First feed

[Jewly]

Originally Posted by Carpetcleaner

Have you been handling it much? I know keeping it in its enclosure for a couple of weeks to settle in is just going to kill me!!!!!!!

The first day I bought her home I probably handled her for about 10 mins all up. She seems to love being held and she doesn't struggle or fight to get away from me and often just likes to sit curled up on my shirt or she wraps her tail around my thumb and just sits on my hand.

I then went away for a couple of days so she had some time to settle in to her new home but I took her out again for about 10 mins when I got home. Since I fed her, I haven't handled her at all because I've read that it's best to leave them alone while they are digesting a meal (or when they are shedding). I plan on handling her most days as long as she's happy for me to do it.

[hydro noun15]

thanx jewly i might buy some fuzzies then cos my local pet store is out of pinkys atm.
thanx for your help.

jason

[Jen]

Hydro noun15, have you tried the Warners bay shop? Brock usually has all sizes in stock.
You will be amazed at how much they grow in just a few months, my maccies were tiny when i moved to wa and had to leave them with my sister, went home for a visit 4 months later and they are massive!

[oddball]

Hey Jewly!
How exciting! She looks absolutely beautiful! I bet you are so happy right now!

I got my baby Shiva (A spotted) the day after valentines day, and i had read so much about them turning off their food and starving that I had made myself sick worrying about whether he would eat or not.
But he ate it first go! I was so relieved!

I've had him for a few months now, and he refuses to eat now unless he is on my hand. I put him in a bowl or on the desk and he will ignore the pinkie and try and climb back onto me. I've just given up and gotten used to having pinkies and fuzzies dragged all over me and bashed into me. I thought it would be a worry, because I'd end up smelling like food, but he only ever bites me if I try and put him in his travel bag. He doesn't like it much I don't think.


You'll find out soon that Kiandra will have such a distinctive personality, I never thought that snakes would be so affectionate and intelligent. I'm used to cats and thought that he couldn't possibly be as lovable as them or as easy to communicate with, but Shiva makes himself very clear about when he is hungry, or wants cuddles. I never cease to be amazed by him.

Oooh now I've gone and gushed everywhere! Keep me posted on how Kiandra goes!

[David Evans]

Hi Jewly,

my male is about 14 months and the female is about 5 months. My female is tiny as she was a slow starter. When i got her she only weighed 9 grams.

Cheers,
Dave

[Jewly]

Originally Posted by oddball

Hey Jewly!
How exciting! She looks absolutely beautiful! I bet you are so happy right now!

Hi oddball,

I am really happy and I'm so pleased that I finally decided to get a snake cause I just love her. It's funny cause I never thought of myself as a reptile lovin kinda gal when I was younger but I've had a real facination with snakes for the last few years. I've also got cats as well, and of course dealing with snakes is a whole new ball game but I'm loving learning all about them.

That's so cute that your little guy will only eat if he's sitting on your hand. He must really trust you. I'm already seeing Kiandra's personality coming through and I'm enjoying getting to know her, and knowing what she likes and what she doesn't like.

[J3ss_]

My spotted looks pretty similiar size to yours Jewly.
Heres a pic i just took, its not very good, Ill let her settle in for a bit before i take more. Shes also due for a shed so she should lighten up a fair bit, she is a blonde mac.

[Jewly]

Originally Posted by David Evans

When i got her she only weighed 9 grams.

Oh wow, that seems so tiny. I haven't weighed Kiandra yet but I want to get a set of scales so I can keep a track of her weight.

[Jewly]

J3ss_ She's lovely!! How old is she?

[oddball]

Originally Posted by Jewly

Hi oddball,

I am really happy and I'm so pleased that I finally decided to get a snake cause I just love her. It's funny cause I never thought of myself as a reptile lovin kinda gal when I was younger but I've had a real facination with snakes for the last few years. I've also got cats as well, and of course dealing with snakes is a whole new ball game but I'm loving learning all about them.

That's so cute that your little guy will only eat if he's sitting on your hand. He must really trust you. I'm already seeing Kiandra's personality coming through and I'm enjoying getting to know her, and knowing what she likes and what she doesn't like.

Yeah, I didn't realise how much I relied on facial expressions and sounds when talking to my cats, so for the first week or two I had real trouble figuring out what Shiva was on about! I had no clue wether he was happy or not. All I knew is that he hated my housemate with a passion and tagged him at every opportunity. Still does.

As much as I'd love to get a 'collection' I don't think I could ever be the kind of herpo who swaps snakes around all the time. It would break my heart to leave my little baby, and I intend on keeping him till I'm old and grey and so is he. I imagine I will feel this way about every reptile I get.

As for the feeding habit, thats not the all of it! He smooshes his face in between the plates of glass when he wants to come out of his box, which is about 5 or 6 times in one night, or untill I cover his box with a sheet, I heard its not good to handle them too often, so I try and limit it to once a night, but its creepy when you see his jaw smooshing apart against the glass!

And he gets really pissy if I go away for the weekend and don't take him with me. When I come back and pick him up, he constricts around my fingers and rings for hours and I eventually have to pry him off so I can do something else that needs doing.
I've heard most snakes don't want to be touched after they have fed or while they are in the shed cycle, but last time shiva shed, he tried to start it on one of my rings! I hadn't realised he was ready because he had only shed a month before, and I was giving him a cuddle when he started acting funny.

Hes very small still and falls off things alot, but when hes bigger I imagine he will be happy to just hang out on my shouders instead of locking my fingers together, which will be a lot easier.

Once Kiandra settles in and really starts to get comfortable, PM me or start up this thread again! I want to hear about her shenanigans. I can't get enough of baby snakes!

[Jewly]

I just realised you live on the Southside of Brisbane...whereabouts? I live at Manly West and I work in Cleveland.

Shiva sounds like he has a brilliant personality and obviously he knows what he likes and dislikes...just a shame your housemate is one thing he doesn't like..lol Kiandra is a bit like that with my 15 year old son, but I'm not too worried about that, because I want her to be my snake and not a family pet. When you're a mum you tend to get a bit tired of your kids always trying to take over your things and it's nice to just have something for myself.

[J3ss_]

Originally Posted by Jewly

Oh wow, that seems so tiny. I haven't weighed Kiandra yet but I want to get a set of scales so I can keep a track of her weight.

shes just over 4 months So is similiar age and size to Kiandra..

[Jewly]

Yeah I guess so. You forget how light they actually are when they are so young.

[adazz]

I just had the same thing happen, new baby coastal had her first feed took her 2 months but she finally decided to, congratz on your success.

[oddball]

Hey Jewly,
I live in Coopers Plains, its in between Mt Gravatt and Archefield! You're pretty close!
Closer than where I'm working this week anyway. Working near the airport and it takes me an hour and a half to get there in the mornings! *death to traffic*
New job only a few blocks away from home though, so that is going to be great!

I can totally understand you wanting Kiandra all to yourself, I don't know whether I'd trust my younger cousins to be gentle enough with Shiva while he is still small... And I'd be getting jealous of sharing his attention too! But he has been fine with every other person I have introduced him to. Even my dad, who swore he wouldn't let him in the house when I got him. (He now hovers around his box when I bring him down to see them, talking to him and trying to see if he's awake. So much for that promise Dad!)

Maybe your son can have his own baby when he gets older? I know about four or five of my friends have decided to become snake Mums and Dads after meeting Shiva and realising snakes are not all scary and dangerous as so many people seem to think. And growing up with such a beautiful creature in the house would sure make anyone want one.