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LukeW
Hatchling
United Kingdom
276 Posts |
 Posted - 25/03/2013 : 10:44:30
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| Fi have you tried feeding Cathy in a rub covered by a towl or something? If not it may be worth a try :) |
Female normal - Cyrus (can't think of a girl name :p)
Male charcoal - Midnight
Female amel - Lilly
Female CB13 anery 100% het sunkissed - Ariel.
Male CB13 fire 100% het stripe, 50% het hypo, anery and lavender
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Foxtrotsierra
Hatchling
United Kingdom
485 Posts |
Posted - 25/03/2013 : 10:53:28
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I have tried it all Luke, but she has been drop fed since she hatched, so I am going to work on getting her up to about 15/16g and then we are going to work on getting her fed in the RUB. I put paper towel down in her viv so that she can't ingest substrate when she drags her dinner off the coco hide (which is what she associates her food with).
There is a great herp vet over here that has been a godsend to me, and he agrees, weight on first no matter how, and then we can work on the where.
She refused last Friday, so am going for it again tonight as I said as I would much rather a refusal than a regurge given her weight for sure  (and she has had a known regurge).
Currently I pop it on her coco hide in her viv and pop a towel over it so she can have some privacy - for a snake that likes to make presence known, she does seem to prefer to eat in privacy!
She seems to get quite stressed in her RUB at the moment, so I am going to work on that when she gets a little heavier like I mentioned. Cleaning her viv out involves one of my kids letting her have a play whilst I sort the viv out currently - little minx that she is  |
0.1.0 Snow - Cathy (digesting, waiting for her photo op)
0.1.0 Carolina - Delilah
0.1.0 King Charles Cavalier - Emily
0.1.0 St Bernard - Pooch
0.1.0 Manx Cat - Maggie
0.0.1 HUGE tropical fish tank + residents
1.0.0 Husband (thinks I am insane)
3.2.0 Children (think I am cool!)
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LukeW
Hatchling
United Kingdom
276 Posts |
Posted - 25/03/2013 : 11:25:03
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| When cyrus was shy to eat i used his rub and put a hide in there (only a really small plastic plant pot with a hole cut out) then just dropped the pinkie outside the hide entrance then it was gone also you could rub the kitchen roll either in your hands or on her aspen so she may feel less stressed worked wonders for cyrus |
Female normal - Cyrus (can't think of a girl name :p)
Male charcoal - Midnight
Female amel - Lilly
Female CB13 anery 100% het sunkissed - Ariel.
Male CB13 fire 100% het stripe, 50% het hypo, anery and lavender
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Foxtrotsierra
Hatchling
United Kingdom
485 Posts |
Posted - 25/03/2013 : 11:54:34
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quote:
Originally posted by LukeW
When cyrus was shy to eat i used his rub and put a hide in there (only a really small plastic plant pot with a hole cut out) then just dropped the pinkie outside the hide entrance then it was gone also you could rub the kitchen roll either in your hands or on her aspen so she may feel less stressed worked wonders for cyrus
Tried that one too hun, she is just too diddy that the herp vet said that the priority was to get her to eat her way, then to sort out the where we get her to eat. If you told me that wearing a pink tutu would get her to eat, then I would! (given in mind, I like heavy metal and never wear pink, lol!) |
0.1.0 Snow - Cathy (digesting, waiting for her photo op)
0.1.0 Carolina - Delilah
0.1.0 King Charles Cavalier - Emily
0.1.0 St Bernard - Pooch
0.1.0 Manx Cat - Maggie
0.0.1 HUGE tropical fish tank + residents
1.0.0 Husband (thinks I am insane)
3.2.0 Children (think I am cool!)
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SexyBear77
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3796 Posts |
Posted - 25/03/2013 : 12:06:11
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If she's eating well in her usual home then I see no need to feed outside of it, all mine feed in their enclosures with no issue.
