Weird red dot - Page 4

rastamac · 12-06-11, 08:05 AM

the snake is eating well, pooping almost every week or 2, i keep track. But the prey is on the small side, Just moved from pinkies to fuzzies. exponential jumps in her size tho, i got her at 6 mnts from a pet shop, and she was tiny. and 21.5 weight was just before her last feeding and after defacation. I feed her one adequate sized prey every week. I only say her in hopes, not sexed yet. And web wheeler- I actually follow your methods to a tee, aside from the feeding right after defacation. I feed my gtp every thursday night, Im almost positive that my husbandry is spot on finally, the snake seems happy and the head rub has stopped. plus the last shed was solid. I am a bit worried, I have the feeding records since birth and never missed one feeding, so why such a flucuation in weight? I am going to try to get a weight this week to compare. as for a vet visit, since winter is now here and ac must be cranked, I am hoping she can hold out until spring.

shaunyboy · 12-06-11, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rastamac

the snake is eating well, pooping almost every week or 2, i keep track. But the prey is on the small side, Just moved from pinkies to fuzzies. exponential jumps in her size tho, i got her at 6 mnts from a pet shop, and she was tiny. and 21.5 weight was just before her last feeding and after defacation. I feed her one adequate sized prey every week. I only say her in hopes, not sexed yet. And web wheeler- I actually follow your methods to a tee, aside from the feeding right after defacation. I feed my gtp every thursday night, Im almost positive that my husbandry is spot on finally, the snake seems happy and the head rub has stopped. plus the last shed was solid. I am a bit worried, I have the feeding records since birth and never missed one feeding, so why such a flucuation in weight? I am going to try to get a weight this week to compare. as for a vet visit, since winter is now here and ac must be cranked, I am hoping she can hold out until spring.

green tree python populations likely have varying temperature requirements depending on where they occur.an animal found on the lowlands of biak island,the northeren limit of the species,is probaly adapted to constant high temperatures all the year round.

while animals found on the cape york peninsula,the southern limit of the species,would be able to tolerate lower temperatures.mean july temperatures (mid winter ) for iron range are 72f dropping to 62f on cold nights

the above information was taken from keeping and breeding australian pythons,edited by mike swan

cheers shaun

Web Wheeler · 12-06-11, 08:31 AM

Typically an active neonate GTP, that's being fed pinkies or fuzzies, which are easily digested, will defecate 3 to 4 days after a meal. A larger snake that's eating hoppers will defecate within a week of its last meal. An even larger snake that's eating mice or weaned rats will defecate within 2 weeks of its last meal. A snake that's eating medium rats may take 3 to 4 weeks to defecate.

When I wrote that your snake should defecate within 2 weeks of its meal, I was, of course, addressing the feeding habits of a GTP that's eating pinkies or fuzzies, such as your snake. I also based my advice on proper temperatures, which would affect its metabolism.

In any case, an 8 month old GTP that weighs around 21 grams is very under weight, and this should be a worry. The abscess on your snakes head looks fairly mild from the photos and can be treated with a little Polysporin.

rastamac · 12-06-11, 09:02 AM

Thank you my friend. I appreciate your valueable input. I dont want to point fingers but I think it may be attributed to staying on pinky mice for much longer than it should have, i have a few fuzzy mice left, then i will hopefully start to coax it into rats. and polysporin is exactly the remedy needed.

Lankyrob · 12-06-11, 10:49 AM

We got our GTP as a baby, 4 feeding into its life. It never had rat pups - went straight onto fuzzy rats, we were told to feed one item 3-4 times its girth every 14 days (tho some say that GTP's shouldnt eat prey that large due to rectal prolapse issues).

Once it had gone through his colour change we stayed at 14 day feeding but because i had then found out about the prolapse issues we switched to prey items that are 2-3 times its girth.

rastamac · 12-06-11, 01:07 PM

so my issue lies within the size of prey. i will do my best to use this info and hopefully i can get the weight up.

rastamac · 12-08-11, 04:09 PM

Feeding tn, i took the weight today. 24.4 g. she is gaining weight, just not at an extreme rate. i have come to the conclusion that it is the portions that she has been on, so how do i go about combatting this, and what kind of potential hazards could i face with such a low weight? as well, what is appropriate weight for a 1 yr old gtp?

Lankyrob · 12-08-11, 05:24 PM

Can you post an up to date picture? My personal opinion is that weights of snakes is like weights for people - it needs to be right for the individual.

In my opinion you should feed prey around twice the girth of the snake every 10-14 days and it will then find the right weight. You will learn how YOUR GTP is over time and notice if it starts to get too fat or too thin and then you can increase or decrease teh scheduled feedings

rastamac · 12-08-11, 06:31 PM

this is today

Wolfus_305 · 12-08-11, 06:35 PM

wow, he's so teeny tiny! I thought he was much bigger based on his other pictures :P I can't really comment about the weight though as I am not very knowledgeable with these types of snakes

Lankyrob · 12-08-11, 07:03 PM

He does look in proportion, not skinny imo. Although he does seem small for a year old gtp. (you know to be super careful handling gtp's right?)

rastamac · 12-08-11, 07:07 PM

of course. I handle as little as possilbe. but sometimes it is necessary. I let her leave the perch and control movement. i am mearly another surface to support her.

rastamac · 12-08-11, 07:09 PM

and it will be a year at the end of march 2012. i still have a few months to fatten it up.

rastamac · 12-08-11, 09:25 PM

Another one bites the dust. I can never get enough of feeding day(Y) there was a long span where the pet store only fed it pinkies which could potentially stunt growth but the eating habits are bang on, has not missed a feeding yet, including tonights feeding which went off without a problem. plus she has ceased the excessive head rub, she seems much more content to my hand as well. although my gtp has never been aggressive, I guess certain localities are more highly sought after for the docile features. My aru has never even given me a warning strike aside from the very first day.

Lankyrob · 12-09-11, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rastamac

and it will be a year at the end of march 2012. i still have a few months to fatten it up.

So really he is only about 8 months which would also explain his smaller size. My guy fattened up a fair bit after he had finished his colour change.