Laziness/Complacency affects snake :(

Lankyrob · 02-01-12, 11:50 AM

When we got out GTP we were SOOO on top of all the husbandry needs, constantly checking and double checking everything, but over time we have got too complacent.

I mentioned in another thread that he goes up onto his heat lamp wire for a day or so before shedding, he has been up there a week and it hadnt occurred to me to check why

This morning i came downstairs to a horrendous shed

poor thing has been all over its enclosure trying to get the bits off - i knew something was wrong so double checked and the enclosure was too cold - being cold it wasnt holding the humidity either - and because he has been up by this light we havent been able to spray him directly either.

Thankfully the temps were only 3-4f out but literally within seconds of me putting them right he came down off the wire and back onto his normal perch. I hope that there has been no longterm damage to him due to my laziness and can guarantee that i will be checking his husbandry at least weekly if not more often from now on - a big lesson learned

Just to update he is now totally shed free and looking beautiful in his new skin, i will give him a day or so to settle with his proper temps/humidity before i disturb him for pics

Snakefood · 02-01-12, 11:55 AM

great to hear he is doing well.

My mamma always said it's not a mistake if a lesson has been learned from it!!

KORBIN5895 · 02-01-12, 12:00 PM

Well my friend it happens but at least you learned from it. Gl.

marvelfreak · 02-01-12, 12:08 PM

Glad to hear he doing ok and keep us posted.

shaunyboy · 02-01-12, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

When we got out GTP we were SOOO on top of all the husbandry needs, constantly checking and double checking everything, but over time we have got too complacent.

I mentioned in another thread that he goes up onto his heat lamp wire for a day or so before shedding, he has been up there a week and it hadnt occurred to me to check why

This morning i came downstairs to a horrendous shed

poor thing has been all over its enclosure trying to get the bits off - i knew something was wrong so double checked and the enclosure was too cold - being cold it wasnt holding the humidity either - and because he has been up by this light we havent been able to spray him directly either.

Thankfully the temps were only 3-4f out but literally within seconds of me putting them right he came down off the wire and back onto his normal perch. I hope that there has been no longterm damage to him due to my laziness and can guarantee that i will be checking his husbandry at least weekly if not more often from now on - a big lesson learned

Just to update he is now totally shed free and looking beautiful in his new skin, i will give him a day or so to settle with his proper temps/humidity before i disturb him for pics

don't beat yourself up rob

i for one get complacent at times,its easy to do if all your tanks are running correctly for long periods of time

the one thing i always check on is.....

if one of my carpets does something out of charactuer for it

no harm done though mate,looking forward to pic's of his/her new skin

cheers shaun

SpOoKy · 02-01-12, 12:45 PM

Don't be to hard on yourself Rob. I am sure almost everyone at one tiem or another has made a mistake with an animal that they shouldn't have. Sometimes these things happen but you got on top of it. Not like you let it go for months and ended up loosing a pet.
You a a great keeper, sometimes these things happen. I'm sure you GTP will be just fine, you are on top of everything else

alessia55 · 02-01-12, 12:50 PM

I think we all get complacent from time to time... "the snakes are fine, probably don't have to check"... I make it a point every Monday and Thursday I check temps, clean bedding, change water, etc etc. Keep myself on a schedule prevents me from getting lazy. Then again, I only have 2 snakes, so it's not a lot of work to do all that

Lankyrob · 02-01-12, 05:08 PM

Thanks all of you - just feel a bit stupid really that we go into his viv twice a day for spraying and i can see his thermostat from where i sit all day yet never thought to check temps even tho i couls see that the heater wasnt on as much as usual, i just assumed that it was because we have had the heating on more recently.

Assumption being the mother of all evil

Swany · 02-01-12, 05:16 PM

We're only human Rob ;-) Snakefood hit it on the head.

My mamma always said it's not a mistake if a lesson has been learned from it!!

infernalis · 02-01-12, 05:20 PM

Rob.. Mate, glad you got it.

Lankyrob · 02-02-12, 09:28 AM

~We all hear about angry vicious GTP's so thought i would post this pic showing Hogan being helped with his shed by his mummy, our guy is SOOOOO docile, we were using a cloth and peeling (gently!!) the odd skin off a the time and he was "happy" to just be cuddled and be patient with us.

jaleely · 02-02-12, 04:01 PM

aww! poor baby! sometimes i think they know when you're helping them and they appreciate it.

red ink · 02-02-12, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

When we got out GTP we were SOOO on top of all the husbandry needs, constantly checking and double checking everything, but over time we have got too complacent.

I mentioned in another thread that he goes up onto his heat lamp wire for a day or so before shedding, he has been up there a week and it hadnt occurred to me to check why

This morning i came downstairs to a horrendous shed

poor thing has been all over its enclosure trying to get the bits off - i knew something was wrong so double checked and the enclosure was too cold - being cold it wasnt holding the humidity either - and because he has been up by this light we havent been able to spray him directly either.

Thankfully the temps were only 3-4f out but literally within seconds of me putting them right he came down off the wire and back onto his normal perch. I hope that there has been no longterm damage to him due to my laziness and can guarantee that i will be checking his husbandry at least weekly if not more often from now on - a big lesson learned

Just to update he is now totally shed free and looking beautiful in his new skin, i will give him a day or so to settle with his proper temps/humidity before i disturb him for pics

Mate... this things happen, it's just one of those things that are part and parcel of the hobby.

The important thing is what we do after words and what we take away from it