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Q:
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Need some advice from experienced chondro keepers
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In Relation To:
Nova [ME004-13]
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Hi all. I got my second viridis this week, a fb import from Clockwork Reptiles. Ive had him almost a week. I housed him in a larger tub, 12"H x 14"W x 19"D, probably to big. I tried to feed yesterday, he was definitely interested. I nudged him a bit, and eventually left it in the tub overnight. He stared down at it in the I'm hungry position, everytime I peeked in. Never fed. So, I decided I needed to do what the pros do, and move him into a closer to shoebox sized tub. That's what Ryan said he had kept him in when I asked. I figured it was better to move now than wait two weeks and do it then if he still wouldn't eat. So I had it ready tonight, when I went over to check on him, he was on the higher perch, about 9" up, caudal luring. Constantly. He seems comfortable in the tub. He cruises around occasionally. He seems to be able to regulate his temps good, normally around the center, sometimes closer to the warm end, sometimes closer to the cooler side. Gradient is 86-87 to about 81. So the question is, should I leave him in the larger tub and try feeding one more time, maybe leaving the pinky on something raised closer to him, (he seems to like the higher of the two perches), since he's already been in there a week? Or should I just move him out now? I would rather keep him in the larger tub if he can acclimate, easier to set up an enviroment, he can stay in there a good while, etc... Just looking for some opinions and experience, if anyone has had success with neos in a larger tub/cage/tank/enclosure. I also have smaller perches in the smaller box, the larger tub already had two 1/2 pvc perches in it.
And here's a pic of him, and a pic of the little guy in the oversized mansion.
[img]http://www.iherp.com/Gallery/95784/91992_202538_Large_0JZXfrmgDoOASCD.jpg[/img]
[IMG]http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q98/dp7001/snakes/IMG_20120223_1903591.jpg[/IMG]
Thanks,
Dave
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Author Comment
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2/27/2012 12:22:50 AM
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Fishbone
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Sorry, the picture links don't work that way here :( lets try again...


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Assisted Answer
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2/27/2012 1:10:48 AM
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Doomtrooper
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That's a huge tub for a neo,, he at least needs some cover to hide in and around .. If he lookes like he is hunting you can try feeding him .. do it after lights out and if he dosent eat you can try to piss him off a little .. tap him on the tail with the pink it has worked for me in the past .. In the future you may want to stay away from F/B Stuff You would be much better off spending the few extra bucks for a good CBB animal that is well established .. There are pleanty of them out there .. Good Luck
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Accepted Answer
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2/27/2012 9:28:16 AM
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Mel4short
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I would probably go ahead and move him. I would also like a bit more info please. How are you heating your enclosure? Caudle luring is a good sign, but he might need a bit more time. I'd also wait several days before trying again. How old is it and how many meals has it already had? Last shed cycle? Sometimes they just take a little longer to acclimate than most. Are you handling him? Constantly checking on it? And where is the tub located in your home?
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Member Comment
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2/27/2012 10:08:28 AM
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JohnR
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Here's a few things I have noticed in your post:
1. I got my second viridis this week, a fb import from Clockwork Reptiles. Ive had him almost a week. I tried to feed yesterday, he was definitely interested. I nudged him a bit, and eventually left it in the tub overnight
With only 1 week at your place, it's too early to start worrying about not eating. Has Ryan had the baby checked by a vet? I have bought from him before, but it was a CBB baby someone else produced.
If it is a FB snake, I hope you have it quarantined in case it has any parasites.
2. He stared down at it in the I'm hungry position, everytime I peeked in. Never fed. So I had it ready tonight, when I went over to check on him, he was on the higher perch, about 9" up, caudal luring. Constantly.
How often did you check on him? Sounds like a lot. You might want to reduce the amount of time you are checking on it to help reduce the amount of stress.
How are you heating the tub? That is a pretty big tub. What I would do is put some fake plant/ivy in there to give him a place to hide. Moving him from cage to cage might stress him out more, or he might adjust ok. I was told by a breeder that the less time you move them to different cages, the better.
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Member Comment
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2/27/2012 10:11:18 AM
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NCCPythons
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Move him to the smaller tub and leave him alone for a week or two. Just open the tub once a day and do everything you have to do at that time, i.e., mist, change water, clean poo. From the picture he looks healthy enough so no rush to feed or get concerned yet. This is probably the most frequently asked question/topic posted on any forum with regard to young GTPs so don't get all worked up about it as anyone keeping young chondros will probably go through this at some point. Be patient with him, assuming everything else is fine/normal, he will most likely come around eventually.
