amsdadtodd
New member
Got that right! Winter in this part of the country is not for the faint of heart! I spent a lot of last winter in my nice warm herp room caring for my babies!
Help with Weight of my Leo please?
- Thread starter CWilson13
- Start date
CWilson13
New member
Since this has become more of a "Updates on Apollo" thread than just his weight and possible age, figured I would share some news about him.
First thing, he is gaining weight. When I first got him, he only weighed about 44-46g now he is around 56g. He has become somewhat fussy about eating since I tried feeding him with safety tongs. He will stare intently but not eat until I am not looking. Unless i offer him a Super with the tongs. He also decided that the Phoenix worms are now boring to him. I think it may be from him having the Hornworms. Those and the Supers make the Phoenix look tiny.
His personality is coming out more and more as well. Which is quite entertaining. He has a napoleon complex for sure, if he is out and about when we walk into the room, he puffs up and almost has an English Bulldog stance. The best one though, I had been checking on and handling Pandora, my boa for those who don't know, and as I passed by his tank to put her back, he followed me staring at her. Not just staring, but he had his "Hunter Stare" going. Mind you, she is at least 20in longer than him. Yet here he was, staring at her like she was a big worm he wanted to eat :coverlaugh: When I pointed it out, my wife looked over and told him "You can't eat everything Apollo" his reaction was to turn and almost glare at her.
The scar tissue on his head is still visible,but after only one or two sheds I didn't expect it to be completely gone. Other than those things, he seems to be doing great. He acts like the new king of the house and is still as sweet as can be when he is interacted with. Other than the glare incident of course
First thing, he is gaining weight. When I first got him, he only weighed about 44-46g now he is around 56g. He has become somewhat fussy about eating since I tried feeding him with safety tongs. He will stare intently but not eat until I am not looking. Unless i offer him a Super with the tongs. He also decided that the Phoenix worms are now boring to him. I think it may be from him having the Hornworms. Those and the Supers make the Phoenix look tiny.
His personality is coming out more and more as well. Which is quite entertaining. He has a napoleon complex for sure, if he is out and about when we walk into the room, he puffs up and almost has an English Bulldog stance. The best one though, I had been checking on and handling Pandora, my boa for those who don't know, and as I passed by his tank to put her back, he followed me staring at her. Not just staring, but he had his "Hunter Stare" going. Mind you, she is at least 20in longer than him. Yet here he was, staring at her like she was a big worm he wanted to eat :coverlaugh: When I pointed it out, my wife looked over and told him "You can't eat everything Apollo" his reaction was to turn and almost glare at her.
The scar tissue on his head is still visible,but after only one or two sheds I didn't expect it to be completely gone. Other than those things, he seems to be doing great. He acts like the new king of the house and is still as sweet as can be when he is interacted with. Other than the glare incident of course
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
/\ :biggrin:
Great stories, Cory!
Great stories, Cory!
JessJohnson87
New member
That story made me giggle out loud and think of my monitor I had. Sid was always lazy until I walked in the room, he would strut around his cage and started showing me his junk when he would bathe in his water bowl, then poop and strut away. I always laugh when people say that reptiles can not have personalities because I had an insane bunch of reptiles years ago.
CWilson13
New member
I never understood how people could say any animal, especially reptiles, have no personality. I think those people just don't pay enough attention. Every snake, lizard, even my lazy pac-man frog back in high school had/has a distinct personality.
In new Apollo news, he was out roaming on the bed today. I make a big circle with my arms to try keeping him from sneaking into areas I can't reach. Anyhow, while I am sitting on the floor resting my chin on the bed, he quickly turned to look at me, then decided to charge at my face VERY quickly and stare at me from an inch or two away. He of course lost interest after a moment but it was yet another example of his "I'm a big tough guy" attitude
Health-wise he is still around 56g but his tail has gotten bigger. Also his color seems to have brightened even more than after his first shed the day after he came home. I really am glad he is doing better here than where I got him from.