What's the main reason you want her to feed in an RUB? |
9.11 Cornsnakes
1.1 Hogg island boas
1.0 Dwarf Burmese python
Location: Watford
Website- http://rassnakes.yolasite.com/ |
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SexyBear77
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3796 Posts |
Posted - 25/03/2013 : 12:11:45
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| Also, what was the main reason for suspecting a difference in age from what you were told? |
9.11 Cornsnakes
1.1 Hogg island boas
1.0 Dwarf Burmese python
Location: Watford
Website- http://rassnakes.yolasite.com/ |
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Foxtrotsierra
Hatchling
United Kingdom
485 Posts |
Posted - 25/03/2013 : 12:19:44
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quote:
Originally posted by SexyBear77
If she's eating well in her usual home then I see no need to feed outside of it, all mine feed in their enclosures with no issue.
What's the main reason you want her to feed in an RUB?
To be perfectly honest SB, I am more than happy for her to be fed in the viv at the moment - she is desperately underweight and although I have her on aspen substrate, I do put paper towel down so that she can't ingest it when eating from the shell.
I guess I am just going with what most people recommend, but I am going to see how her personality pans out.
She has been drop fed (as I have mentioned a billion times) since birth, and absolutely refuses to take from the tongs, so food going in is a fantastic thing for me. She was on 1 pinkie a week when I got her, but I have managed to get her upped a little, even though she refused last Friday, I am going to try her again tonight.
I genuinely thought it was the done thing, but I have to be honest, if I can make sure she eats without ingesting substrate I will be more than happy.
Her records when I got her were falsified, and she has regurged a fair few times, so a refusal is by far the better option than that.
Kellog or smart bunny gave me a few tips to look out for and I think she is just going into blue (the children noticed her skin was a little drier than normal) so I am not too bothered as she has had a couple of very good feeds so far. Doesn't help that her shed records were also falsified too 
I really appreciate you taking time to let me know that you have had no problem with your snakes feeding in their homes, at this moment in time I am open to absolutely all options for her
Edited to add the answer to your other question - the herp vet I have her registered with told me that she was at least 10 weeks older than I was told she was, I had an approximately 26 week old snake weighing 9g when I got her. Please don't think I am being deliberately obscure, but I can email you and tell you why if you would like me to, I just can't post it on the forum |
0.1.0 Snow - Cathy (digesting, waiting for her photo op)
0.1.0 Carolina - Delilah
0.1.0 King Charles Cavalier - Emily
0.1.0 St Bernard - Pooch
0.1.0 Manx Cat - Maggie
0.0.1 HUGE tropical fish tank + residents
1.0.0 Husband (thinks I am insane)
3.2.0 Children (think I am cool!)
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Edited by - Foxtrotsierra on 25/03/2013 12:23:49 |
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SexyBear77
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3796 Posts |
Posted - 25/03/2013 : 21:03:35
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| That's fine, I belive you, I just don't understand how your vet could possibly age her with such apparent suredness. Did he do any tests? |
9.11 Cornsnakes
1.1 Hogg island boas
1.0 Dwarf Burmese python
Location: Watford
Website- http://rassnakes.yolasite.com/ |
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Foxtrotsierra
Hatchling
United Kingdom
485 Posts |
Posted - 26/03/2013 : 08:25:26
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quote:
Originally posted by SexyBear77
That's fine, I belive you, I just don't understand how your vet could possibly age her with such apparent suredness. Did he do any tests?
He has tested her, and her clutch mates too. Part of me getting Cathy was making sure that there was a herp vet where I live, and we have a fantastic one that she is registered with. She has seen him once, and is going back next week. I am only used to big boas, so baby corn snakes is exceptionally new territory to me so I genuinely don't know what he did, but she and her clutch mates were being advertised as being 12/13 weeks when I got her, and through circumstances that I can't explain on a public forum the vet ended up seeing her sooner than I had her booked in which set off a chain of events.
Living where I do is very different from the UK, we have to have a license to own an exotic pet and the herp vet I have her registered with specialises in snakes.
He is 99% sure she is around the 6 month mark, not the 3 month one.
