Posted by:
grnpyro
at Mon Jul 11 15:34:16 2011 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by grnpyro ]
I have worked very closely with a reptile vet for the past 6 years and since then have changed the way I do things in some big ways.
1. Utilizing muscles properly. A tub is ok, IF there are ways for the snakes to utilize their muscles in different ways such as JKruse tile stack Idea, or using fake plants to move through or rock piles if tubs are big enough.
2. Feeding, I have been feeding on a weekly basis and using the same method you have with the buldge and what not... BUT If I have a pyro or zonata that is getting overweight, I will feed every 14 days and do smaller meals but multiple items (3-4 pinks for a zonata or 3 fuzzies for a large pyro)
3.Obesity DOES affect males fertility and females becoming egg bound. The vet that I work with sees a lot of egg bound snakes every year..... First place for this one is hognose, They eat toads in the wild and mice with higher fat in captivity. We have done Ovacentesis and sx removal of eggs and almost always there is a ton of fat deposits subcutaneous around the reproductive organs.
If I am doing a weekly schedule for feeding, I give them a 3-4 week fast sometimes during the summer to help burn some fat reserves on my adults. If they are young and need a boost I don't fast them.
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