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spitfirerats · #1 (**permalink**) 03-11-2004, 04:21 PM

Ok, so this past week hubby and I finalized the deal to buy the exotic shop in town here. So, I need to do a feeding this weekend, and have a good idea of what everyone is eating.
Now I need to know what these following would need to eat, if anyone could be of assistance:
ball pythons (3 are about 2 1/2 ft, one is about 1 1/2 ft)
kingsnake (about 2 1/2 - 3 feet)

I have to hit the other pet stores for feeder soon! All I have are frozen hamsters (full size) and frozen adult rats (oh, and degus too).

Thanks in advance!

~TK

PS Forgot to mention that the previous owner is no longer in town, and difficult to get a hold of, so ust want to double check with others here

Stormyva · #2 (**permalink**) 03-11-2004, 05:08 PM

Congrats on the shop!
The prey item that you are feeding to the snakes should be the same diameter as the thickest part of the snake.

Ed_r · #3 (**permalink**) 03-11-2004, 05:22 PM

Yeah congrats on the shop, but when you bought an exotic pets shop, wouldn't you do this because you already have knowledge of the animals you are selling? I mean I could see if you had some incredibly rare species of snake, but a couple BPs, and Kingsnake?

Maybe I'm missing something. I really don't want to come off mean here, but stuff like that is the whole reason we hate the Petco's and similar, cuz they sell animals and don't know anything about them.

I agree with stormy on the prey size, just make sure the kingsnakes arent in brumation , they could get ill if they were to feed too soon.

spitfirerats · #4 (**permalink**) 03-12-2004, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed_r

Yeah congrats on the shop, but when you bought an exotic pets shop, wouldn't you do this because you already have knowledge of the animals you are selling? I mean I could see if you had some incredibly rare species of snake, but a couple BPs, and Kingsnake?

Maybe I'm missing something. I really don't want to come off mean here, but stuff like that is the whole reason we hate the Petco's and similar, cuz they sell animals and don't know anything about them.

I agree with stormy on the prey size, just make sure the kingsnakes arent in brumation , they could get ill if they were to feed too soon.

Well, we were going to buy the shop in a few months (it happened sooner than we had expected), and we have been doing very well. All the animals are doing great, with the expection of a small corn snake.

Anyways, I was asking because the original owner left without telling me WHAT she fed everyone. I went through the freezer and found all of the food I needed for them. The kingsnake is not mine, but a boarder, and again no info was left.

So, I just needed to be sure about what they should be eating. While I do know a bit about these critters, I don't know everything. Just wanted to be absolutely sure, as I don't want to cause these animals more harm than they have suffered.

~TK

LdyDrgn · #5 (**permalink**) 03-12-2004, 03:55 AM

BP's - 2.5 feet - small rats
BP - 1.5 feet - pup or weanling depending on size of snake and size of prey
Kingsnake - rat pup

only a guesstimate. Would need to see the animals and the prey to match them up. Just follow the girth rule and remember that the kingsnake can easily take something that is 1.5 times its girth

savannah_babe · #6 (**permalink**) 03-12-2004, 03:58 AM

my husband and i once bought a store and were pretty much left with nothing. i know the feeling. just keep in mind, the first year is always the hardest..ESPICALLY in the pet buisness. just be patient, and do A LOT of research. it takes time..and i wish you the best of luck

spitfirerats · #7 (**permalink**) 03-12-2004, 04:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by savannah_babe

my husband and i once bought a store and were pretty much left with nothing. i know the feeling. just keep in mind, the first year is always the hardest..ESPICALLY in the pet buisness. just be patient, and do A LOT of research. it takes time..and i wish you the best of luck

Thank you

We are doing well so far...just takes time getting everything set up and organized. The previous owner ruined a lot of things for the business, and had killed a lot of animals (in the past 4 days we have found over a dozen dead animals).

But luckily with have the support of the community, customers, businesses, and other enthusiasts.

It has been in operation for over a year now, and we ended up taking it over now because the previous owner (a friend of mine), had to leave the province to escape an abusive husband. It was all done too quickly, but we are making the very best of it.

What amazes me is how many of the animals are loves! All of them come out to be held and pet, when before they would bite the other people. Every day being in there I am even more amazed at how wonderful these animals are, and how lucky we are, as people, to have the opportunity to see them first hand.

~TK

savannah_babe · #8 (**permalink**) 03-12-2004, 04:40 AM

wow..almost the same way..except they didnt leave due to the same reason. joe and i basically had to figure everything out on our own. the feeding of the animals came pretty easy. after two weeks we were familiar with what everyone ate, temperments, and so on. unless the buisness didnt have good buisness before, take off is the hardest part. getting a new name out there for you..i know its not all about the money for some, but i really got sick of the slandaring..then, it got better.. once people realized it was under new ownership.

but, i have to admit, for bieng in the pet buisness for so long, and getting to hand pick new reptiles and fish, and birds, so on.. each week, it was like i took it all for granted, even though i didnt. it was like, oh yeah, another rainbow boa...and now when i look back on it that was really the only thing i did that i have to disagree with. it is quite an experience.

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