Umm...Question... - Page 2

Jakesgirl · 11-27-12, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoreliAddict

I also suggest that you feed the snake inside of its regular enclosure...

I will, now that I know it won't do any harm. I don't want to risk hurting him.

MoreliAddict · 11-27-12, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jakesgirl

I was worried about doing that, because he has shavings in the bottom of his cage, and I was scared it might stick to the mouse and he could swallow it. I know, I'm paranoid.

My snakes will snatch a rat right off the tongs from me.

But you can serve the rat on a plate to avoid the substrate, if you'd rather not use tongs..

infernalis · 11-27-12, 12:59 PM

I have been feeding mine inside his enclosure for quite a few years without any problems ever.

Jakesgirl · 11-27-12, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoreliAddict

My snakes will snatch a rat right off the tongs from me.

But you can serve the rat on a plate to avoid the substrate, if you'd rather not use tongs..

huh. Hadn't thought of that. Thanks for the advice! I'm really excited.

Hoping tonight goes well and he accepts the food. I've been researching a lot, but people seem to go back and forth on how often I should feed him. Breeder said he was about six months old. His widest point is about the size of the lid to a bottle of Captain Morgan.

Jakesgirl · 11-27-12, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infernalis

I have been feeding mine inside his enclosure for quite a few years without any problems ever.

How old is he? Just curious.

Is he very big? I know they generally reach up to five feet. And I'm definitely leaning towards frozen mice, rather than live.

**Aaron_S** · 11-27-12, 01:04 PM

Feed him a rat pup.

I personally just use substrate they can digest or can't really swallow. I now use newspaper but aspen beta chip works great. So small and can pass them too.

Jakesgirl · 11-27-12, 01:05 PM

On a side note, uploaded new pics of Jake onto the site.

Jakesgirl · 11-27-12, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Feed him a rat pup.

I personally just use substrate they can digest or can't really swallow. I now use newspaper but aspen beta chip works great. So small and can pass them too.

I was using newspaper, but found I had trouble getting the humidity right in his container. Switched to some sort of shavings (don't remember which one I bought, but I browsed for hours trying to pick the best one. Was recommended by a snake "expert" at the store. Having less trouble with the humidity) And yes, I kept a close eye out for mites, because I know sometimes when you buy that stuff at the petstore, it can have mites in it.

**Aaron_S** · 11-27-12, 01:08 PM

I bought from a store with no animals in it. Ren's Pet Depot. Look for a store like that.

Jakesgirl · 11-27-12, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Feed him a rat pup.

I personally just use substrate they can digest or can't really swallow. I now use newspaper but aspen beta chip works great. So small and can pass them too.

Really? Nothing bigger than his widest point though, right?

**Aaron_S** · 11-27-12, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jakesgirl

Really? Nothing bigger than his widest point though, right?

Slightly bigger is fine. A rat pup will suffice quite well I'm sure.

Jakesgirl · 11-27-12, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

I bought from a store with no animals in it. Ren's Pet Depot. Look for a store like that.

I think there is one close to the house. I'm going to research it now so I know when I go to buy new. I've found that it doesn't even take a full, small bag for his container. If I add the whole bag, his humidity sky-rockets. So I just use newspaper at the bottom, with a thin layer of the shavings. And he seems to like that better.

Falconeer999 · 11-27-12, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jakesgirl

Really? Nothing bigger than his widest point though, right?

A snake's body will expand. General rule of thumb I've heard is to feed an item that is 1.5x thicker than the body of the snake. You should be able to see the lump where the food is when he's down moving it down to the stomach.

jarich · 11-27-12, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jakesgirl

huh. Hadn't thought of that. Thanks for the advice! I'm really excited.

Hoping tonight goes well and he accepts the food. I've been researching a lot, but people seem to go back and forth on how often I should feed him. Breeder said he was about six months old. His widest point is about the size of the lid to a bottle of Captain Morgan.

Hahahaha, love that this is your reference point.

And dont worry about getting mites from wood chips. Those are not reptile mites, but most likely wood mites. There are many different kinds of mites and only a few attack reptiles. Many, like those in the wood chips, just eat plant matter.

Jakesgirl · 11-27-12, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falconeer999

A snake's body will expand. General rule of thumb I've heard is to feed an item that is 1.5x thicker than the body of the snake. You should be able to see the lump where the food is when he's down moving it down to the stomach.

I'm just a little scared I might get something too big. Before he and I got together, my bf had a corn snake. He took the advice of someone who worked in a pet store and bought something a little bigger than what he had been feeding his snake, and it killed the poor thing. That scares me.