Marnie's Snakes

[EasternGirl]

I felt so bad tonight. Cee Cee had to have her antibiotic injection and right before I took her out to give it to her, my cat was right up in front of the tank staring at her. Cee Cee was in strike mode...very defensive. But I had to go ahead and take her out to give her the shot because my mother was ready to help and the shot was prepared. The poor girl was freaking out...trying to get away and I had to poke her with the needle four times to get it in because she kept pulling away every time I got the needle in. She musked all over the place, and she never musks me. I felt just horrible. She finally calmed down and I fed her a worm. My poor Ceecers. Only one shot left and we are done.

[katach]

Aww, poor girl.

[EasternGirl]

I know...I feel like I tortured my snake.

[katach]

You are doing what is best for her.

[EasternGirl]

I know...I just never had to poke the poor thing four times before. She kept scrunching up her skin and pulling away. Poor baby. It must be terrible to be an animal and to not understand what is happening when a person is giving you a shot or taking blood or what have you. It must be very frightening. Well, I just checked on her and she is going to sleep in her slim jim can. I guess she survived the ordeal.

[EasternGirl]

Cee Cee and Seeley playing in the plants...

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[mikem]

i'm sure all is forgiven when you offer her food!

[EasternGirl]

I was going to feed Hermes yesterday...I try to feed him every 3 days since he is still young. But he looks like he still has quite the tummy bulge going on..even this morning. Sometimes it takes him a while to digest his food it seems and he doesn't seem to poop a lot. Of course I know it takes garters longer to digest some food than others...but it seems like sometimes he digests pinkies quicker than other times. He has never really pooped a lot either. He does poop...I see feces in his tank...but not much. I rarely have to clean his enclosure. Of course, he is very small still. He seems okay...I can't see any signs of there being anything physically wrong with him...his vent looks normal, his stomach looks normal...no signs of any impaction. He eats. He's not as active as I would like him to be...he hides a lot...and when he does venture out, he usually just peeps his head out of his hide and lies there partially sticking out of the hide for a while...or he might come out and switch sides. He used to go into his hanging bush and bask a lot more. I wonder if the temps or the lighting in his tank is not good for him...if there is something I could do to make him more active, increase digestion. I use the red bulb, 40 watt...I keep it on pretty much all the time for him on the warm side. The temps stay around 80-82 on that side. The temps run between 72-75 on the cool side. I usually keep a towel covering the cool side to increase humidity and block light because he seems to hide from any light coming in the tank. Any suggestions?

[mikem]

hmm, i'm not sure what would help him increase activity. maybe when he gets his cage mate they will go exploring together. he's still small so he probably just likes the security of his hide.

[EasternGirl]

Yeah...I wish I didn't have to wait for the quarantine period before putting Possum in with him. I'm really hoping that having another snake in with him will help him get over his shyness.