| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| SilverWings |
Posted - 18/03/2014 : 17:26:44
I'd heard that using anole skin to scent prey was a good way to start off non feeders, but since I don't have any or know anybody that does, I'd never thought on it. However, I was browsing the scalies in th epet shop today and saw they had some anoles in-and there was a piece of shed skin on the floor. I excitedly rushed over to the assistant (we call him snake dude) and explained why I wanted it, and he happily handed it over. Came home and waved a bit at the two non feeders to see if there was any interest. Liana ignored it *but* she's blue at the moment so I haven't given up on this idea with her yet. Checkers sniffed it, then struck the tongs (she's never struck anything in her life) and pulled the skin off, eating it straight away. I boiled a pinky, stuck a bit more skin to it's head, then offered it, and she went straight for it! I'm amazed, it's good to know she has a good meal in her, and hopefully Liana will follow her example when she's shed. |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Kellog |
Posted - 03/04/2014 : 08:54:35
You've done really well with them both Silverwings. They are blessed to have an owner who is so committed and will do whatever is necessary to keep them alive and see them thrive  .
Xxx
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| LadySybil |
Posted - 02/04/2014 : 14:31:51
Im so glad they seem to be eating for you now and at least you know if they get a bit iffy again that the anole skin wakes them up and gets them to eat. |
| SilverWings |
Posted - 02/04/2014 : 12:30:07
They are 7 months old now. Liana took her first chick wing by herself a week ago, it had anole skin on the end, dampened slightly to keep it on. I left it in overnight and it was gone the next day. This latest feed it had a tiny scrap of skin on the end but she didn't even seem to notice since she took the wing from the other end. She's been force fed chick wings once a week for about 4 months, prior to that I tube fed them with blended pinkies or force fed mouse tails from about 2 months old (whenit became clear she didn't want to eat by herself and was losing weight). Once every few weeks I offered food and left it overnight but she never even looked at it. The anole skin seems to have kick started the feeding response in her, so fingers crossed she keeps eating.
Checkers was a bit different. For the first few months she was force fed, then I offered prey and she did show interest but never actually ate it. I'd watch her pick it up, then flail about until she dropped it. Food was always moved about but never eaten when left overnight. Even when I force fed her, the food in her mouth instantly made her panic and she'd flail about madly, but once it was past her mouth she swallowed it normally. In february I shut her in a sandwich tub with a boiled pinky, she went straight for it and bit it, this time without panicking. Took her a while but she got it down. Next week she took another one, then after that never even looked at them. I refused to go back to force feeding because I knew she *could* eat them, so I kept offering but they went uneaten. When I first got the anole skin I offered a piece on it's own to see if there was any interest she struck and ate it and ate the pinky I gave her. She struck the pinky I gave her the other day which brings her up to 3 meals in a row. |
| Kellog |
Posted - 02/04/2014 : 08:06:26
That's fantastic  . Remind me, how old is. Liana now and was the chick wing wrapped in anole skin the first thing she'd eaten? How did Checkers do this time?
Xxx
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| scottishbluebird |
Posted - 01/04/2014 : 17:45:31
Thats brilliant, even if she has to have something like that all the time, just as long as she is eating |
| SilverWings |
Posted - 01/04/2014 : 12:29:50
Got to see something I never thought I'd see last night. I offered Liana a chick wing with a tiny scrap of anole skin on it, she ignored it. 15 mins later I took it out, reheated it on the radiator, and placed it in front of her. She went up to it, sniffed, then did the most pathetic little strike (more of a 'bop' than a 'whap') and ate it. It was amazing to see, she looked like she was enjoying it and it went down in no time at all. |
| SilverWings |
Posted - 27/03/2014 : 08:27:52
Bah, don't know about that lol. I only got Luna and Diego a year ago, this clutch has been a real learning curve. |
| Kellog |
Posted - 27/03/2014 : 08:13:15
I don't have any experience with non-feeders but personally I'd do a couple of feeds exactly the same as you did before to make sure that her feeding instinct has really kicked in before trying anything new. But you're more experienced than me  .
Xxx
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| SilverWings |
Posted - 26/03/2014 : 23:31:49
I lurk on there (mainly to amuse myself watching the arguments) and I might have a look for some donors. Hopefully I have a supply for now, they have at least 6 (that I could see) and some of them are actively shedding, he said he'll grab any skin he sees and save it for me. She's not due a feed for another 4 days, so we'll see how that goes. Not sure whether to try her on a pinky, or stick to the chick wing since I know she's taken one of those. |
| scottishbluebird |
Posted - 26/03/2014 : 23:04:23
What about going to the 'Darkside' (rfuk) and asking if anyone can save some for you, not all there are mean! |
| SilverWings |
Posted - 26/03/2014 : 19:55:05
Nope, never heard of it o.O It's The Ark, the one in the town centre. |
| Razee |
Posted - 26/03/2014 : 19:26:53
It's not Reptileworld in Plymouth by any? :-)
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| SilverWings |
Posted - 26/03/2014 : 18:58:34
Yeah, I keep forgetting to ask his name XD The pet shop I go to has two floors, with the reps upstairs and he's always up there. Saw him when I went to get some pinkies and told him it worked this time, he managed to scrounge some more from their tank and said if he sees any more he'll keep it back for me ^_^ Going to try her on a boiled pinky next week with anole skin stuck to it, I asked for 'the most emaciated looking ones' because she's soooo tiny. |
| scottishbluebird |
Posted - 26/03/2014 : 18:17:28
Snake Dude, i just have to lol!! and that is BRILIANT
Sadly Fudge always eats hers, or id save it for you |
| SilverWings |
Posted - 26/03/2014 : 14:58:30
AAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGHHH!!! I'm jumping right now, Liana actually ATE SOMETHING!!! By herself!!! At least, I assume she did, I can't find it. I put a plucked chick wing in with her overnight, with the rest of the anole skin on it, and just looked in to find no sign of it anywhere. There's no lump in her but there never is with chick wings, they're pretty skinny which was why I was using them the force feed. Gonne have to ask Snake Dude at the pet shop if he could possibly grab anymore skin he sees in with them. I might try her on a pinky next time. |
| SilverWings |
Posted - 19/03/2014 : 17:11:17
Ahaha, no, I don't need anymore pets. But Snake Dude said if it does work, he will probably start harvesting it instead of just throwing away what they don't eat. |
| LadySybil |
Posted - 19/03/2014 : 14:30:28
Thats amazing, if it works for Liana, I can see another beastie making its way to your house lol |
| Kellog |
Posted - 19/03/2014 : 11:06:25
That's so good to hear! I do hope you get a similar response from Liana once she's shed and that Checkers feeds as well next time.
Xxx
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| lupi lou |
Posted - 18/03/2014 : 22:00:17
Good stuff, fingers crossed Liana also finds it tempting |
| scottishbluebird |
Posted - 18/03/2014 : 20:58:11
Thats brilliant, just it works on Liana too |