She did refuse her food on Friday night, but did accept her dinner (in her viv, off the coco shell making the usual racket I have come to expect from her) last night within 5 minutes of the pinkie going in. As she had fresh water last night, I am just going to leave her until tonight to change her water and make sure she is OK.
I know this all sounds a little OTT for a little snake, but she is my pet and one I can actually look after myself, so I know it probably sounds like a right old saga to the seasoned keepers on here, but I just want to give her a good start with me, get her weight up and then stop panicking  |
0.1.0 Snow - Cathy (digesting, waiting for her photo op)
0.1.0 Carolina - Delilah
0.1.0 King Charles Cavalier - Emily
0.1.0 St Bernard - Pooch
0.1.0 Manx Cat - Maggie
0.0.1 HUGE tropical fish tank + residents
1.0.0 Husband (thinks I am insane)
3.2.0 Children (think I am cool!)
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SexyBear77
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3796 Posts |
Posted - 26/03/2013 : 09:34:02
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Do you know which sort of tests he did? As I wasn't aware there are any that can be done to reliably age snakes.
I understand you are just doing your best for her, and you sound like a great owner (and she a very lucky snake!) but there really is no need to rush to get weight on her. If she's eating when she should be, isn't losing weight and looks the right shape for her size (eg: not skinny) then thats fine.
I have a 3 year old male here that isn't much bigger than some of last years babies, he is ridiculously tiny but as healthy as a horse and has bred this year. Anyone looking at him that didn't know would think him a baby, but I've had him since he was 12 weeks- he just hasn't grown much.
What I'm trying to say is don't let her apparent age dictate how big or heavy she should be as there is just far too much variation from snake to snake and you may end up rushing her growth too quickly.
Stick to a steady feeding schedule, 5-7 days, on appropriately sized mice, and relax x |
9.11 Cornsnakes
1.1 Hogg island boas
1.0 Dwarf Burmese python
Location: Watford
Website- http://rassnakes.yolasite.com/ |
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Foxtrotsierra
Hatchling
United Kingdom
485 Posts |
Posted - 26/03/2013 : 09:53:47
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quote:
Originally posted by SexyBear77
Do you know which sort of tests he did? As I wasn't aware there are any that can be done to reliably age snakes.
I understand you are just doing your best for her, and you sound like a great owner (and she a very lucky snake!) but there really is no need to rush to get weight on her. If she's eating when she should be, isn't losing weight and looks the right shape for her size (eg: not skinny) then thats fine.
I have a 3 year old male here that isn't much bigger than some of last years babies, he is ridiculously tiny but as healthy as a horse and has bred this year. Anyone looking at him that didn't know would think him a baby, but I've had him since he was 12 weeks- he just hasn't grown much.
What I'm trying to say is don't let her apparent age dictate how big or heavy she should be as there is just far too much variation from snake to snake and you may end up rushing her growth too quickly.
Stick to a steady feeding schedule, 5-7 days, on appropriately sized mice, and relax x
I totally get where you are coming from SB, but she wasn't in great shape when I got her, and unbeknownst to me, had had several regurges that weren't on her feeding records. Put that on top of very hit and miss 7 day feeds (again, not recorded properly until I got her true records), I am just happy for her to get her fed regularly and at a rate she is comfy with.
Hand on heart, I am not going to rush her, I just want her to fill out a little which might prove quite difficult as she is very active.
I thought that the temps in her viv might be wrong, but have checked, checked and checked again and they are fine, she is just an active girl.
I hope you don't mind, but I had a look at your snakes via the link in your sig - WOW, they are gorgeous
I just hope that with Cathy, given her history of regurges, a steady rate of feeds appropriate to her weight is what is best for her, with her letting me know when. I would much rather a refusal and to try again in a few days than a regurge as from what I have read, a regurge is really is very uncomfortable for the snake, and takes 10 days to get their gut flora up to its normal balance. I do have some reptoboost if she has one, but will only use that if she does.
