Reptile & Amphibian Forums

how many of u have had ur blue beauties since hatchlings and with more than regular hanlding have still turned out with attitudes n nippy? mines bout 5 months n has never nipped me at all n just still wonderin how she will mature. also shes eatin 3 pinks a week is that too little or sounnd right?

>> also shes eatin 3 pinks a week is that too little or sounnd right?

Sounds like you're not feeding her enough. I have a pair that I've had for almost a year and they each eat two rat pups about every 7 to 10 days. When I first got my Taiwans, I think I fed them fuzzy mice to begin with and I quickly found that they could eat a couple fuzzies at each feeding. Again, the feedings were every 7 to 10 days. These snakes can eat a LOT, but I wouldn't power feed them. They could easily eat something probably every 4 days but I've never been a fan of strictly regimented feeding schedules and/or power feeding. As to your attitude question, I can't really answer that. I don't really handle my Blues, so understandly they're both a bit feisty.
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Matt Campbell
25 years herp keeping experience
Full-time zookeeper
Personal collection - 21 snakes (9 genera), 20 lizards (4 genera), 6 chelonians (2 genera)

Pardon me for asking, but how did you get to be a zookeeper? Was it something you went to school for, or did you work up to it by volunteering at the zoo and such?

I'm actually am FX artist of all things, but have had a love (obsession?) with animals my whole life. I'm going to start volunteering at the Wildlife Waystation near my home, and know that after aquiring 100 hours or so working with the animals there, I can volunteer to help the zoo keepers at the LA Zoo (also near my house). Heh...of course, I have to put in quite a few hours doing things like mailings and such at the waystation before they'll even let me take the training course there to help with the animals...so, I have alot of hours ahead of me. Right now I'm just looking into it as a hobby and a way to fill my thirst for animals when I'm not working on film gigs... because I'm fairly certain it can't really turn into anything else unless I had a degree (and my degree is in Theatrical Design, so that certainly won't help...LOL). Either way though, I'm extremely excited about it.

Sorry for the short novel I just wrote...I was just curious to find out how people in the field came about their jobs?

Thanks!!!
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- JENN ROSE -
www.jennrose.com

0.1.0 classic corn~ "Pumpkin"
1.0.0 leucistic texas ratsnake~ "Worm"

Jenn,

You traditionally need to have a degree in biology or zoology, or barring that strong practical experience working with difficult species and successfully breeding them or perhaps working for a nature center or vet clinic. Other skills certainly help though such as experience with operant conditioning or in exhibit design and construction. Volunteering such as you're talking about is a good way of getting some practical experience in a formal setting. A lot of zoos are also starting to look for people with informal educational skills as well since zookeeping isn't all about scooping you-know-what, but is starting to include more direct educational contact with the public.
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Matt Campbell
25 years herp keeping experience
Full-time zookeeper
Personal collection - 21 snakes (9 genera), 20 lizards (4 genera), 6 chelonians (2 genera)

okay so i upgraded her to fuzzies i tried feeding her yesterday and today and she hasnt eatin them i dont think its cause of the upgrade i think shes starting her blue phase and shes refused before during this so hopefully she'll take em down soon

I dont have blues but my cave dwellers are fiesty as heck! My males name is Satan and his woman is Bride of Satan (BOS). Both will muck and bite REPEATEDLY when handled. My male always seems to go for the face too! As far as feeding, my female is an 05 and she is eating a fuzzy mouse every 5 - 7 days while the 04 male is eating an adult mouse, same schedule. I lvoe lookingat them but they are not for the faint hearted!

Meant to attach a pic!

Hey, those are the same names of my 2004 ridleyi pair as well!
I wish I could calm them down somehow!