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,

Feeding Frenzy Friday Part 49

Coral ate again! Yes! I think she's not angry with me anymore because I keep her safe in a cage. She's spending more time in her hiding place, so obviously she's becoming a bit more used to captivity. Or she's planning something major, involving smoke bombs and lasers glass cutters. Who knows with her?

Damascus ate also, with his usual gusto, while Talulah and Tybalt ate on Wednesday, so they are curled up with full bellies.
Topkapi didn't eat last week, I don't know why, so I'm hoping tonight she'll take the mouse. She's a grown snake, so it's not a big deal for her to miss a week, but still it makes me worry.

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 Friday Part 47

So Coral is again not wanting to eat. I think she's throwing a little tantrum becasue I've not allowed her to escape again. She ate two weeks ago, so I'm not panicking yet, but I do want her to start taking the mice again.

Damascus ate, he's shedding but he doesn't seem to care. He atr without issue, by baby.

This morning I cleaned Tybalt and Talulah's cage because they are really messy snakes. They poop or pee and then slither across it, so that there are streaks everywhere. I don't get it. None of my other babies are that messy. Huh. At least they don't complain when I change their paper towels, which is good.
They've both been eating like angels, well, if angels had sharp teeth and strangled prey.

Feeding Frenzy Friday Part 46

Tybalt continues to want to eat frozen/thawed mice, so I am tap-dancing for joy. Talulah, of course, ate, as did Damascus.

So, Coral is somewhere loose in the house, yet again. She managed to grow hands to slide the glass door open, even with my elaborate cardboard lock. How does she do this?! She's hiding somewhere laughing maniacally at my futile attempts to track her down. I've checked in all the places she's hidden before, but nothing. She's too smart for me. Coral, why do you do this to me?

A Victorian Snake

I'm still trying to get used to having Odin gone. It's hard to walk into the libray/snake room and see the corner where his cage was empty.

Yesterday I didn't get a chance to post about feeding but everyone ate without too much issue. Tybalt was being a bit reluctant, I could practically see his little head working away, wondering if he felt like eating a frozen/thawed pinkie or waiting until Wednesday for a live one. After much convincing on my part (which means I kept rubbing the mouse under his nose) he deigned to open his mouth a bit. Not strike, no, that's too much effort for a subpar meal. I was happy, though. Maybe I can get him back on the frozen mice. Here's hoping.


That's Topkapi, of course, inspecting my table, checking out the vanilla scented candlewax and the feather quill. Perhaps she has an important missive to write. Maybe to a lover on a distant shore somewhere. Very possible with her.

Feeding Frenzy Friday Part 46

Topkapi just finished shedding, a few minutes before writing this, actually. She looks stunning!

I fed Damascus today first. He just looked so hungry I coulnd't start with anyone else. I gave him his mouse then turned to feed Taluah, who ate beautifully. I turned back and I see Damascus following my every movement through the glass, waiting for me to give him something else. He looked just like a dog begging for food. Too cute.

I assumed that Topkapi wasn't going to eat because she hadn't shed yet. I underestimated her, as I usually do. As soon as I put the mouse in, she lunged and wrapped herself around the very, very dead mouse.


I took that picture yesterday, when Topkapi was traversing the land that is my bed. She explored new horizons, discovered new lands, and spotted a really warm spot under my pillows.

Feeding Frenzy Friday Part 45

Ok, so today was a short feeding day. I'd fed Talulah and Tybalt (who is eating like a greedy little monster) on Wednesday when my sister brought the live pinkies, so I officially had just Coral, Damascus and Odin to feed. Topkapi is shedding so no mice for her.
Damascus ate with no problem, bless his little reptilian soul, but Coral also decided to begin shedding without warning me (I don't really know how she would have done that, but nevermind)so I had to give her mouse to Damascus also. Not a problem for him.

Next was Odin, who is sick. He keeps throwing up his food and I am beyond worried at this point. He's getting fluids but I need him to eat. He always looks hungry but can't seem to keep anythig down. I've checked and rechecked the temperature and humidity in his cage and nothing is off.
Warning: ye of weak stomachs, read no more.

Today I had an idea. I'd been feeding him pinkies that were a little bit bigger than the previous batch which made me think maybe they are too big for him. So, using my little head, I chopped the pinkie in half. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, chopped it in half with a kitchen knife, Ok, this was a frozen/thawed mouse, not a live one. I had visions of PETA knocking on my door.
Odin took it gladly, so now I'm just praying that he can digest it. I really, really hope so.
My poor little sick baby.

Feeding Frenzy Friday Part 44

I thought, since Tybalt ate beautifully on Wednesday, that I could feed Talulah while he was still in the cage. He couldn't possibly be hungry, could he? Yeah, well, he was. He lunged at his sister's mouth to grab the frozen pinkie from her. Just picture me, looking down at this sibling war, screaming a slow-motion "Noooooo!" as I flung my hand down to stop the bloodflow. Yeah, yeah, it wasn't quite that dramatic, but it was a sticky situation.
I'd defrosted another pinkie so I gave it to Tybalt. Since when does he eat frozen mice? I mean, it would be great if he switched to them so I wouldn't have to worry about getting him live ones.

Odin is sick. He keeps throwing up his food and I have checked everything, temperature, humidity, ligh-dark cycle, everything. I think he may have to go on anti-biotics. We'll see.

Missing Pinkies

My sister had trouble bringing the pinkies home last night, so I wasn't able to feed the newly hungry Tybalt. I'm going to attempt tonight with frozen mice, and hopefully he'll be so hungry he won't care.

Everyone is in their cages *cough Coral cough* and they all looks pretty happy. Odin still has not eaten, though, which is freaking me out. I'm soaking him in a disinfectant for reptiles just in case it's a bacteria or something that's bothering him and he's also getting fluids. I hope he starts eating again soon. I'm worried.

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.

Victory!

Tybalt ate last night, people! Are you as excited as I am?!!!
Probably not, but let me tell you, I was jumping and hollering and if I could do one without falling on my face I would have done a cartwheel around the room.
He actually ate TWO pinkies. I am floating on a cloud of pink relief.
That's all I had to report today, but boy, is it good news!

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.

Feeding Frenzy Friday Part 43

Coral is still in her cage, halelujah! She ate a pinkie and a mouse today, so she must be quite happy. See Coral, captivity is not quite so bad.
Talulah of course ate, but Tybalt did not. I had my sister give him fluids, although she says he looks fine. She says I'm exaggerating (who, me?) and to stop worrying. He'll eat when he's good and ready, like Barbossa.
Now, I have to go feed Topkapi, or she'll start whining.

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.

Feeding Frenzy Friday Part 41

Super short feeding day today, only two snakes in the morning and Topkapi in a few hours. I was kind of disappointed, I was looking forward to a full day of shenanigans. Oh, well, there's always next week.

Topkapi's tail is looking better, so I guess the Neosporin and Betadine are doing their job. She is also abut to shed, which will help her heal.
Snakes have really incredible abilities, if they're injured they shed their skin to help the wound close, if they have bacteria they do the same thing.
They're amazing, but then again, I already knew that.

Feeding Frenzy Friday Part 40

Feeding is done! Every one of my babies behaved with reptilian decorum, you could practically see them demurely wiping their lips on engraved silk napkins.
Damascus, however, is shedding so he did a little frightened dance and hid his head beneath his coils.
All in all, a satisfying day.

By the way, I have started another blog in which I'll review books. Since I'm a reviewer at You Gotta Read and Midwestern Book Review, I thought it'd be a good idea to keep things organized. If it is something that interests you, head over to Carabosse's Library

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.