I am sure I didn't worry this much about my children
I really do appreciate you taking time to give me your help, as the more information I have, the better choices I can make for her, so thank you very much |
0.1.0 Snow - Cathy (digesting, waiting for her photo op)
0.1.0 Carolina - Delilah
0.1.0 King Charles Cavalier - Emily
0.1.0 St Bernard - Pooch
0.1.0 Manx Cat - Maggie
0.0.1 HUGE tropical fish tank + residents
1.0.0 Husband (thinks I am insane)
3.2.0 Children (think I am cool!)
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Blackcat
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
1235 Posts |
Posted - 26/03/2013 : 10:54:21
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So glad she fed last night for you
What sexybear has said about all snakes growing at diff rates is very true, as I have already mentioned I have two corns of virtually the same age (give or take a couple of weeks) and one is over twice the weight of the other.
I also have two Brazillian Rainbow boas, both cb11 and one of those is twice the weight of the other, I also have two cb12 Colombian Rainbow boas and these are now almost the same weight as my one cb11 Brazillian.
Like you I do 'worry' but as they are all eating, shedding and pooing as they should I just have to believe that are just fine but individuals |
0.0.2 Corn snakes - Morse & Zeus
1.1.0 Brazillian Rainbow Boa's - Indigo & Ruby
0.0.2 Columbian Rainbow Boa's - Orinoco & Tobago
1.0.0 House snake - Hoggle
0.1.0 Crested Gecko - Ludo
2.0.0 cats (RIP Zebee), 0.1.0 Dog, 2.0.0 Horses |
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Kellog
the nice one
United Kingdom
7308 Posts |
Posted - 26/03/2013 : 11:16:22
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That is fantastic news about her feeding Fi . You must be so relieved, especially after you had to do that unexpected clean of her viv....I know you were worried that it would unsettle her and put her off eating again. I wonder why she didn't eat last time....maybe it was because of moving her feeds to every 5 days she wasn't hungry? But what's important is that she ate .
I can understand SB asking what she has, she is a very experienced owner and breeder, so would query anything she didn't think sounded right. She's who I go to when I'm in trouble ! As for her snakes.....*sighs jealously*  .
Everything that has been said is right. We have so many people saying 'My snake is x years old and weighs y grams. Is it eating enough?'. It really doesn't matter what weight your snake is, as long as its doing everything it should be with eating and drinking and pooing, and not showing any health problems. Every snake is different and will grow differently. Even snakes from the same clutch, fed exactly the same, will be different. Know I'm repeating what SB and Blackcat have said, but I don't this it can be stressed enough....not just to you but to anyone else who reads this thread.
Haven't received your email....did you send it to my email address? Have checked trash and it hasn't been sent straight into there.
I'm glad you can relax for a couple of days and look forward to some quality handling time with Miss Cathy once she's let you know she's ready to come out to play  .
Xxx
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SexyBear77
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3796 Posts |
Posted - 26/03/2013 : 12:26:12
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Haha thanks Fi, I am lucky to own some very lovely animals.
You've started your little "collection" with a stunner there too, Cathy is a gorgeous example of a snow. Such lovely colours.
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9.11 Cornsnakes
1.1 Hogg island boas
1.0 Dwarf Burmese python
Location: Watford
Website- http://rassnakes.yolasite.com/ |
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Foxtrotsierra
Hatchling
United Kingdom
485 Posts |
Posted - 27/03/2013 : 07:21:38
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Blackcat I have realized now that Cathy is going to live her life to the beat of her own drum, that is for sure! Like everyone has said, as long as she is eating, drinking (have yet to see her actually do it, but by the amount of substrate in there I know she has been in - I think she likes to do it at night) and pooing up the walls (not forgiving her for that one just yet!) I will be happy.
