Finally! Meet Mortarion! - Page 2

ThirteenRavens · 08-22-16, 12:42 PM

Congrats! He is gorgeous

Hogs are fun...mine is a total snot and loves to try to call my bluff but fails epically every time lol. Looking forward to updates

**Aaron_S** · 08-22-16, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kanadi

Omg! Someone who knows! XD he woulda been names sanguinius if he was red, but whatevs. Lol!

Ok, so I'll let him starve for a bit before feeding him and hopefully he'll be good to go.

I'm waiting to finish my probationary period with my exotic clinic to bring him in and have his full check up done, including confirmation sexing.

Mortarion is the better name but his back story doesn't fit. Agron would also work.

Kanadi · 08-23-16, 10:19 AM

I thought about naming him Angron cause of how tempermental he's being, but I liked Mortarion better. Plus, he's green. XD

I had a question, if someone can answer-- how hot should his soil on the hot side be? On top of the soil on the hot side is anywhere between 85-90F (his cool side is 70-75F). Under the soil read 95.8F this morning. Is that bad? Should I use a thermostat to maintain the under-soil temp?

Also, had his first exam done and the doc said I should feed him a f/t today since he tried to bite me the day before. Recommended I try something small (like a fuzzy) to see if he was even interested in a f/t mouse. If he ate the fuzzy, then I could give him another later in the week, then start on adult small mice once weekly. What do you guys think?

Magdalen · 08-23-16, 10:22 AM

Those temps aren't bad. They like it a little on the warmer side. Is the 95.8 reading from the glass bottom? Hmmm I don't remember, are you heating with a UTH or a bulb?

valkea · 08-23-16, 03:33 PM

Lovely lady

I'm pretty sure it's a she. If you show us a pic of the underside of their tail we can pretty much tell. Some aren't as easy but most are. I've got one female who was sold as a male as a hatchling who's got a long tail. But she's definitely a she.

**Minkness** · 08-23-16, 03:42 PM

Did the vet sex him for you?

Also, the idea of offering a meal now is fine, just don't be discouraged if he doesn't take it.

Kanadi · 08-23-16, 06:23 PM

I'm using an UTH and the probe is at the middle of the top of the substrate and the bottom of the glass. I have another probe just over the soil. I wanted to use a bulb just so he had a basking spot, but from what I understand hogs don't need one?

You know, I completely forgot to have the doc sex him. DX I will have to bring him back in with me to work. Yay! XD And he seemed super active today. Hubbie was working out in the living room and sent me videos of Mortarion following his every move like he wanted to eat him. LOL! So if he eats today, awesome. if not, it won't bother me none... yet.

Kanadi · 08-23-16, 08:53 PM

Hey! He actually at his f/t mousey! It was the coolest thing. XD SHoulda recorded it... It was a fuzzy just cause I wasn't sure if he would even eat it (he's suppose to be eating small adult mice). Threw on some thick gardener gloves cause I was terrified of him biting me, but he took the mousey so gingerly. I was so surprised. And then he got upset at me when I went to put him back into his enclosure he flattened out and hissed at me. Then he chilled out and went about exploring his cage. It was amazing.

**Tsubaki** · 08-23-16, 09:22 PM

Congrats!

glad (s)he ate. Why are you feeding him outside of his enclosure though? More risk of getting bit, and moving a snake that just ate isn't the best either!

Magdalen · 08-23-16, 09:22 PM

Yay! Maybe your guy could talk to mine about eating. haha. Mine's in a super active trying to escape mode.

Kanadi · 08-23-16, 11:45 PM

I was told to never feed a snake in his enclosure because you increase the chance of getting bit. Both the doc and other experiences snake owners have told me this. And I figured moving him outta his feeding box wasn't a good idea but I was ill prepared to relocate him when I moved him. >_> I have a box set up now to where I can grab him out of his enclosure into his feeding box, let him eat, and then set it up so he can crawl back into his enclosure.

**Andy_G** · 08-24-16, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kanadi

I was told to never feed a snake in his enclosure because you increase the chance of getting bit. Both the doc and other experiences snake owners have told me...

Not to totally discredit those who told you this...but most reputable keepers/breeders and well versed exotic vets completely disagree with separate feeding containers and would state the exact opposite. Using a separate feeding container is something that is usually suggested by people relatively new to reptiles as well as vets without personal keeping experience. A simple search on the topic here will present you with facts as to why, but of course you should do what works for you (until it doesn't).

**Minkness** · 08-24-16, 08:17 AM

What Andy said....yeah....

Congrats on a successful feeding though! =D

Magdalen · 08-24-16, 09:18 AM

You know odd thing about the whole separate feeding containers, here everyone says not to. But go to another forum, that I don't go on as much and they are all about separate containers.

I had more to say about this but cannot get my thoughts together. Too early in the morning.

**Minkness** · 08-24-16, 10:34 AM

Ok, this is MY opinion on this matter.

It is purely the preferences of the owner. And what works for them and their animal.

I have done it both ways and had no issues either way. Feeding in a box ,out of a box, shoot...I have fed IN HAND before and nothing terrible happened.

Now, keep in mind that it is also dependant on the snake. If you have one not feeding well or is a shy feeder, feeding in the enclosure is better for them to stimulate them to eat, but also to prevent any regurgitation.

Feeding inside the enclosure does NOT induce a bite response (unless you have a snake already predisposed to do so, and in that case, tap training is advised)

Like wise, feeding outside the enclosure does not 'always' stress the animal out.

There are pros and cons to each style. I mostly feed in the enclosure now simply due to the amount of animals I have to feed and the limited time I have to do so. However, every so often, I might feed out of the enclosure just because, and only an animal I KNOW is fine with doing so.

Example: my female rough scale sand boa has regularly been a stress free feeder. But last week all I did was walk by her tub (I can see through the top) and she regurgitated her half eaten mouse. Left her alone for about 15 minutes and it was gone again. That was stress induced and nothing really even caused it. She was just particularly nervous that day. Previously I could feed her in hand though.

So just know your animal and know yourself and do what is best for the animal. =)