One of our baby snakes is poorly - Part 2
By gemini_rose
@gemini_rose (16264)
June 9, 2008 4:43pm CST
Carrying on from a discussion that I did yesterday about one of our baby snakes not eating, I was asked by a few friends to keep them updated on his progress, so I am.
Tonight with the help of my eldest son, my hubby started the task of trying to use the pinkie press on him. This was easier said than done, the pinkie press seemed huge to his little tiny mouth and I was unsure that it would even be able to go in his mouth!
It was a hard task as little snake was definately not impressed at the indignity of being force fed and was protesting mightily by keeping his little jaw tightly shut! But perseverance paid off and eventually, I am really pleased to say, my hubby managed to feed the little multicoloured worm! We were all really pleased and I even cheered!I managed to get a few snaps of the event and so will post one here for you all to see, yippee I am really pleased I would hate to see anything happen to him.
Oh eck, not sure what to ask you all to turn this into a discussion, umm, I know.
Has any of this changed your opinion of snakes or do you still not like them?
Does anyone else on mylot keep snakes? If so what sorts do you have?
Hubby is a bit concerned about the state of his hands in the pic, so I will just say that he does wash but he works with oil and stuff so his hands get stained with it!!
2 people like this
12 responses
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
17 Jun 08
I've always liked snakes and lizards but I'm a little bit scared of them in the wild. I'm certainly envious of the opportunity you have there to be up close and personal with them. I'm doing this from my email so haven't seen the photo yet and I'm way behind. I so hope they are still ok.
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
17 Jun 08
I would be scared of wild snakes too, I am only OK with these ones because they are in tanks! Although I do spend a lot of time looking at them and learning about them.
All the baby snakes are that colour, some are more vibrant than others and they will keep the colour that they are now as they have had their first shed.
The sick snake had a second feed last night, he took a full feed too so he will probably be OK thank goodness, he is high spirited though, he is quite bad tempered for someone so little!
1 person likes this
@queenofarms (1659)
• United States
9 Jun 08
They are alright as long as someone else is holding them. And at a very far distance....lol...It is cute though. Do you hold them? Oh and tell your husband I've never seen a man with pretty hands....lol
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
10 Jun 08
I do not hold them, simply because they are that fast it would be my luck to drop one and have it disappear in the house somewhere!
@queenofarms (1659)
• United States
10 Jun 08
Oh gosh don't let that happen. If it was me the snake could have the house.
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
10 Jun 08
Oh boy…Rose, as I said yesterday, I repeat once again…kudos to your hubby and son and you too (for tolerating them
)
But how long can you continue doing this! Has he gone to any vet, I mean what’s exactly are his problems?
Can we have a pix of the entire brood?
)
But how long can you continue doing this! Has he gone to any vet, I mean what’s exactly are his problems?
Can we have a pix of the entire brood?
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
10 Jun 08
We thought at first it was a problem with his throat, but as he is fed we know that it is fine.
He is probably just lazy and only being little has not got the hang of it yet.
I will try to get a pic of the entire brood for you.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
10 Jun 08
Aww--the snake is cute and so SMALL!! Wow I didn't think it'd be so small and glad to hear your hubby finally managed to feed the little tyke. How can you be scared of such a small snake? LOL
I never have been afraid of snakes and HAVE handled them..oh, yup---I used to have a friend who had a virtual zoo in her home...two cats, a german shepherd dog, a Macaw parrot, lizards and yes two FULLY grown Pythons--one time I was visiting her and she asked me to help her move one out of it's tank since she needed to clean it out...do you have any idea how heavy those fully grown snakes are...like near 150 pounds!
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
10 Jun 08
He is small! They are all that small!
I always wanted a macaw, but I do not have enough time to look after one at the moment.
@cinderella2007 (2662)
•
10 Jun 08
Didnt realise how tiny he was!! Bet you dont want to lose them in the house!!!
I can see how tricky it must have been for your husband to attempt to force fed this little mite but I bet he feels better now he has grub in his tum!!!
I wouldnt mind them when they are that small but not when they are fully grown!!
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
10 Jun 08
That is why I tried to get a photo of him being handled, I think that the camera showed them being bigger than they really are.
That is why I was so worried, they really are like worms in posh clothes!
@dmt609 (1)
• Brunei Darussalam
10 Jun 08
I have a 7 month old leucistic rat snake... named him michael actually, at first i do face the same problem that you are facing right now. what i actually did is that i bleed the pinkies a bit so that the snake would pick up the scent. and eventually michael did ate the pinkies, be it mouse or hamsters. could it be that your snake is just shy? try giving it a pinkie and covering up the terrarium/cage with a dark clothes and leave it for a day... who knows maybe it really is shy and would only feed when not looked at.
anyhow good luck on your snake and hope that it will soon feed normally.
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
10 Jun 08
My hubby does not bleed them, he brains them. He will slice the top of the head open allowing the snake to scent the brain.
This is the first thing he tried before resorting to the press. Once he has been fed a few times and gets the hang of it he should be fine. But thank you for your helpful advice.
@minnie_98214 (10557)
• United States
9 Jun 08
That is great to hear. Hope all continues to be uphill now. It doesnt change my opinion at all i still like snakes lol.
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
10 Jun 08
I am glad you like snakes, I have another snakey thing to show, but I just have not had time yet.
@mummymo (23706)
•
9 Jun 08
Honey I didn't realise how tiny he was - he really is about the same size as a large worm isn't he? But so much cuter! I am so pleased that it is working and thank you for the update and the photo! It has just made me think baby snakes are even cuter than I realised! By the way tell hubby his hands don't look too bad especially since he works with oil a lot! xxx
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
10 Jun 08
Yep he is like a worm in posh clothes! It is good that he has eaten, it prooves that his throat is ok, so we are thinking that he is the runt of the litter.
@enola1692 (3323)
• United States
10 Jun 08
i am sorry I didnt see the post for yesterday of course I am sure u understand after being maulled anyway I hope he gets better an how is he doing now
@ellie333 (21016)
•
10 Jun 08
Hi Gemini_rose, my opinion hasn't changed re the snakes but I really hope this little one makes it as I can tell you have become quite attached. I personally would never keep them but have had a large one wrapped aroud me in the past so I don't dislike them. You are all doing a great job and helping this one and I am pleased to hear that the pinkie worked. Ellie :D
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
10 Jun 08
Yes we have all become a little attached to them being the first breed as well, I dread to think what we will be like when it comes to parting with them all.
@dizzblnd (3073)
• United States
10 Jun 08
I am glad to hear you are able to feed him. It sucks when they are sick and you don't know what to do.
I used to keep snakes all the time. Corn snakes, Rat snakes, Black Racers, garden snakes. My husband HATED them. But he built me a cage for them. It got to the point where food was too scarce (tree frogs) so I had to let them go. Then I fell in love with the tree frogs and named them all Fred. If I came across another snake, I wouldn't have the heart to use them as food anymore.
@slyvixen42 (926)
• United States
10 Jun 08
I've always liked snakes and I still like them now that I have one. It's a ball python that's about five feet long. He's fairly docile and lets you hold him without biting or trying to get away.