Your snakes are gorgeous. My grandmother had an albino reticulated python and would happily cook tea with it draped round her neck. I would sit with it wrapped round me watching TV as it didn't have a viv, just a big box next to the boiler, it had full run of the house (bearing in mind, this was the 70's and it was brought home for her by one of my Uncles from god knows where as it was a baby and injured when they got it). Maybe when I am a bit better I will branch out
Kellog I did send it! I wrote it out (took half an hour, and that is with speed typing too, and hit send. Blah  . Is there any other way I can get hold of you? I don't mind you sending me an address at the following (and I can delete it when you have) pixie (at) mcb (dot) net. And as for waiting for 2 days? Yes I will, but the little so and so is in her warm hide digesting but apparently that is too boring for her, so she put her head on the hide to watch TV last night (according to my husband). He did get a pic without the flash and it does look like it!. No regurge so far, so fingers crossed (she is known to have had 5 in her short life), so I don't care how long it takes for me to work on it, I will find out what is her preferred schedule. Like I have mentioned, a refusal (though frustrating for me) is WAY better than a regurge for her, so her pace it will be.
SexyBear77 Thank you for saying that about Cathy. I know that snows are very abundant and are very cheap compared to some of the morphs out there, but I picked her for her temperament as I love her personality. I think half the fun is finding out what they look like after each shed as I know she will change quite radically, or not!
I think my "collection" will finish at 2 otherwise I will find myself in the divorce courts
I asked my husband if I could have a snake for every tropical fish he buys and you can imagine the reaction - utter horror at the thought of so many snakes in the house!
And to answer your question you asked about the vet and I completely forgot to answer, I will ask him when I take Cathy to see him soon, so that I can give you the proper terms, but he was pretty adamant over her age. |
0.1.0 Snow - Cathy (digesting, waiting for her photo op)
0.1.0 Carolina - Delilah
0.1.0 King Charles Cavalier - Emily
0.1.0 St Bernard - Pooch
0.1.0 Manx Cat - Maggie
0.0.1 HUGE tropical fish tank + residents
1.0.0 Husband (thinks I am insane)
3.2.0 Children (think I am cool!)
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Blackcat
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
1235 Posts |
Posted - 27/03/2013 : 09:08:09
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Thank you Fi regards the lovely comment regards my snakes
I think every one should live to the beat of their own drum - we are all individuals.
My two corns are very common morphs, Zeus being anery and Morse an amel stripe. I love snows too and may get one at a later date, my wish list of morphs could be huge but space at home limits the number I can have.
I have my own home but my family think I only have one corn and one BRB |
0.0.2 Corn snakes - Morse & Zeus
1.1.0 Brazillian Rainbow Boa's - Indigo & Ruby
0.0.2 Columbian Rainbow Boa's - Orinoco & Tobago
1.0.0 House snake - Hoggle
0.1.0 Crested Gecko - Ludo
2.0.0 cats (RIP Zebee), 0.1.0 Dog, 2.0.0 Horses |
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Foxtrotsierra
Hatchling
United Kingdom
485 Posts |
Posted - 27/03/2013 : 09:24:53
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quote:
Originally posted by Blackcat
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I have my own home but my family think I only have one corn and one BRB
Hmm, yes - I know how you feel! Most of my family have NO idea that I have a snake
I had a bad day the day before yesterday with my fits, and my Mum came up to see me in bed (Cathy's viv is eye level with me when I sit up in bed on the wall to the left, I can touch it when I am in bed) and nearly had an "attack of the vapours" until my husband covered her viv up! No idea why as she was fine with the retic but in fairness, that was more like a puppy dog than a snake, and Cathy is rather tiny.
A few friends know I have her and the best thing I have had said to me is "Do you KNOW what they eat?" Well, yes, yes I do as I feed her! And no, she isn't going to get big enough to eat our King Charles Cav either. Honestly, you would think I had a 20' Burmese in the house!
I would love a Royal Python eventually, but baby steps at all times. I need to start at the beginning, and a fussy underweight corn sounds like a good place. If I can manage that, I might be able to twist my husband's arm into going to a reptile show in the UK to get a nice Royal. Fingers crossed |
0.1.0 Snow - Cathy (digesting, waiting for her photo op)
0.1.0 Carolina - Delilah
0.1.0 King Charles Cavalier - Emily
0.1.0 St Bernard - Pooch
0.1.0 Manx Cat - Maggie
0.0.1 HUGE tropical fish tank + residents
1.0.0 Husband (thinks I am insane)
3.2.0 Children (think I am cool!)
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Blackcat
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
1235 Posts |
Posted - 27/03/2013 : 10:25:39
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My family think I am crackers anyway - I own 3 cats, a dog, a tropical fish tank, a horse, a pony and 6 snakes. It must run in the family as my sister has chickens, ducks, alpacas, sheep, guinea-pigs, canaries, a dog and a cat plus a tropical fish tank.
