Happy Holidays!

Barbossa's the spoke-reptile for this year's merriment! Of course, Loke the bird has to sneak into the picture, but it's all about Barbossa and his gorgeousness. Of course, he was a little scared (read terrified) of posing with those little Santa dolls. I'm sorry, darling, don't hate me. I promise you won't have to do it again...at least until next year.
Anyway, he and I and the entire reptile squad would lie to wish you all happy, happy holidays!!!

A Missiing Mouse

Barbossa has just finished eating and is resting comfortably under his heat lamp. Of course, I did have to help him with one mouse. He killed it and then had no clue where it went. It was, of course, still in his coils, but there was no way Barbossa could figure that out. I had to actually stick my hands in and uncoil him, and then feed him.
He got a littel scared, but the yummy mouse made up for that.

Everyone else has been behaving remarkably well. It's mighty suspicious. I'll be keeping an eye out for any craziness,

Adventures with a Boa

Barbossa had a bit of an adventure yesterday.
He somehow, for some reason, decided he'd been in his cage long enough. It was time for something new. I ascended the stairs with his mice, but he was not in his cage. Unusual, no, unheard of.
How did my shy baby get the courage to attempt a daring escape?

I scoured the room, knowing he couldn't leave because he couldn't get his coils past the door. I found him under the large, large bookcase. He'd gotten underneath and was curled up, happy in his new, if constrained hiding spot. I prodded him gently, but nothing. I would have to move the bookcase, but it's not an easy affair when it is as tall as the room, and packed with books.

So I calle dthe cavalry, my mom and dad. They'd recently bought one of those thingies (see the technical term?) to prod furniture up to place sliding pads underneath, so we used it to carefully lift the bookcase. I cannot describe the scene that ensued, my dad pushing the bookcase up, my mom sticking books underneath to keep it propped up, and I, with my hands under the bookcase, playing a game of catch-me-if-you-can with Barbossa. I grabbed him by the tail, but he was knotted up in his own coils, so I had to keep turning him, unwinding him like a scarf, until finally, with one more tug, he came free.
We were all sweaty and tired, but he looked none the worse for wear, if a bit sheepish. Yes, snakes can look sheepish.
So that was my Sunday afternoon. Interesting, no?

Feeding Frenzy Friday Part 48

Coral ate!!! Yay! I guess she saw that I was feeling a bit sick today so she took pity on me. Thank you Coral, you made my day.

Damascus shed and he looks fabulous, a reptilian movie star. He really needs head shots and things. Can you imagine him, gripping a pen with his tail and scribbling his autograph for adoring admirers? I'd be the first in line.
Well, I'd probably be the only person in line. But never mind.

Barbossa did his walking around the pool, like always. he always looks so happy when he walks around the pool. No matter how hot or humid it is outside, his joy at being in the open air makes up for any discomfort I might feel.

Feeding Frenzy...er, Saturday

I went to see the Harry Potter movie yesterday, so I begged leave from feeding my babies. Of course, lots of complaining ensued, hissing and lunging and pulling out of crontracts. Okay, not really, but that's what they probably would have liked to have done.
I fed them this morning, to everyone's satisfaction. I have Topkapi later tonight, and Barbossa tomorrow.

I won't lie, I was rooting for Voldemort yesterday. I know, I know, I've read the books so there was no way he could have won, but I was hoping. I mean, the man can speak to snakes and takes Nagini of walks! Evil-minded walks, but walks nonetheless! I like Harry, but there's just no competition. And when they killed Nagini, oh, geez, I practically jumped out of my chair. I knew it was coming, but still, poor baby.
Can someone tell me what the hell happened to the final battle scene between Harry and Voldemort? What was that? It was a bit on the pathetic side, in my opinion, nothing like the book. I'm still grumbling about it.



MS. Topkapi, drinking water for your viewing pleasure. The beauty!

Dramatics

Tybalt ate two pinkies last night. I am so proud of him! He is a little eating machine now, which warms the cockles of my heart, or something like that.

