Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My San Diego Gopher escaped back on Feb. 4th. My wife found him today hiding in our PRINTER next to our computer! He was dehydrated as evidenced by the fact that when we put him back in his tank he had extended visits @ his water dish 2X. I was advised by the proprietor of my local herp shop to wait a day or two to allow him time to acclimate himself back to his old "new" surroundings. Correct? Or should I feed him tomorrow ASAP?

reako45

I would wait a few days on feeding. Further I would make sure the first few feedings were of prey animals that were MUCH smaller than the normal sized animals you would feed him. Don't try and push him back, but rather ease him back to a healthy state. The last thing you want is a regurge problem.

Take it easy and slow,

John Cherry
Cherryville Farms

Cherryville Farms - Reptiles

Thanx. I'll offer food tomorrow or the day after. He was eating rat pups. Would a hopper be adequate sized prey to start with? His usual feeding "schedule" was a rat pup every 7 days. With his first few meals should I go w/ the smaller prey item being offered slightly more frequently, --- say every 4 days instead of every 7? Thank you again for your help.

reako45

I would stay with the same regimine as far as time between feedings are concerned. Then I would offer a second rat pink after a couple of feedings and then go back to his normal sized prey. Remember to take it slow.

John Cherry
Cherryville Farms
Cherryville Farms - Reptiles

Thank you for your help and advice.

reako45