Blaze is out of hiding

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

My Sinaloan, Blaze has spent 99% of time we've had it under the substrate, now that I've installed a thermostat and somewhat lowered under tank heat he's been above it. Or maybe he's just comfortable with his new home now? Either way my girls are happy they can see their pet today! http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b544/aimiscrazy/IMG_20140728_083159_697_zpsixd45t8b.jpg (http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/aimiscrazy/media/IMG_20140728_083159_697_zpsixd45t8b.jpg.html)

[pdomensis]

Good stuff. Nice lookin snake.

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

Thank you! I'm still new and nervous but I've raised two kids so one snake shouldn't be hard. ;) especially since I'm not the one who does the hard stuff. I'm the research and supervisor, my husband does the hands on stuff. I joined this forum for tips seeing as most of my friends and family only know how to run away from snakes! Lol

[sharthun]

Awesome! Beautiful snake!

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

Is there anyway to tell how old my snake is? The pet store didn't know. They didn't know much lol. It is unsexed, which will stay that way because I wouldn't want anything shoved up my butt just so others knew what pronoun to use in reference to me. As of right now we have no plans to breed so that would the only reason to sex it, just to know. That feels wrong to me. If I could find out without probing it that would be different but until they figure out another way Blaze will remain a mystery!

[SnoopySnake]

There's really no way to tell how old the snake is. If you give length and weight of the snake, someone could make a guess, but that's all it would be, is a guess. If the snake wasn't fed enough then it will be smaller than it should be for its actual age and seem younger. The other way to sex a snake is by popping them, and that should only be done by someone experienced as it can seriously hurt the snake if its not done right. If you ever have to take the snake to a vet, you may be able to find out then.

[pdomensis]

I think the best anyone could do is guess whether it's an adult or juvenile based on size at this point. But like gender, it shouldn't matter much as long as you take good care of it.

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

Thank you both. I will just be happy taking care of Blaze from now on trying to figure out age is just making angry at the pet store. The more I learn about my snake the madder I get! I knew not to try popping it, that needs to be done by a vet. I'm just going to love my snake from afar and my my husband and kids do the up close Lovin! When & if he gets too big for his enclosure we will give him a new one. Blaze's past will have to remain a mystery.

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

Blaze moved up to fuzzies last night! http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b544/aimiscrazy/IMG_20140728_202823_972_zpspm44l8rj.jpg (http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/aimiscrazy/media/IMG_20140728_202823_972_zpspm44l8rj.jpg.html)http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b544/aimiscrazy/IMG_20140728_203105_730_zpsais38xoi.jpg (http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/aimiscrazy/media/IMG_20140728_203105_730_zpsais38xoi.jpg.html)http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b544/aimiscrazy/IMG_20140728_204353_030_zpssmimrnsd.jpg (http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/aimiscrazy/media/IMG_20140728_204353_030_zpssmimrnsd.jpg.html)

[EL Ziggy]

Congrats on the successful feed and nice job making it a family affair :).

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

It's her snake, feeding is part of it. But actually we tried talking her big sister into feeding the snake. Lily chickened out but the 5 yr old was all about doing it! Lmao! Now there's teasing rights!

[sharthun]

Cool, the prey size looks just right! Congrats!

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

Cool, the prey size looks just right! Congrats!

OK thanks I was worried it was a little on the big side, he hesitated at first it being his first fuzzy. But got it down, then ate a second one too! The second was a touch smaller though. This feed definitely took longer but I expected that with bigger prey and an audience. Can mice be refrozen if uneaten?

[sharthun]

OK thanks I was worried it was a little on the big side, he hesitated at first it being his first fuzzy. But got it down, then ate a second one too! The second was a touch smaller though. This feed definitely took longer but I expected that with bigger prey and an audience. Can mice be refrozen if uneaten?

