are just ravenous monsters.

Haha, I thought I was the only one who had a rosy boa that would eat a snake hook. Was beginning to think she was slightly 'off' or something. :grin01:

I hope Noah continues to improve and eat well for you, Nanci. They're really fun snakes when they're not trying to eat you. Best of luck!

 

[starsevol]

Wow Nanci, good luck with him!
He is lucky that you're his mum

A few of my rosies are on again/off again feeders, and a few will eat anything. Wierd how they are all different.

 

[Nanci]

One of the things that really sold me on Noah in the first place was that despite dire warnings by his breeder, he never bit me.

Last night he was out wandering around TWICE after he was supposed to be tucked away digesting. Any other snake I wouldn't blink an eye. With Noah I'm like, get back in your hide or you're going to be in trouble!

 

[diamondlil]

Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery for Noah!

 

[Nanci]

Third meal down the hatch of NOAH THE BOA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love that snake so much I'd marry him!! He's back up to a smallish fuzzy, just bigger than a peach fuzzy. And does he feel jipped! He's out prowling all the time. I'v reduced my compulsive viv-sniffing to only a few times a day.

 

[LBoz]

Yay, Noah! Tell your mom we need some new pics of you!!

 

[Bluebird]

oh my...I'm glad he seems to be doing better

 

[sarcare]

I'm glad he is on his way! He'll just have to keep those meals down if he wants more food!

 

[Nanci]

For Pete's sake...I gave Noah the wrong mouse. Instead of the planned medium fuzzy, he got Ruby's small hopper. Which would be fine for him except that's what he regurged in the first place and he's still working back up. So I decided to take it away. He only had half the head, but he wasn't letting go. We had a little discussion during which I didn't want to break his teeth or jaw, but I really wanted the mouse back, and he really wanted to eat it. I considered dunking him under running water, but didn't think that would work. As I was about to cut the mouse's head off and let him have it, he backed off a little, and I was able to get it away. He must think I've lost my mind. I gave the mangled mouse to Jewel after a very hot washing (she's the garbage disposal of the baby crew) and thawed a new pristine mouse for Miss Picky Ruby, and gave Noah his intended mouse with a nice does of Nutribac. What a fiasco.

 

[LBoz]

I swear I can hear Noah saying, "Aww, mom...you suk."