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Sabriyyah
Snake Mite
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40 Posts |
 Posted - 01/12/2010 : 11:59:54
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Hi to all Royal Python enthusiasts. I fell in love with my latest family member as soon as i saw her. She is so gentle and not at all nervy. I have followed the advice on housing and heating and have tried with feeding. The latest advice that is SO helpful is to leave her alone to get used to her new life. I had thought I should keep trying but now I will back off and let her enjoy her new house. I have two questions. Firstly, how do you manage to 'brain' the mice? I was very proud that I managed to freeze them but 'braining' is a step further. My other question is about the definition of handling. From another post I read that they should not be 'handled' until they have settled in but at the same time it says you need to take them out to feed and to clean etc. So, what do you experts mean by 'handling'? Many thanks for listening  |
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n/a
deleted
7384 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2010 : 13:11:13
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Hi and welcome!
I think I might have confused you about handling - sorry. Yes, when you read about 'not handling', 'handling' in this sense means having the snake out for any length of time, stroking, cuddling, letting it roam round the room, sit on your knee or crawl up and down you - what I call 'armchair walkies'. If you need to lift a snake to place it into a rub during cleaning out or feeding (if you feed in a rub) or to replace it in its enclosure after feeding, or other necessary handling, this is fine; it won't inconvenience the snake in any way.
About braining mice - this is something that's only done to tempt fussy feeders - you may not have to do it at all, but if you do, it's only like any ordinary meat preparation (unless you're vegetarian, then it will be a bit offputting, I realise.) I find the best way to brain a rodent is to wait until it's half defrosted, take a pair of kitchen scissors, and snip a tiny hole in the skull, making sure it is punctured. There may be a little bit of fluid when the rodent is fully defrosted. If handling rodents really grosses you out, you could always use those disposable latex gloves. Many snake keepers do this as a matter of course, so that the snake will not confuse the sight or scent of their bare hands with food.
Hope this helps and makes things a bit clearer. Congrats on your new royal! |
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Edited by - n/a on 01/12/2010 13:13:30 |
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Kelfezond
The bearded one
United Kingdom
4803 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2010 : 15:59:05
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| Don't let the idea of braining put you off, that's nothing compared to when you defrost a mouse wrong and it's stomach explodes spilling ... things .... all over the place, happened to me the first time a few days ago and I thought I was going to throw up, even half an hour later. nasty stuff... |
\v/ Click me for Kelfezond Reptiles Facebook Page! \v/
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BobJ420
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
37 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2010 : 17:04:37
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| Hey, welcome and congrats on your new addition. I wouldn't worry too much about the food it can be a bit daunting at first (I used to have a fear of rats) but you get used to it pretty quick :). and Kelf how did you manage that one mate? |
0.1.0 Normal Royal Python - Mary Jane
1.0.0 Red Tail Boa - Clyde |
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Sabriyyah
Snake Mite
Qatar
40 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2010 : 18:05:35
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Many thanks for your words of welcome and encouragement. I guess once you've 'brained' your first the rest comes easy!
Another question - the temperature at the lamp end of the vivarium is 40 C I think this is too hot? I bought an IR lamp and I have a 90x52x47cm vivarium. she is moving around ok and spent some time under the lamp. What do you reckon? Also, I am going away for a few days. should i turn the lamp off in case there is any problem while I'm away. the ambient temperature is around 26 C so it won't get cold.
sorry for all the questions - want to get it right  |
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n/a
deleted
7384 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2010 : 18:15:11
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Ambient temps at 26? - you lucky woman! Arctic conditions over here!
However, for a royal, the warm end needs to be 30/32; the cool end at 26. Yes, 40 is too hot for the warm end - I take it the lamp is on a dimmer stat - you will need to fiddle about with this until you've achieved the right temperature. If you have to leave the snake for a few days she will be fine with her heating left on, as long as it's statted, although if you have a friend who can come in to change her drinking water and check that all is well with her temp-wise etc., that would be good.
Hope this helps. Do please feel free to ask all the questions you need to - we all do! This is what the forum is all about. |
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Kelfezond
The bearded one
United Kingdom
4803 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2010 : 21:18:23
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quote:
Originally posted by BobJ420
and Kelf how did you manage that one mate?
No idea to be perfectly honest, I tried to speed up the process a bit by adding boiling water to a cup half filled with hot water and the next thing I knew the water turned red and I was fishing out all kinds of nasty stuff. |
\v/ Click me for Kelfezond Reptiles Facebook Page! \v/
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n/a
deleted
7384 Posts |
Posted - 01/12/2010 : 21:30:13
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quote:
Originally posted by Kelfezond
quote:
Originally posted by BobJ420
and Kelf how did you manage that one mate?
No idea to be perfectly honest, I tried to speed up the process a bit by adding boiling water to a cup half filled with hot water and the next thing I knew the water turned red and I was fishing out all kinds of nasty stuff.
Urrgh! Mouse broth!
I once defrosted a pinkie in boiling water for Cy. She went up to it, opened her mouth and stabbed at its belly, and then turned her one eye accusingly on me:
'Lil. I ordered this mouse rare, and it's well done!'
It was. Cooked to a turn ... |
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Edited by - n/a on 01/12/2010 21:31:50 |
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Robert
Royal Python Moderator
United Kingdom
957 Posts |
Posted - 02/12/2010 : 09:58:06
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| Hi and welcome :) |
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CoN
Yearling
United Kingdom
400 Posts |
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Royalbob
Royal Python Moderator
United Kingdom
1115 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2010 : 17:35:49
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Just wanted to say hi and wecome. looks like your questions have already been answered.
my 2 cents; As lilith said you will only need to brain the mouse/rat as an aid to get yoour royal feeding if she is refusing. yes let her settle for a week and then offer some nice warm food.
i defrost the mice in zip lock frezzer bags in warm water once defrosted and warm i open the bag near the viv/rack and they know dinners near.
I only handle my snakes when cleaning the viv/rack or to check them over this way i think it stresses them less and keeps them feeding. just my opinion though as some people handle there royals every day
without any problems. |
1.0 Enchi butter
1.0 Enchi X Pastel
1.0 Fire het clown
1.0 Bumblebee
1.0 pinstripe
0.1 Enchi Fire
0.1 Pastel calico
0.1 Yellow belly Pinstripe
0.1 Lemon pastel poss het clown
0.1 Het clown
0.1 Yellow belly
0.1 Green Mojave
0.1 HC Albino
0.2 Normals
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Sabriyyah
Snake Mite
Qatar
40 Posts |
Posted - 21/12/2010 : 17:43:43
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Aren't snakes just the best?  I just warmed up a mouse, brained it and offered it to her. she struck and constricted within 10 secs. Yeah I'm sooooo happy! bet she is too!
once i get the mite thing sorted (although not entirely convinced as her bath water has nothing in it today) we will be sorted. |
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n/a
deleted
7384 Posts |
Posted - 21/12/2010 : 17:48:16
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Congrats - she sounds like a good little eater.
Posted a UK address for you on hypoaspis thread if you still need the hypoaspis mites. |
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inkygirl
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
41 Posts |
Posted - 21/12/2010 : 21:06:13
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| hiya welcome x |
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New to snakes of any type
