The Hassles of Snake Keeping

[Didymus20X6]

Well, I've had a trying morning so far.

Scarlett, who is still very skittish and at times even hostile, managed to escape the enclosure this morning while I was trying to feed her. So I spent the better part of 20 minutes chasing her around the snake room, trying to coax her out from behind various boxes, appliances, and even the tarp I put under the snake table to prevent water messes.

Finally, I put one of the cottages from the enclosure on a wooden board, and using a PVC glove on a bamboo pipe, managed to coax her into the hide. Once inside, I managed to block the openings with a couple of small planks, and finally got her into the water enclosure. She is not happy with me at all; musking like crazy and snapping at me any chance she gets.

Meanwhile, when I went to check on Little Dude during all the commotion, I found some yellowish slime on the edge of one of the smaller cottages, and saw her tail contorting into a weird hourglass shape. Looks like she's getting ready to drop a load of jellies. So I hastily tried to line the enclosure with some old newspaper to minimize the mess, and in the process, think I traumatized Little Dude.

So, just great: I now have two traumatized snakes. One small one that still thinks she's wild, and one big one about to become a very disappointed mommy.

Oh, well. The last time Little Dude dropped jellies, she started eating like a pig again. So at least I won't have to worry about her eating anymore.

[drache]

there'll be days like that . . .

[Didymus20X6]

Apparently, Little Dude is insistent on laying her jellies in dirt, and not on the newspaper. She laid one on the newspaper, but is now curled up in one corner where there was still some substrate exposed, and is now laying the rest of them. Poor girl.

[Didymus20X6]

More snake-related drama: I was trying to clean up some of the jellies, and Scarlett escaped AGAIN! This time, I just put on my snake-proof leather jacket and blue gloves, picked her up from her hiding place, and put her in a separate enclosure for a while (specifically, the old snake trap). I put some cold water in there, along with a brick and a small hide, and waited until she calmed down. After that, I gently picked her up and put her back in the regular enclosure. But on retrospect, I wish I had just left her in there for a while longer, to give Little Dude some privacy (and to allow me to painlessly clean up the jellies when she's done).

[RedSidedSPR]

Dang... How is she getting out?

I must ask, snake proof clothing? For a garter?

[Didymus20X6]

I have to lift the lid to get into the enclosure myself. She just launches herself at the top and goes for it.

It's basically just an old, warn-out jacket with no liner. As ferocious as Scarlett was earlier this morning, I didn't want to take any chances.

[RedSidedSPR]

Gotcha, so she gets out when you open it.... My adult has tried that, but he can't get passed me :p

Jeez, what a day...

[Cfleming]

You think chasing a garter around the snake room is bad. Try chasing a p-oed 7ft+ coastal carpet. That is fun and bloody.

Glad you were able to catch her, twice. Hope little dude recovers quickly.

[guidofatherof5]

Sorry to hear Little Dude is passing jellies. Hopefully her system will get cleaned out and she be back to eating real soon.
Did you breed her? If so, she may surprise you with a few live born snakes.
I had two moms pass jellies and one alive.

[d_virginiana]

There's always gonna be days like that. Haha, I like the idea of the snake-proof jacket! I bet it makes you a lot more confident handling snakes that are known biters. I have a pair of snake gloves, but they're only for wild snakes.

[RedSidedSPR]

Only time I would use gloves it with venemous snakes... Just sayin'.

Hope it works out with Little Dude.

[Didymus20X6]

Sorry to hear Little Dude is passing jellies. Hopefully her system will get cleaned out and she be back to eating real soon.
Did you breed her? If so, she may surprise you with a few live born snakes.
I had two moms pass jellies and one alive.
She hasn't bred. At least, not that I know of. I've had her since she was a juvenile, and all of her roommates have been other females.

Keep in mind, Little Dude is the last remnant of the old Catch-And-Release program from 2009. I really didn't intend to start breeding garters. Although, if I had the time and space to invest in it ... (insert Dr. Who joke here).

And I don't normally wear gloves. Only when the snake is being particularly vicious, like Scarlett was earlier. Or when I'm cleaning up a particularly messy poop.

And thanks for the well-wishes for Little Dude.

[guidofatherof5]

Ditch the gloves.
Be one with the snakes...........and their poop.:D

[kibakiba]

It's no fun getting poop in your nails! Especially when you chew on them and didn't realize there was snake poop under them! I think that's being a bit too "one with the poop" :eek:

[Didymus20X6]

Just as long as "being one with the snakes" doesn't involve one of them becomes a sixth finger on my right hand.

[kibakiba]

Hades does that all the time :D
If I let him, he'd hang on my hand all day, munching away on my skin ;)

You'd think he was hungry, but he's not. Haha.

[guidofatherof5]

They may, but only for a short time.;)

[Didymus20X6]

You'll be pleased to know, Little Dude is now Miss Happy Snake again. She just gladly gobbled up two nightcrawlers and a couple of pieces of tilapia.

[guidofatherof5]

Great news.
Nice going Little dude.;)

[RedSidedSPR]

Glad she's back to normal.

[PINJOHN]

It's no fun getting poop in your nails! Especially when you chew on them and didn't realize there was snake poop under them! I think that's being a bit too "one with the poop" :eek:

i would think that snake dung under your nails would be a pretty effective method of preventing one biting their nails, it would work for me,:o
Chantel you might just have hit on a money spinner quick take out a patent ;)

[guidofatherof5]

Most people see disgusting.
Our John see a money maker.:D
Glad you're with us.;)

[RedSidedSPR]

This is why you keep your nails short:p

[d_virginiana]

Snake poo may have undiscovered nail shining and strengthening qualities. Probably way better than all that bee-flavored stuff out there. :p

[Kantar]

I bet scarlett was like "RAAAAWWR!!" when she launched out of the enclosure :)

[kibakiba]

Jesse, I'm a girly girl, sometimes. I like keeping my nails long, because I've found I get mistaken for a man a lot less. Somehow my 2.5 ft hair, makeup and... well I wear guys clothes. That's the only "manly" thing about me. I wear shirts that are made for guys. Haha. If I have long painted, pink nails, people tend to realize I'm a girl.

[PINJOHN]

Most people see disgusting.
Our John see a money maker.:D
Glad you're with us.;)

you see gross i see gro$$ :D :D :D

[ConcinusMan]

I got one for you. The shelving I have my tanks sitting on has a small hole where they can get under the bottom shelf. Twice I had a snake get away from me and get under that shelf.

The problem is, there's a 55 gallon long enclosure sitting on that shelf. I have to move furniture, and that tank out of there to get to the shelf and raise it up. After the second time I learned my lesson and plugged those holes.