Barbossa and I were walking outside today, the usual round around the pool, when I began to hear a screeching nearby. I look up and I see two birds, one blue jay and one mocking bird screaming at both of us. I mean, SCREAMING. Jeez, you'd think Barbossa and I had personally secuestered their babies and were holding them for ransom. Animals can be so dramatic sometimes.


And that's Topkapi, doing some Olympic hiking.

Award Ceremony

Barbossa has just finished eating and he looks as happy as a pig in mud. Of course, he ahd trouble eating thefirst one, since he grabbed it by the middle of the body. He moved, wiggled, and tried every other movement in his limited repertoire to readjust the mouse so he could swallow it, to no avail. I hat to pull it out of his mouth and try again. The second time went much better and the next mouse also gave him no trouble.
He is really the worst hunter, I should make a certificate and have a little trophy placed on top of his cage. To be fair, I would put it next to the award for sweetest animal.

A Basket of Scales

Barbossa ate two mice on Sunday! Yay! This week I'm getting him three because he was asking for another one. The glutton.
He is curled up right now in his basket, like a little baby, albeit with fangs. And scales. And a tail. Okay, so not like a baby, but like a cute snake in a basket.
I'm concerned about Odin, he hasn't eaten in two weeks. It's not a long time snake-wise, but he's so little and so thin. I had my sister give him fluids, but he looks so weak, I'm really concerned.
I don't know what else to do to make him eat. I've tried live pinkies and frozen/thawed ones, and nothing. I can't tell if he's sick or if he's just being a reluctant eater. We'll see what happens.

Sofa Explorations

Topkapi is on the couch right now, crawling all over. We usually put something ont he couch so the dogs don't get on it, and today we have a bar stool lying sideways. She's loving it! She's crawling all over the legs and hanging off it, like a pirate looking for land. She's just so adorable. Now, she is crawling onto the side table, so I'm going to have to go stop her or she'll disappear under the couch.
Last night I caught Coral trying to sneak out. As soon as she saw me she ducked under her paper towels, but I saw her! She's such a meenie, she has everything she needs in her cage, why does she have to try to make it out?
Barbossa still has not shed, but it should be any day now. In a little it O'll be taking him out for a walk around the pool.

Easter!

To all the Christians out there, Happy Easter! Just don't forget, if you eat chocolate eggs, bunnies or chicks, that the reason they exist is because of Eostara, a Pagan goddess of fertility. Just a reminder, don't mean to rain on your parade.

I was so busy Friday that I didn't get a chance to post about the feeding. Everyone ate, except for Tybalt, who is still refusing. I've already switched the light bulb in his heat lamp, hopefully that will make a difference. We'll see.
Today Barbossa, eats, so lend all your good thoughts to make him hungry and to make his aim true.

Now go eat chocolate until you pass out.

Headache

So Tybalt has still not eaten. I am really concerned now. I have no idea what could be bothering him. I changed the lightbulb on his heat lamp to see if maybe by increasing the heat he'd feel more inclined to eat, but I'm getting really nervous. He's little, not like Barbossa who can go weeks without eating with not serious consequences.
I even tried with a fuzzie instead of with a pinkie, since the fuzzies have hair and therefore smell more like mice than a pinkie, and still nothing. I'm trying again today and see what happens.


Barbossa, however, was a perfect angel on Sunday and ate his mouse without too much trouble. He kept looking up for more mice, so this week I'll get him two and see how he fares. Hopefully, soon I'll be able to get him back up to three mice a week.

I'll be baking today, so if you're interested hop on over to Carabosse's Bakeshop

Reptilian Greediness

It's been such a long week! And it's still going on, because in an hour and a half I have a voice lesson to run to.
But, forget all of that, because my babies are all doing marvelously. Tybalt has still not eaten which is causing me concern, but I have not given up hope. I gave him NutriCal and although he hated it, he drank it down. So at least I know he has some nutrients in his little body.
Everyone else ate just fine yesterday. I'ts funny because I'd completely forgotten I'd fed Damascus an extra mouse a few days ago that Barbossa did't want, and he did nothing to remind me of that little fact. He ate just like he were a little starving snake in the middle of the jungle. Only afterwards did I narrow my eyes with a "wait-a-minute" look. He is something else.