I refreeze mine just one time if uneaten and offer at another time. Also, most of us feed inside the enclosure. Much easier on you and the snake.;)

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

See that's where I get different info from different people all the time. I was told never to feed him in the enclosure, to feed him in a seperate one. We use a light tub so when we are done he can slither back in since we have a side open enclosure. He seems happy with the arrangement so I think I'll keep it that way for now. Plus with the girls "helping" its easier than having their hands in the cage. We don't have to pick him up to move him back in. We just put the tub up to the doors and he goes back in. But if it gets tricky or he has issues we will feed him in his enclosure. Not trying to be rude, I've read the research on both and from what I've read its really a matter of opinion. Some claim its about not getting substrate digested (yada yada) and what not. My theory is its a lot like raising kids, everyone does it different. Do what works for you and as long as everyone is happy and healthy that's all that matters. (Sorry if this sounds cranky I just got yelled at by my mother for letting my daughter feed her snake!)

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

BTW thanks for the information on refreezing. Lol!

[sharthun]

BTW thanks for the information on refreezing. Lol!

Np, good luck!;)

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b544/aimiscrazy/IMG_20140730_214006_828_zpsd8v61nvv.jpg (http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/aimiscrazy/media/IMG_20140730_214006_828_zpsd8v61nvv.jpg.html)
Blaze Knuckles- new weapon at my husband's disposal. ;)

[Teal]

I love this thread! What an awesome mom you are, to not let your own fear of something be pressed upon your children (: Now they have an awesome pet for Show and Tell and hopefully can spread the love of snakes to others!

[SnakeyJay]

I wouldn't re freeze the mice at all... Once it starts defrosting it starts to decay/rot (slowly but it's happening) I wouldn't re freeze meat for myself so I won't do it for any of my snakes either.

As for feeding in the viv or out, I feed all mine in viv and don't have any issues with them ingesting a lot of substrate or any aggression as some claim. However if it's working for you to feed out the viv and he's not stressed by it, then that's upto you :)... Goodluck with him, he's a little stunner!

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

I love this thread! What an awesome mom you are, to not let your own fear of something be pressed upon your children (: Now they have an awesome pet for Show and Tell and hopefully can spread the love of snakes to others!

Well as for show and tell- that might be a bit redundant, we home school. So Blaze actually doubles as a classroom pet! We researched snakes as a "class" before buying him/her. I think I may have the only 8 yr old (almost 9 so I may have called her 9 before) that can go into a detailed description of a proper snake enclosure, temps, life cycles, and what not. Now she's researching American green tree frogs because she wants one of those too! Thank you BTW!

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

I wouldn't re freeze the mice at all... Once it starts defrosting it starts to decay/rot (slowly but it's happening) I wouldn't re freeze meat for myself so I won't do it for any of my snakes either.

As for feeding in the viv or out, I feed all mine in viv and don't have any issues with them ingesting a lot of substrate or any aggression as some claim. However if it's working for you to feed out the viv and he's not stressed by it, then that's upto you :)... Goodluck with him, he's a little stunner!

This time I technically hadn't frozen it at all, it had been frozen at the store and by the time we got home the weren't frozen anymore lol I heated them to temp he ate two of the three and I refroze the last one. It might have been out and warm 15 min. If it was a steak I would have refroze with no question. Then feed it rare to my kids (the steak not the mouse)! Yes, my children eat rare steak they complain when their meat doesn't bleed! Their a little weird but I love em!

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b544/aimiscrazy/IMG_20140731_173138_731_zpsbtudi5xo.jpg (http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/aimiscrazy/media/IMG_20140731_173138_731_zpsbtudi5xo.jpg.html) I held him!

[sharthun]

Awesome!! Hooked now!! :p

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

Awesome!! Hooked now!! :p

Oh shut up! :p Lmao!

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

Question: I have been switching from day (blue) and night (red) bulbs to simulate day and night, but Blaze seems to seriously dislike the blue bulb. I know that his type of snake is reclusive and all but when I turn on the light he hides further. He will wake from a dead sleep, just to avoid the light. I need the lights however to keep the humidity down and the temp up. My belly heater alone raised the humidity too high. I live in a very humid area I have a spare humidity tester (that word eludes me before coffee) at the humidity is at 70% in my living room.

