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+--- Thread: Routine checkup on snakes (/Thread-Routine-checkup-on-snakes)
Routine checkup on snakes - Ram - 08-24-2012
Do you pay close attention to your pet snakes' healthy?
Do you measure their weight and length on a regular basis to see if there is something unusual? If you do, how often?
How do you measure a snake's length anyway? I very much doubt a snake would lay in a perfect straight line for you to measure.
Just would like to hear it from you snake owners. What else do you do for checkups on your pet snakes?
RE: Routine checkup on snakes - Fishbone - 08-24-2012
I track weight pretty closely, in grams. Also noting whether the snake its "empty" or not.
I don't measure length regularly. The easiest way to do that is to run a length of string along the snake, them measure the string. The other way is to place the snake in a tube & have it crawl through in a straight line.
I record feeding dates, prey types, and any refusals to feed our other problems. I also record shed dates, and if there are any problems.
The other thing I watch somewhat closely is defecation & urates. To make sure they are regular and on schedule, if there are any problems. That can be one of the first signs of a problem. This is much bigger with some species than with others.
Other than that, I watch behavior, if the animal is acting normally. Alert and active, or active for that species. I also think fecal check ups (smears & floats) are a good idea, especially for new animals.