Okay here's an update. I went to the reptile shop again today because I needed to get the first frozen mice I'd be feeding our dude. While there I picked the guy's brain about the current heat situation. He said 75 was too low, which I honestly figured anyways. He gave me some options for trial and error. My first new tactic is swapping the 60 watt bulb for 75 watt incandescent spot bulb (Night Black Heat by Zilla). He said this type of bulb pushes the heat down more than a regular type bulb, and the higher wattage will make it warmer as well. Then he suggested laying a towel over half of the enclosure's top, because we all know heat rises and that might keep some of the warmth in. Does this sound reasonable? He mentioned a heat pad if I want, but it won't really warm the air in general, which I guess I knew. I guess I can also go for a different/higher watt bulb if this doesn't cut it. I also wonder if the thermometer I have is not very accurate...it's the Zoo Med Thermometer Humidity gauge. Maybe something a bit more heavy duty would be more reliable?
As for the first feeding, it was...interesting. Ha! I was driving home thinking "Wow, I've got 6 frozen mice in my car...this is different." I got what the dude called pinkies but I see a little bit of fuzz on them so I wonder. Anyways I thawed it, warmed it and went to show it to Laz. He was up at the top of the tank like usual, and seemed scared of the mouse as opposed to interested. I waved it around a bit and now I guess I was squeezing with the tongs too hard, because the abdomen area started coming open and blood was coming out. Oh god I'm thinking...I decided to keep going and Laz finally came down. He showed a bit of fright again, but after a bit of repositioning with the tongs, he did his thing and struck. I was psyched! But I quickly got worried again. The doofus either lost his grip or whatever, and started eating the mouse from the back end. I watched him for a good half hour, poor guy was trying so hard to eat but couldn't seem to get much of it past his mouth. I started fearing the mouse was too big for him. I left for about 30 minutes, then came back and he still hadn't made much progress. Ugh. I had to go pick up my son from school. Got back and checked. Snake is hiding under the bedding. I'm thinking I need to see him to confirm he actually ate the mouse. I rustled the bedding a bit and he came out with a nice little bulge in his middle. Success! I took the bloody bit of bedding out (fun) and he's now resting. I'd say it took him an hour and 15 minutes to get the mouse down. But he did it, and I'm hoping next time is less eventful
Congrats to you if you actually read all of my rambling!
. I've always used belly heat for my kings but the heat lamp should work too. Whatever gets your hot spot to about 86-88 and a cool side in the low-mid 70s.
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