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b544/aimiscrazy/IMG_20140802_223244_zpsjgfwruyb.jpg (http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/aimiscrazy/media/IMG_20140802_223244_zpsjgfwruyb.jpg.html)

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

Someone thinks they're a tree snake

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b544/aimiscrazy/IMG_20140805_051721_zpsexasgq5n.jpg (http://s1291.photobucket.com/user/aimiscrazy/media/IMG_20140805_051721_zpsexasgq5n.jpg.html)

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

I think Blaze is fixing to shed, but I've thought that for a week now. I've never seen a snake shed so no clue what to look for really other than what I read on here and other places. Cleaned his tank last night and rearranged his stuff, I'm not sure he's happy about that.

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

Blaze's shed skin was 25" long! Can't believe he's over 2ft already. Guess his current tank won't house him his whole life. Not in my opinion anyway. They should have room to roam even if that means more work for me keeping temps up and coverage. I wouldn't want to live somewhere I couldn't stretch out all the way I won't my snakes do it either!

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

We ordered our first batch of online mice, they arrived still frozen and look tasty! Well for a snake they would ;)! I now get blaze out of his enclosure regularly, he "comes" to me at easier than my husband. I don't get pooped or musked like he does. I am now completely comfortable with my little guy! I say guy I don't know but the is infatuated with my boobs so dude right? Lmao! I also learned how to get beat up by a 5 year! Just ask her "Hey Blaise, what kind of BBQ sause do think Blaze would taste best with?" She punches hard for a kid!!!

[EL Ziggy]

Where did you order your feeders from Amy?

[Madness420]

Blaze's shed skin was 25" long! Can't believe he's over 2ft already. Guess his current tank won't house him his whole life. Not in my opinion anyway. They should have room to roam even if that means more work for me keeping temps up and coverage. I wouldn't want to live somewhere I couldn't stretch out all the way I won't my snakes do it either!

snake skin stretches when they shed it. i hear you can multiply the length of the shed by .8 to get the snake's actual length. so basically the snake is 80% the length of the shed. if Blaze's shed was 25" then Blaze is about 20". it not exact but its close.

[SnoopySnake]

snake skin stretches when they shed it. i hear you can multiply the length of the shed by .8 to get the snake's actual length. so basically the snake is 80% the length of the shed. if Blaze's shed was 25" then Blaze is about 20". it not exact but its close.

I don't know how reliable that method would really be, guess I'll have to try it out next shed.

Even better is this site: Serpwidgets - Snake Measurer (http://serpwidgets.com/main/measure)

You just upload an overhead picture of the snake next to something you know the measurement of, put the points down on whatever you're using, and then put the points down on your snake and it gives you a measurement. It's always been accurate for me.

[Madness420]

I don't know how reliable that method would really be, guess I'll have to try it out next shed.

Even better is this site: Serpwidgets - Snake Measurer (http://serpwidgets.com/main/measure)

You just upload an overhead picture of the snake next to something you know the measurement of, put the points down on whatever you're using, and then put the points down on your snake and it gives you a measurement. It's always been accurate for me.

yea that would be the best way. like i said the 80% thing is just an estimate. i usually just do my best to lay them out beside a measuring tape and get a ball park guess. i like to keep track of their length but i am more concerned with wieght, which is easy to measure.

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

I ordered them from Layne Labs. The arrived still frozen and with some dry ice I got to use for a science experiment with the girls! We made fog! The loved it! As for the length of blaze we figure we he's about 21" we measured one day while he was laying fairly straight along the side of the glass. Then one day with a cloth measuring tape and got 19" but he was squirming and we couldn't get him to hold still. Yes, we attempted to actually measure the snake with a cloth tape. I don't suggest it. They don't like it! Lmao! So somewhere between 19-21" works for us! He eats 3 fuzzies right now, little pig!

[NewSAHSnakeMom]

Added a bird perch for Blaze to climb on since he thinks he's a tree snake, when I catch him on it I'll post a picture. Spoiled rotten brat! I saw a baby nuevo lieon king at the store I wanted but I couldn't have it. For one my hubby said no, and two the pet store said he wasn't for sale yet because they were having trouble getting it to eat and were fixing to send it to the vet. Jasmyn got to hold "her" red tail boa (its not hers it one for sale at the pet store she wants, we do not have the room for a 10 ft red tail, its not 10ft now, its just a baby but I'm not taking the chance and buying it for her).