As for friends, my one refers to me as the crazy snake lady and most would be horrified to learn that my deep freezer is full of rats and mice.
I am sure you will get your Royal python, you seem to be doing a cracking job with Cathy - it is so nice to 'see' some one doing all their research and asking questions (and taking on board what answers they get) |
0.0.2 Corn snakes - Morse & Zeus
1.1.0 Brazillian Rainbow Boa's - Indigo & Ruby
0.0.2 Columbian Rainbow Boa's - Orinoco & Tobago
1.0.0 House snake - Hoggle
0.1.0 Crested Gecko - Ludo
2.0.0 cats (RIP Zebee), 0.1.0 Dog, 2.0.0 Horses |
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Foxtrotsierra
Hatchling
United Kingdom
485 Posts |
Posted - 27/03/2013 : 10:53:06
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I have been referred to as eccentric on occasion
As per the advice thing - I think it would be outright rude not to take on the advice I have been given, and use what is best for Cathy. I know I have been just a tad neurotic about her *ahem* but it is lovely to be able to actually show her progress given all the advice I have been given with the pictures. I am really looking forwards to showing her off after another meal and a shed.
I would never have got to where I am with her without everyone's support, believe you and me.
We don't have quite as many pets as you, we have 1 Cathy, 1 rescue cat (Maggie), 2 rescue dogs (Emily and Pooch) - the first is an inbred Cav that was going to be euthanized as she is epileptic but I kind of twisted the MSPCA's arm into giving me a go with her - they said to give her 2 years, that was 8 years ago! Pooch is a St Bernard x collie! She is a rescue too.
My husband has 4 fish tanks *facepalm* but they are his pride and joy, so who am I to stop that. He had to give up work to look after me, so he more than deserves them.
All our animals are snipped and chipped and insured. It is a small price to pay versus HUGE vets bills. I couldn't get Emily insured as she is a known epileptic, but she has never given me a moment's bother other than that.
I have just changed Cathy's water and no regurge . She is happily burrowed in her warm hide and I did get a head poking out - not sure if it was a "Hello" or a "Go away"!. Dinner is definitely going in the right direction though. She only flicks her little pink tongue out once when I go near her now, think she is getting used to me.
One thing you have all collectively seared into my brain is the following:-
1) Best case scenario - a feed
2) If no feed, a refusal is not the end of the world, as long as a bit of a break is given in between offering again.
3) Worst case scenario - regurge. Am so glad I haven't had one since I got her home, but have the reptoboost on hand just in case.
Looking back on her proper records, she has eaten more with me than she ate in the entire 10 weeks before she came to me. I can more than live with that for her. I am sure if she could wiggle over the keys she would say thank you |
0.1.0 Snow - Cathy (digesting, waiting for her photo op)
0.1.0 Carolina - Delilah
0.1.0 King Charles Cavalier - Emily
0.1.0 St Bernard - Pooch
0.1.0 Manx Cat - Maggie
0.0.1 HUGE tropical fish tank + residents
1.0.0 Husband (thinks I am insane)
3.2.0 Children (think I am cool!)
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LukeW
Hatchling
United Kingdom
276 Posts |
Posted - 27/03/2013 : 11:14:43
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| Congratulations Fi and Cathy! |
Female normal - Cyrus (can't think of a girl name :p)
Male charcoal - Midnight
Female amel - Lilly
Female CB13 anery 100% het sunkissed - Ariel.
Male CB13 fire 100% het stripe, 50% het hypo, anery and lavender
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My husband has caved in..
