T. eques cuitzeoensis behaviour

[guidofatherof5]

Sounds like they are on holiday.

[chris-uk]

Every day is a holiday for my slithering little charges. But not such a great holiday as the radixes who check into the Ranch.

[guidofatherof5]

You got a great B&B going on there Chris. Both you and Char do a very good job.

[chris-uk]

Thought it was time for an update on the Cuitzeos.

Vladimir is shacked up in the new snake room with Lipwig (male radix, about 25% smaller than Vlad). He took his time adjusting after the move, his eating wasn't too bad and the last couple of weeks he's been getting back to normal. He doesn't seem to be out as much as he was before but I am seeing more of him recently.

Lacrimosa is in with Adora (female radix, about 15g heavier than Lacci). Lacci isn't as active as she was when she was living with Vlad in my office, but she's still an aggressive eater and comes out looking for the food when I open the viv nndshe smells fish. For the last couple of feeds she's started coming out of the viv door to get more, which can be quite disconcerting when she's recently struck at the hand I was holding the tongs with - when I'm offering to Adora I'm watching Lacci trying a sneak attack. The two of them seem to be happy curling up together, 'Dora hasn't been eating well so it's going to be interesting to see Lacci copes when she has competition for food.

"Tiddler", as we're calling him for the short term, is doing well. He had his forth shed today, eyecaps and tail intact. He's still eating every 2-3 days, and never eats around his shedding time. He's spending less time hiding, and is getting happier being held. He's still very, very quick and I only handle him sat on the carpet so I can let him drop rather than risking grabbing him too tight.
We also think that he may be female...

[guidofatherof5]

Good to hear things are going well.

[chris-uk]

There's intelligence behind those eyes.

That's Lacci's eyes, not Vlad's (although I suspect he's not as dim as he pretends to be). I had a bit of a breakthrough spell with the big girls today. For the last few weeks I've been watching Lacci watching from a safe distance, and gradually getting closer as Adora Belle hasn't been coming up to my hands. I think the turning point was two feeds back when 'Dora started feeding properly after fasting for a while. With Dora taking food it has meant Lacci can't take feeding time for granted. Last night I had some spare salmon, so hand fed it to Lacci.
This evening both were out and about, and Lacci was watching from her tube at the back of the viv as usual. I think Lacci suspects that Dora has found a secret stash of food... Anyway when Dora came up to my hand for the second time Lacci edged up to it as well. Then she backed away and watched as Dora came all the way out of the doors into my hands, but was watching for the secret food stash. When Dora wandered off Lacci decided to slither straight out of the doors into my hands. And continued to do it for the next 20 minutes when I tried to put her back.
So Lacci has learned from watching a radix that my hands are safe and it could be worth investigating. I'll see if she is as amicable tomorrow. Both Cuitzeo and radix are acting like little piggies, they aren't due another feed until the weekend but both are prowling for food when they spot me looking at them.

[guidofatherof5]

Good radix, good radix.

[chris-uk]

Good radix, good radix.

Credit where radix is due.

[reptileparadise]

Thinking about it I have a spair viv I could lend you if that helps?

Just browsing through some old topics and i now remember why i love this hobby so much.... and a great piece of advice AND offering to lend a viv....

I wish more people where this open!

[chris-uk]

I wish more people where this open!

I try to be open about my snakes and share what my observations when I think they might be useful or interesting to others. I've not shared as much recently though, so I'll give another update on the Cuitzeos.

Lacci is shacked up with Adora Belle and Nobby. She's now our largest garter, having passed Adora at the last weigh in - Lacci is 230g now and somewhere around 100cm long. She's still my favourite snake and probably gets spoiled a bit at feeding time. Lacci runs the girls' viv, at feeding time she sends the minions forward to check that I actually do have food, then she comes forward herself and will feed out of my hand. Recently, even without food, she's started coming out to my hands. She's still not as outgoing as Adora or Nobby though.

Vlad has to put up with a really active radix, he's definitely more reclusive than Lacci now, but he's eating pretty much every feed day.

Neither of the Cuitzeos are spending a lot of time in their water bowls anymore. I don't know whether that is a good or bad thing, I kind of miss seeing them in their water for hours on end.