I owe big thanks to so many of you here for all the advice, answers to my naive questions, and especially the encouragement. Apollo and I both are very grateful :biggrin:
JessJohnson87
New member
I've been following a lot of the posts about rescued reptiles and it makes me warm and fuzzy to know they're doing much better! Apollo will fill out in no time and that might make his "ego" worse :crackup:
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
It's really special spending time with you and Apollo, Cory! :banana: Both of you contribute +++ vibes to life on GU. :biggrin: All those vibes are priceless.
JessJohnson87
New member
I never understood how people could say any animal, especially reptiles, have no personality. I think those people just don't pay enough attention. Every snake, lizard, even my lazy pac-man frog back in high school had/has a distinct personality.
In new Apollo news, he was out roaming on the bed today. I make a big circle with my arms to try keeping him from sneaking into areas I can't reach. Anyhow, while I am sitting on the floor resting my chin on the bed, he quickly turned to look at me, then decided to charge at my face VERY quickly and stare at me from an inch or two away. He of course lost interest after a moment but it was yet another example of his "I'm a big tough guy" attitude
Health-wise he is still around 56g but his tail has gotten bigger. Also his color seems to have brightened even more than after his first shed the day after he came home. I really am glad he is doing better here than where I got him from.
I owe big thanks to so many of you here for all the advice, answers to my naive questions, and especially the encouragement. Apollo and I both are very grateful :biggrin:
This is what Apollo thinks he is :coverlaugh:
JessJohnson87
New member
That's a good thing! Better than him trying to bite you, even though it doesn't hurt, it will still scare the crap out of you. My mom's oldest ball python bit me when he was a itty bitty thing, my stupid tail stuck my hand in his cage after I just got done hand feeding my monitor 6 frozen mice, and it scared the crap out of me.
CWilson13
New member
I got bit plenty of times by garters and corn snakes when I was a kid lol I imagine the bite of a Leo is similar, more of a pinch than anything. Though I have seen bites from pythons and boas. A friend of mine got bit while taking care of my red tail in fact. His own fault, rushed in to clean the cage. Bad idea with a 7 footer. Same friend got bit on the nose by a baby ball... Not the brightest guy.
JessJohnson87
New member
We brought a red tail back from the dead years ago. I think it measured about 7 1/2 ft, it had a bad case of mouth rot so I never had to worry about it biting me until it got 100% better, then we re-homed it. My first leo, Marley, bit me one time and not totally sure why he did but it felt like a I pinched my finger in a car door.
amsdadtodd
New member
I just came upstairs after feeding time and saw this thread. Of my now 5 leo's, two of them bit me tonight. I was hand feeding live crickets, and Puff, my largest, was first, and bit my fingers in the process of grabbing the first one. I put three more into his tank, gave his brother Poppy 4 to chase around, since he never likes hand feeding. Then on to Berry, my largest female, who also bit the first one out of my fingers, and I put two more injured ones in her tank to chase. Finally, Hopper, my previously reluctant eater. I held the first for her, she got it without getting me, then she let it go. Turns out, she wanted to chase it first, and when she re-captured it, she crunched away hungrily! I gave her another three to roam her tank, and she chased each one down individually and devoured them.
The fifth leo, who I just acquired today, was just given a bowl of mealworms and a single loose cricket, which I will retrieve before bed time if he hasn't yet eaten it.
In short, I actually seek out being bitten by my leo's as a health monitoring tool.
I don't use this same tool with my boa's. One of them got a hold of me once, I don't need to monitor their health in that same way, and if I did the wound would probably never heal!
Todd
The fifth leo, who I just acquired today, was just given a bowl of mealworms and a single loose cricket, which I will retrieve before bed time if he hasn't yet eaten it.
In short, I actually seek out being bitten by my leo's as a health monitoring tool.
I don't use this same tool with my boa's. One of them got a hold of me once, I don't need to monitor their health in that same way, and if I did the wound would probably never heal!