A Toast!

Sound the trumpets! BArbossa ate last night! Yes, it's true, the miracle has happened and I've declared April 10th a national holiday to worship the majesty that is Barbossa. Donations in mice and mulch are welcomed.

Talulah is shedding which is no surprise since she is getting bigger by the second. Tybalt is giving me some problems with his food, he's reluctant to take the pinkies, even the live ones and I'm starting to think he is just as picky as Barbossa when it comes to eating. I wonder if it's a male thing.

Feeding Frenzy Friday Part 42

I almost got Barbossa to eat a pinkie today. He missed three times because the pinkie is small and his aim has never been the best, but it gives me hope that he is hungry. Hopefully that means that he will take a mouse on Sunday. Send your good vibes his way.

Everyone else was sparkling balls of energy and hunger, hissing and spiting, lunging and rolling. Ok, not really, more like opening their mouths so I can place the mice inside without too much effort on their part, but hey, I have a healthy imagination.

I'm so proud of all of them, not I just have to get Mr. Shyness to eat and I'll be thrilled.

Prison Break

Coral has disappeared again. Ok, now I'm convinced something's up. I checked her cage and the doors were closed, so she could not have escaped through there. There's some other way she's making it out, I guess I'm going to have to tear the cage apart to look for the defective glass pane. Argh!

Topkapi shed and she looks so much better. The mold whatever she had on her tail is gone, so Neosporin works! Yay! She ate on Friday so she is back to normal.
Barbossa, however, has still not had a single morsel to eat. I don't know what to do anymore. I'm going to keep trying, but if he doesn't eat soon, he's getting fluids. That's it, I've decided.

Barbossa and the Evil Syringe

I'm going to make the attempt to feed Barbossa tonight. He still hasn't eaten, which has put me in a mild state of panic. The other day I tried to give him Nutrical, which is a perfect dietary supplement for pretty much any animal,including snakes, and I think he almost died of fright.
I'd diluted it in water so that I could give it to him by syringe instead of forcing it down his throat in one huge chunk.
Yeah...I had more of it on me than I managed to get in Barbossa's stomach. What a mess. My floor is still sticky.

Coral is still a no-show, by the way. I've looked everywhere. She's probably hiding somewhere, laughing as I pass near her a hundred times a day. Evil, evil snake.

Picture Day!

A group picture! Not all my babies are here (especially Coral, since milksnakes actually eat other snakes.

So on the picture, Barbossa on the bottom step, Topkapi on my lap, Damascus doing all kinds of crazy stuff in the back and Odin between my hands. Next time I have to get the other three, so I can have a complete picture to frame up or something.

Ode to a Coward

Barbossa seemed to want to eat today. I put the mouse inside and he struck, twice...and missed, twice. Of course, now he does not want the mouse, and is doing all he can to show me there's NO WAY he's taking it.
I'm hoping he'll try again later, but I'm not holding out too much hope. He's so frustrating! I have the poor mouse in a plastic container so he can't escape.
Good thing I love him so much.

Powers

So we're back to square one with Barbossa. Well, maybe not quite square one because he did eat last week, but still. I don't know what he expects me to do, call the winter away and make it nice and balmy so he can walk outside? I do not have those powers Barbossa!

Coral is shedding so she is looking mighty scruffy. She's still laying by the door waiting for someone to forget there's a wee snake in there, but that's not going to happen. And even if she does manage to get out I know her secret hiding place. Mwahahahaha.
Pathetic, huh?

I am baking some yummy stuff, spice muffins, so if you are interested in getting the recipe, hop on over to Carabosse's Bakeshop, link on the right.

Feeding Frenzy Friday Part 38

Coral is shedding yet again. You know what that means, she's eating a lot! I think I'm going to have to put her on a bit of a diet, for a few weeks at least so that she doesn't run the risk of exploding.
Topkapi just finished eating. She gave me such a smack when she struck, my hand actually jerked back. She's getting so strong.


Odin is eating beautifully, as is Talulah. All I have to worry about is Barbossa on Sunday. Since it's turned cooler and I've not been able to take him out walking, who knows.