frozen fish

[acovert]

Yeah, I posted that he had shed. It was perfect, and a bit of a surprise for me one night when I was changing his water.

I'm using a plastic tub that I happened to have just brought over from my grandma's house. I'm going to try worms and pinkie mouse today. Well, tonight after I get back from church anyways.

How should I cut the mouse up into pieces? I think I've been putting it off because I'm afraid of what will happen when I try to cut it up like I do with the fish.

[guidofatherof5]

Cutting them up while frozen makes the job a lot less messy.

[EasternGirl]

Cut it when it is frozen. Then it isn't that bad. Cut off the head, then cut the head into smaller pieces, cut under the head going down the body in little slices all the way to the feet...then you can cut those slices into smaller pieces if you think the pieces are too big for Cuddles to eat. I know it sounds bad...but it isn't too bad cutting it when it's frozen. I then take the frozen pieces and put them in a cup of hot water for about 5-10 minutes until they thaw. Sometimes you have to touch the pieces to make sure they are thawed. There will be blood and guts once they are thawed...just to prepare you. You will get used to it...

[acovert]

That was a lot less disgusting than I thought it would be! He's in the feeding tank now. I'll wait and see if he decides to eat or not. He's been acting hungry.

Is 80 degrees too warm for him? My room stays at a constant 75 degrees or so and the tank usually registers at 80. That's with my window open and everything. I even had it open when it was snowing last night. The humidity stays constant at about 50%.

[EasternGirl]

It really depends on the snake. If he seems comfortable and he isn't hanging out in the water dish soaking all the time or staying in his cool hide all the time (these would be indications that he is too warm) then I'd say it's fine for him. My albino checkered prefers it warm...he stays on the warm side where it registers around 82 next to his lamp. But my easterns go to the cool side if it gets over 78 on the warm side. 50% is great for your humidity level.

[acovert]

Awesome. It's been insanely hot in my room since the snow came. Apparently my mom thinks it's cold. I feel like fainting.
I don't currently have a heat source because the lamp broke recently, so when I get my paycheck that will be one of the first things that I buy.
He spends quite a bit of time in hides, but he moves around the tank throughout the day, spending most of his time on the side farther away from my open window.

He's conveniently rejecting his food tonight. I may have to move him to his main tank and put the food on a towel on top of the substrate, because I have to leave soon. Hopefully he eats something before then.

[EasternGirl]

If you are going to leave, I wouldn't put him in his enclosure with a towel over the substrate...just in case he would get a piece of substrate on his food and try to drag it under the towel and you wouldn't be there to catch it. Better to just have him go without until you get back. I hear what you are saying about the heat...I hear people on here talking about their rooms and houses being 80 degrees and I would be sick. I get overheated really easily...I can't stand it over 70 degrees in my house. At the temps in your house, I'm sure he's fine without the lamp...it would probably be too hot for him with a lamp right now anyway.

[acovert]

I'll take the food out when I leave, but right now he's sitting on paper towels in his main tank hiding (actually, now he's hiding under the paper towels). He's not interested in the worms if they're mixed with the mice, it seems.

I'm worried that even with me watching him he'll manage to eat some of the substrate. He goes all over the tank when he's eating.

[EasternGirl]

Then it's probably best to continue to try to feed him in the feed tank. If he gets hungry enough, he will eat. Try covering the feed tank with a towel like I suggested. It may help. The only other option would be to use paper towels or cage carpet for his substrate in his enclosure all the time.

[acovert]

I don't think he's planning on eating tonight.

Can I re-freeze the bits of pinkie mouse, or is that not recommended?