Marisa is a Genius

[Artemis]

Had my first PERFECT shed, due in large part im sure to the hydrated rat trick! THANKS MARISA!!!

I have to say, the people at the CVS had to think twice before they would sell me the needles to do it, as I am not diabetic, but they told me my reason for wanting the hypodermics was far too out there to be made up!

If you have bad sheds on a regular basis and you havent tried this yet, you gotta try it.

Yay to having a perfect shed finallY!

Artemis

[marisa]

Lots of factors could have had a helping hand in your snakes perfect shed, but yes, I have found my GTP in much better overall condition since doing the hydrated rat thing. I usually only do every other one or so though nowaday. :)

Anyways, glad your snake had a great shed! Congrats.

Marisa

[marisa]

I also wanted to add that unfortuantly I cannot remember who told me about this idea, BUT, I cannot simply claim the title of genius for this one I am afriad.

It goes to herpers before me! :)

Marisa

[Jeff_Favelle]

Marisa's a genius, Marisa's a genius.....Marisa's a genius.......

[marisa]

LOL Favelle you freak :P

Marisa

[BoidKeeper]

Favelle's a freak, Favelle's a freak.....Favelle's a freak.....Favelle's a freak....

[Jeff_Favelle]

LOL.

Chewie's dead, Chewie's dead.....Chew.................. bunch of wisenheimers.

[Artemis]

Hahahahahahaha you guys crack me up. Ya gotta admit Jeff, the singsong "Favelle's a Freak" has a certain ring to it!

And Marisa, while I figured you didnt invent the idea totally, you are most definitely the one who mentions and suggests it, and it really works.

Many Thanks-

Art

[Jeff_Favelle]

LOL!

[MouseKilla]

Huh?

What in the heck is "the hydrated rat trick"? I'm visualizing all kinds of strange things based on the little I've been able to gather from this thread but I don't follow what injecting water into rats does for snakes in shed... weird.

[Jeff_Favelle]

Yeah, injecting the rodent with water to get the snake more hydrated to combat the rigours of most people's dry cages. I like feeding rodents that were thawed in warm water way better. Its MUCH more effective, but to each their own. Works wonders for things like GTPs and Rainbow Boas! :D

[marisa]

Oh yeah I totally use the wet rodent trick as well.....either or.....

But for injecting them, I just use a small gauge needle and put some water under the skin. I usually make the hole going in TOWARDS the butt. Going the other way works too, its just when they sqeeze and constrict, a lot squirts out.

Marisa

[MouseKilla]

Hmmm... so it's just what it sounds like.

Unless I've just finished bonking some fresh ones I always soak my rodents in hot water to thaw them, mostly because I don't know of another way to thaw them without having to wait most of a day for them to thaw at 82 F.

I've never considered hydrating the inside of the snake in order to get the outside to shed better, it makes sense now that you mention it but I'd always thought of shedding as an external process.

What I'll normally do when I see that a snake is going into shed is just shut the cage vents and move the water dish over to the hotspot. I usually don't feed a snake that I can see is going into shed so I'm wondering if this is when you use the juicy rat trick or if you just juice them up every time you feed to promote better sheds?

[marisa]

Actually the only time I use this method is for my GTP who was having rough sheds for awhile when I got him. (They are PERFECT now)

And I use it for my female corn who had a rough breeding year and needed some "extra" Her water also had supplements in it, to make sure she had ample calcium and what not. It seems to have helped out huge in both cases.

Aside from that, I don't do anything but thaw my rodents in water to ensure everyone is consistantly hydrated.

Marisa

[Artemis]

I tried getting them wet, but Omega won't eat them wet. Thats the only thing he is picky about. So putting it IN the snake lets me sneak around his pickiness, and I know in a cc amount how much water he is taking on, which makes me feel good about how hydrated he is, period.

Favelle's a Freak... Favelle's a Freak...


hahaha sorry I went out on the town tonight and just got home :), love ya jeff

Artemis

[Jeff_Favelle]

LOL. Ya clown! ;)

[BoidKeeper]

Jeff I've been called a lot of things but never a wisenheimer.
I love it and I'm going to use it!
Cheers,
Trevor

[Jeff_Favelle]

A tom-foolerin' weisenheimer.

[BoidKeeper]

Ya well you're just short and too pretty for a man.
Trevor

[marisa]

LMAO

Ah that was a good one BoidKeeper. It's obvious you have won this round with Jeff.

Marisa

[Jeff_Favelle]

Quiet genius.

[marisa]

HAHAHA Whatever you say Man Pretty.

Marisa

[Matt_K]

You're all nuts....

[Invictus]

Jeff's a pretty girlyman.... Jeff's a pretty girlyman..... Jeff's a pretty girlyman....

[BoidKeeper]

LOL

[BoidKeeper]

Invictus is a devil man....Invictus is a devil man...Invictus is a devil man....

[Invictus]

Indeed! hahaha

[Artemis]

Oh come now. Kens avatar may be scary, but in the actual pic I saw of him all that seemed missing was a beret and steaming cup of earl grey!

[BoidKeeper]

earl grey! lol!