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Author Comment
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2/27/2012 6:31:30 PM
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Fishbone
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I would probably go ahead and move him. I would also like a bit more info please. How are you heating your enclosure? Caudle luring is a good sign, but he might need a bit more time. I'd also wait several days before trying again. How old is it and how many meals has it already had? Last shed cycle? Sometimes they just take a little longer to acclimate than most. Are you handling him? Constantly checking on it? And where is the tub located in your home?
Mel, It's a quarentine tub away from everybody else, in my bed room, heated by a pad on a dimmer for the moment. Temps checked with an infrared tempgun, and seem good, though there isn't any true "basking" area like there would be with a rhp. I'm not sure of the exact age. It had 4 meals for Ryan, might have been five, last on 2/15. Last shed was 01/10 I think, give or take a day. He hasn't been handled since the day he came in, and by checking on him, I've been peeking through the tub, not opening, but it is mostly clear so he can see the movement.
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With only 1 week at your place, it's too early to start worrying about not eating. Has Ryan had the baby checked by a vet? I have bought from him before, but it was a CBB baby someone else produced.
If it is a FB snake, I hope you have it quarantined in case it has any parasites
How often did you check on him? Sounds like a lot. You might want to reduce the amount of time you are checking on it to help reduce the amount of stress.
He hasn't had a vet check yet John, there are two good herp vets in my area, though I'm not sure how knowledgeable they are with viridis. And he is quarentined away from everything else, and not handled. I am going to move him to an area with less traffic, his tub dosen't get opened much, but he is in an area we walk by quite a bit.
Thanks fpr the help Guys!
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Assisted Answer
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2/27/2012 8:47:51 PM
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aaron
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The movement of opening the tub, your body, the big enclosure, all have the potential to "put him off". Sounds like "I wanna eat but I'm kinda scared to"... time to settle in will definitely help, and only being a week in, you don't have a problem yet... which is great news!
I've never had a problem with cages being too large, the Earth is kind of a large cage in itself. I would consider putting some fake plants / ivy in there to tighten that space up tho.
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Member Comment
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2/28/2012 1:17:54 PM
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Steadfast
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I am far from an expert in in a way we are in the same boat I just got mine a week ago and she doesn't want to eat but is very fiesty, I asked around and got great advice so maybe I can pass this along to you.
Since the animal you purchased probably lived in a very small container I would leave it in the large one for now and don't bother it for at least a week mist it if you have to but that should be the only time you open it. Think of it like a kid in a new school or town it'll be shy at first but it will adapt.
Everyone else is right put some plants in there and give it some good covers remember snakes are private animals. Somebody suggested to me that I cover the bin with something to give it privacy for a bit before I tried to feed mine again and that's what I have been trying to do. My snake had more of a interest in biting my hand rather than the food but the advice given to me there was its better to have a feisty snake rather than a timid one that will not eat. Good luck I hope I helped a bit
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Author Comment
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2/28/2012 4:54:45 PM
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Fishbone
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Thanks Aaron, I agree, the earth is a pretty big cage, that is why I put him in there to begin with, he was going to have to go through an adjustment no matter what i put him in, it was new. I went ahead and went back to the original plan for now, I put the greenery I got in the tub. And he ate last night. And he is not nippy at all. He is almost sweet. I've only opened the tub every other day to change the water and give him a spritz. The real problem I think, from the advice I've gotten here and on MVF, plus what I've seen, including him feeding, (well, the part I watched, I left him alone after he took the pinky,) is the perch sizes and positions. They're just too big. Live and learn I suppose. So I either have to move him, or take him out and adjust the perches in there. We'll see after he digests. What dose anyone think about adding a smaller perch or two in between and/or below the current perches?
Thanks again to everyone for the advice.
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Member Comment
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2/29/2012 10:56:07 AM
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Mel4short
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That's great, Dave!!! Glad to hear it took a meal. Hopefully the next feedings will go off without a hitch. Good luck.
IMO, they do prefer smaller perches. I think they feel more...stable?, secure?...when their coils can touch together underneath their perch. But you'll find such a wide wrange of opinions as to what's "best". Go with your gut. 
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Author Comment
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3/1/2012 5:29:06 PM
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Fishbone
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That's great, Dave!!! Glad to hear it took a meal. Hopefully the next feedings will go off without a hitch. Good luck.
IMO, they do prefer smaller perches. I think they feel more...stable?, secure?...when their coils can touch together underneath their perch. But you'll find such a wide wrange of opinions as to what's "best". Go with your gut.
Thanks Mel. Generally I do go wth my gut. I'm pretty good at "reading" snakes. But the chondros are still very new to me, and I'm just learning to read thier behavior. He is definitely not completely comfortable on those perches, he can't get as good of a grip when striking.
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