Include

[Aslan]

Hey guys,

Some may recall I have posted a number of times regarding a sick Diamond of mine...

The little guy contracted a Respiratory Infection and has been on a number of courses of Fortrum...he initially had a lot of mucus in his mouth, yawned a lot (believed to be trying to breathe more comfortably) and had blocked nostrils...

This snake was a good looking little Diamond when I got him...he wasn't a great feeder, in the context that he wouldn't strike at ANYTHING, but he would eat regularly, just requiring slightly different feeding techniques...

...anyway, once he got crook he wouldn't use his tongue at all, spent 99% of his time curled up in his hide, and wouldnt eat - in fact, wasn't remotely interested in eating...He has shown VERY slow and gradual improvement, first a tiny tongue flicker (slightly more now but still not 100%), then a little interest in food (would coil but not eat), started venturing out a little more at night...

...anyway, last night I was feeding two Stimmies and one, going into shed, refused a feed. Not wanting to waste the Hopper Rat I thought I would try the Diamond...he immediately coiled vigorously, but after much searching for the head didn't start swallowing and lost interest...I removed the rat, warmed it back up, and tried again - I repeated this a number of times - the occasional bite, never on the head, so kept losing interest...VERY FRUSTRATING!

...I decided I would try once more, as soon as the freshly warmed mouse entered the enclosure I got some interest with him stretching out from a branch to check it out...I gave him a tap on the face and he gave a small strike back, missing as the rat was swinging...so I tried again, he latched on coiled and swallowed, hanging upside down from his branch...I nearly screamed I was so relieved...

...all up I spent 2 hours last night trying to feed the little brat - but well worth it considering he hasn't fed in roughly SIX months...in fact, a little longer...!!!

I am quietly optimistic that this may be the turning point - and if not - at least I know I have another six months...!!!

...and the best news, he has shed a few more times and is dropping black like it's going out of fashion, he looks like he will develop into cracking little High Yellow... *fingers crossed*

- Simon