A Rainbow Addition - Page 4

Lefitte · 08-19-15, 01:18 PM

Thank you! And now it's nap time. Maybe when I wake up, he'll be exploring.

If anyone's wondering, he comes from Glitter Noodles. They're on FB.

Snakesitter · 08-19-15, 01:53 PM

Agreed -- congrats!

Lefitte · 08-19-15, 07:05 PM

Thanks! As far as I can tell, he's still hiding. His humidity I can check without opening it and its being perfect. A little on the high side but that's because I sprayed it down this morning. (97ish%) Can't wait to catch him exploring. And I need to go shopping after school tomorrow for some food because I'm all out. He's been eating every 6-8 days and just ate 3 days ago so I'm not going to be feeding soon but I think I'm going to offer a fuzzy on his 8th day (he's on hoppers but I've seen people suggest a size smaller at first). I make my king actively hunt and strangle her food when I feed her since she had interest issues when she was younger so I plan to get him on the same routine. He might not eat off the tongs like she does though. I can probably start handling a couple days after he eats (short, gentle sessions no longer than 10 mins. Just long enough for him to start feeling comfortable and start exploring instead of balling up or trying to squirm away)

Snakesitter · 08-20-15, 02:02 PM

Sounds like a good plan!

Savage270 · 08-20-15, 07:40 PM

Update please? How was day 2?

Lefitte · 08-21-15, 02:21 PM

Day 2 went well. Not really much to say although I am having a small issue with humidity. I think my previous humidity percentages were sort of tweaked. My hydrometer had some paper on the back to block some sticky stuff to hang it with. It was also taking readings much closer to the moss before. I ended up taking the wet paper off the back because it was almost disintegrating anyway and stuck it higher than I meant to on the side wall. Now it keeps reading 87-89% some days and I had to spray it down. When I get paid again I plan to get a new one, I think my king's thermometer just died the other day too...

Last night I went to move the cage slightly and it stuck and then jerked when it finally did move. The motion made the water splash out of the bowl to a spot with no moss so I had to clean it up. When I was replacing the moss, I found the littke guy by accident! I'm mostly trying to leave him alone. Trying not to even open the bin very much so I dont go looking for him either. Being left alone for a week to settle in means being left alone as much as possible. There probably wont be much to report until Sunday night when I try to feed him. If all goes well I can hold him Tuesday night!

Currently temps are 81 (bleh my house is hot today) and humidity is 87% so I'll be misting again today. The moss is very try to the touch but he does have a humid hide with fresh moss and a ton of condensation.

Lefitte · 08-23-15, 03:44 AM

Day 3: Nothing much to say. Having some issues with humidity still. Woke up to 83% [it was 95% before bed]. I sprayed it down and it's still holding at 99% after coming home from work. I've taped up a few of the extra holes. I did have things nicely stabilized but I think I was going off of twisted readings with that wet paper backing on my hygrometer. He's in the same hide he was last night. I couldn't help myself when doing the nightly check, I had to take a couple shots. I only lifted the hide, took two shots, and then left him alone. I don't like not seeing him at all for entire days while his surroundings are new and he's new to them. I'm a worrywart.

And I was worried that hide would be too small! He's only using half of it! He has three about the same size as this one, the log in the center which is slightly larger, then the humid hide which is large and full of freshly added moss and condensation.

And tonight I fell in love with my phone's camera again. I forgot just how clear the image is when you zoom! [Secretly, I went with this phone because all I could think of was getting clear pictures of my kingsnake haha]

Speaking of zoom, here are two bonus pictures. Same as before just zoomed in.

I love being able to make out every scale.
https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...3e&oe=566E58B5

Oh and an added bonus! I asked my English teacher if I could do my informative paper [one of our first big assignments] on the most popular species of rainbow boa and got the okay. And not the 'eh I suppose if that's what you want' okay but the 'that sounds like a great idea! Instead of doing the top 3, why don't you do the top 4 or 5?'. Usually my teachers like to rain on my parade and try to make me change it.. Like the teacher who wanted me to do an essay on The Beatles instead of Danny Elfman haha. If you have any suggestions for accurate sites to check out, send it my way. I'm focusing on wild species, not the pet trade, I know less about them in the wild.

Lefitte · 08-25-15, 04:30 AM

Just another quick update!
He ate a fuzzy for my last night and it went pretty much perfectly. Struck at it and wrapped up around it.

Tonight on my check of things [I've been checking inside the cage twice daily and spraying once daily] I decided to spray some of the moss under the moist moss that has dried out by selecting random clumps. I uncovered him and I have the feeling that he's going into shed. Just got a little more than a glimpse of him but he looked a little grey where he's usually quite stunning every time I even get a peek. I got a picture of him through the bin since he was curled up against it. I'll see if he's actually in shed or not tomorrow when I do my first mini-handling session which will last probably no more than 5 minutes.

Snakesitter · 08-26-15, 02:08 PM

Good news on the feeding!

If he's going into shed, he'll let you know how he feels about handling. ;-)

Lefitte · 08-26-15, 04:06 PM

Tried handling last night since his eyes are still clear. He does look more dull so I think he's definitely preparing for a shed though. And man, he was just a dream. He seemed perfectly comfortable being handled. He didnt care much for being weighed and kept trying to climb out of the tub before I could replace the lid, but he's adorable. He's completely okay with me touching his head and doing pretty much whatever to him. He curiously watched and tongue flicked at things we walked near and when I did put him back, he just sort of mosied on in and then tried stopped with his head hanging out haha. I'm going to do another mini-handling tonight if he's up for it. I'll have to add pictures later.

Lefitte · 08-26-15, 08:13 PM

Here are some of the pictures from yesterday and today! His eyes aren't blue yet but he's definitely going to shed soon.

Grabbed me and decided my necklace was his.

From today:

I was playing with different lighting today to try and get the most accurate.

Snakesitter · 08-27-15, 01:54 PM

Aww good news and cute photos! Congrats!

bigsnakegirl785 · 08-27-15, 05:05 PM

So teeny! What kind of coloring was his parents? He's got some interesting contrast going on.

Lefitte · 08-27-15, 07:38 PM

I'm just in love with him! His mom, Scully, is a deep red. She doesn't have much contrast on her saddles. His dad, Mulder, is bright orange with more contrast. He's kept that coloration in his adult years so there's a good chance Xango will too since he looks a lot like dad but with mom's darker base. His siblings range in colors a bit but they seem to be fairly similar overall. Nothing wildly different from what I've seen. The biggest difference that I can see between his siblings is the size of the black markings and the color of the saddles. Some are much more mellow than his bright orange.

I'm hoping he keeps the contrast, I love it!

Snakesitter · 08-28-15, 02:13 PM

With parent names like that, it's a wonder he doesn't hide more often. ;-) Love all three of the names.