Todd
CWilson13
New member
Good job rehabilitating and helping out the red tail Jess!! The same friend who got bit adopted my big boy when I had to move to a smaller place. Last I heard they still got along without any other incidents.
Todd, this has to be said buddy; You sir are crazy. Lol I actually get why you use the bites in such a way. If they are strong bites, it makes sense that the Leos are healthy. Still not looking forward to when I get bit by Apollo or Pandora though.
Todd, this has to be said buddy; You sir are crazy. Lol I actually get why you use the bites in such a way. If they are strong bites, it makes sense that the Leos are healthy. Still not looking forward to when I get bit by Apollo or Pandora though.
JessJohnson87
New member
It was no easy task to rehabilitate a 7 1/2 ft snake. I held it, while my mom put a feeding tube down it's throat so it wouldn't totally starve. Every week we had to take it to the vet for injections until the vet showed us how and we started doing them at home. Luckily for us, the vet made the kid that let the snake get bad off in the first place, pay the bill. Once the mouth was healed, I was glad, it started trying to suffocate me when we had to force feed it
I agree with Cory, Todd you're nuts. I don't want to get bit by accident, much less on purpose lol.
I agree with Cory, Todd you're nuts. I don't want to get bit by accident, much less on purpose lol.
amsdadtodd
New member
It's interesting how many times a day, and to how many degrees, I'm told that I'm nuts! For example, when I post pictures of my snakes or lizards on facebook cuddling with me, many friends tell me I'm nuts for keeping them. When I stop off to see friends at work while on my way out to buy food, and I tell them I have to leave to buy bugs and rats, I'm told I'm crazy for bringing them into the house. Now, describing how I feed my babies, I'm nuts! Oh well! I've been pretty much on edge most of my life, so why change now!?
Great job with the boa, and I think it's awesome that the vet found the negligent owner liable for their own irresponsible behavior! And, I know how unpleasant it is to give a snake an injection. My vet was quite ready to teach me how when he first diagnosed a respiratory infection early this year.
Todd
Great job with the boa, and I think it's awesome that the vet found the negligent owner liable for their own irresponsible behavior! And, I know how unpleasant it is to give a snake an injection. My vet was quite ready to teach me how when he first diagnosed a respiratory infection early this year.
Todd
JessJohnson87
New member
I thought that when I told my husband I bought a gecko at an expo he was going to say that I was nuts. Only thing he said was at least its not a cat and asked what he eats. When I started keeping herps, I was in high school so all the kids I went to school with thought I was crazy. The only part I think your crazy on is letting them bite you hehe. We're all just a little bit insane in one way or another :muhaha:
CWilson13
New member
I never said there was anything wrong with being crazy. My family is from Scotland so I'm not entirely sane :muhaha: Plus I get the same reactions about Herps and feeders. Even my wife makes faces when I talk about my upcoming Dubia colony.
Back to Apollo though so the mods don't berate me :shock: Does anybody know of a light that is gentle on his eyes? I really would like to be able to watch him when he is most active, but the light in the room tends to cause him to retreat to a hide.
Back to Apollo though so the mods don't berate me :shock: Does anybody know of a light that is gentle on his eyes? I really would like to be able to watch him when he is most active, but the light in the room tends to cause him to retreat to a hide.
amsdadtodd
New member
Cory, the blue/violet Moonlite line from zoo-med, or the equivalent from other manufacturers is pretty good. I don't use them presently, but I have in the past, and likely will in the future as I begin breeding. I never had any indication that my leo's could tell if the light was on or off, and there was enough light to be able to see them in an otherwise dark room.
Todd
Todd
CWilson13
New member
Figures it wouldn't be something I already have ha-ha Thanks Todd!
Does anybody know if these Exo Terra : Day & Night LED / Low Energy Lighting Device are any good?
Does anybody know if these Exo Terra : Day & Night LED / Low Energy Lighting Device are any good?