Lucy's snakes

[richard f.]

Bigsnake (1 of 2) ate a whole earthworm yesterday. Been feeding since 2 days old. About 18 days now. Littlesnake still lively but have never seen it eat. Feel responsible cause I saved mom from descending crowbar. Put them in a bigger space, lots of moss, earth with critters, branches to climb on. Soon have to decide on whether or not to keep Littlesnake.

[Garter_Gertie]

Smaller space better, particularly for the wee-est o'wee.

Earth with critters? That doesn't sound too good. But maybe I'm not understanding what you mean...???

Try a wee small space for Wee II to eat in. Like a deli cup, lid on, holes punched in for Wee II to breathe, put on hot spot and leave for the night with CUT UP pieces of worm. You don't want your weelings gulping substrate (earth with critters?) when they eat as there is the potential for them to ingest the substrate and it could possibly compct them. Ish!

What's the size o'your tank? A 10g would MORE than big enough for two wee-lettes. I've two yearlings in a 29g (I think that's what ittiz) and they're SWIMMING in it and I'm looking for more yearlings to 'take up the space' so The Boys don't feel they're at odds.

Congrats on Big Snake! Nice to see things are moving along!

[richard f.]

From the garden, earth with worms and all that. Part(50%) fine gravel, clumps of moss, water dish, 30 gallon tank, branches; as big a habitat as possible without a divorce. Not sure that Wee 2 hasn't eaten- he's lively enough and there's plenty in there for him. Releasing is the ultimate goal, not for me but Lucy- she loves everything but needs to see that letting go is part of that. Or we'll keep them if it turns out that way. Wish me luck.

[infernalis]

Good luck And no harm keeping one or two......

[Garter_Gertie]

Good luck! I love the sound of your set-up! With soil like that it would probably be best if you feed Big and Wee elsewhere so they don't injest anything that could cause a blockage. (Whoops! I'm starting to repeat myself.)

But talk about a natural home! It sounds beautiful! And it sounds like you're having as much fun as Lucy...

[richard f.]

Yeah, I'm into it too. Thinking about blockages now. Took them both out into separate buckets today. Wee ate two small whole worms in short order; Big gulped a big one (grabbed it in the middle first try- wrestled a bit, spit it out, circled round and got the end the second try....probably unremarkable for photos, just ordinary little garters. Busy enough anyway, 4 days working, 4 with Lucy. If true to form we'll be scouring the woods for ring-necks in the spring. Wee must have been eating anyway cause there doesn't seem to be as much difference in size as there was. As always, grateful for the help.

[jitami]

Glad Wee's eating for you Richard! Yay!

[Garter_Gertie]

Does sound like things are coming along nicely with Big and Wee.

Spend this winter cruising craigslist for your area and hitting garage sales for old tanks and stands so you're prepared come next spring. Get stuff ready, get the snakey and Viola! You're set! And unless you have AC you won't even need a heater until it gets colder.

You know, I bet there is NO Lucy. I bet this is YOU that's all excited and having fun and wanting more snigglettes - you just don't want to admit it. LOL!!!

[richard f.]

You're close. The excitement's all mine, but Lucy's more real than that and at just shy of four, my mentor in all things critter. "My leech loves me, doesn't he?