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mad_andyDoris and Sam are due a feed today; they're both pacing the length of their vivs, eyeing me through the glass and pulling faces of Extreme Hunger. I've told Doris she can't have the lunch she can see in its little bag next to my computer until it's defrosted, but she's pouting.
Insofar as a snake can pout, of course.
Sam has actually been sitting in his water bowl, which is good to see.
Mind you, if he thinks he hates me now he's going to have hysterics on Saturday; we're taking all three snakes up to Pythons Lair to get them sexed.
Which means he's not only going to get shut up in a bag (which he hates), but get taken on a car ride (he doesn't like those either), get handled by a stranger (which makes him really cross) - and then get a metal probe stuck up his ass. Or her ass, depending on the result of said probing.
He's really going to hate that.
The probe will be lubed, but I reckon that won't make much of a difference to his opinion....
(In case you're wondering, as snakes have no external genitalia and are rarely sexually dimorphic - ie, you can't tell by looking at them, except for some of the big boids - the only three ways to sex them are (a) blood tests - expensive and you have to find a vet willing to do it, not easy, (b) probing, or (c) dissection. (c) is, clearly, out of the question. And considering that with snakes of their size the best way of taking a blood sample is straight from the heart, so is (a). I don't know as I trust anyone to stick a needle directly into the heart of my dear serpents!
As a male snake keeps his hemipenes - yes, he has two - tucked in his tail, then the careful application of a slender metal probe will tell you if it's a boy or a girl. Girls have a shallow pocket, and the probe doesn't go in very far, boys obviously have their bonking equipment folded away and the probe goes further. See?)
So I'll finally find out - after seven years - if Doris is really Boris, and if Sam is short for Samuel or Samantha. Course, if they really are a boy and a girl I could always try and cross them - the yellow from Sam with Doris' bright reds would make some very pretty baby snakes!
Excuse me, I have to go - Sam is trying to break the top of his vivarium again....
Insofar as a snake can pout, of course.
Sam has actually been sitting in his water bowl, which is good to see.
Mind you, if he thinks he hates me now he's going to have hysterics on Saturday; we're taking all three snakes up to Pythons Lair to get them sexed.
Which means he's not only going to get shut up in a bag (which he hates), but get taken on a car ride (he doesn't like those either), get handled by a stranger (which makes him really cross) - and then get a metal probe stuck up his ass. Or her ass, depending on the result of said probing.
He's really going to hate that.
The probe will be lubed, but I reckon that won't make much of a difference to his opinion....
(In case you're wondering, as snakes have no external genitalia and are rarely sexually dimorphic - ie, you can't tell by looking at them, except for some of the big boids - the only three ways to sex them are (a) blood tests - expensive and you have to find a vet willing to do it, not easy, (b) probing, or (c) dissection. (c) is, clearly, out of the question. And considering that with snakes of their size the best way of taking a blood sample is straight from the heart, so is (a). I don't know as I trust anyone to stick a needle directly into the heart of my dear serpents!
As a male snake keeps his hemipenes - yes, he has two - tucked in his tail, then the careful application of a slender metal probe will tell you if it's a boy or a girl. Girls have a shallow pocket, and the probe doesn't go in very far, boys obviously have their bonking equipment folded away and the probe goes further. See?)
So I'll finally find out - after seven years - if Doris is really Boris, and if Sam is short for Samuel or Samantha. Course, if they really are a boy and a girl I could always try and cross them - the yellow from Sam with Doris' bright reds would make some very pretty baby snakes!
Excuse me, I have to go - Sam is trying to break the top of his vivarium again....
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Date: 2007-03-15 10:55 pm (UTC)