Synirr
"No one is a failure unless you try"
Thread regarding Vakasa (she finally got a name):
We finally made it to the vet on Monday for a checkup. She missed her first appointment Friday because she escaped her container (I forgot to plug up the airhole with a paper towel) and hid under the seat in my car, up in the mechanical bits where I couldn't get her out. Luckily she crawled out after I got back to the apartment and was in the crease of the seat when I found her, and the trip wasn't a total loss since Petri (my parrotlet) still had to get his beak trimmed anyway.
ANYWHO, after waiting for an hour (there were a lot of work-in emergencies, apparently), the vet finally saw us. Vakasa is the sweetest little girl EVER and I've been handling her a lot without her even thinking of biting, but I read online that this species doesn't like being restrained behind the neck.... well, apparently this is true. The vet went to grab her to check inside her mouth, and as soon as he reached for her neck she swung around and bit him. Then again. And again. Yes, three times did she bite him, and nearly a forth when they were using a tongue compressor to pin her down while they grabbed her. Finally she was diagnosed -- a respiratory infection, like I suspected. $86 and two hours of my life later, and we have to go back 4 more times for 4 more shots to be administered... goody!
She ended up being a very expensive snake indeed; hopefully the shop I got her from will at least give me some store credit once I let them know what's up, they're usually pretty good about that and she definitely already had this problem when I got her. Oh well, she is worth it. The vet and vet techs (3 in all were involved in restraining her and giving her her shot) said they'd never seen her species before, and the vet had been working with exotics for 15 years! Not a rare snake, but rare in the hobby here, it would seem.
We finally made it to the vet on Monday for a checkup. She missed her first appointment Friday because she escaped her container (I forgot to plug up the airhole with a paper towel) and hid under the seat in my car, up in the mechanical bits where I couldn't get her out. Luckily she crawled out after I got back to the apartment and was in the crease of the seat when I found her, and the trip wasn't a total loss since Petri (my parrotlet) still had to get his beak trimmed anyway.
ANYWHO, after waiting for an hour (there were a lot of work-in emergencies, apparently), the vet finally saw us. Vakasa is the sweetest little girl EVER and I've been handling her a lot without her even thinking of biting, but I read online that this species doesn't like being restrained behind the neck.... well, apparently this is true. The vet went to grab her to check inside her mouth, and as soon as he reached for her neck she swung around and bit him. Then again. And again. Yes, three times did she bite him, and nearly a forth when they were using a tongue compressor to pin her down while they grabbed her. Finally she was diagnosed -- a respiratory infection, like I suspected. $86 and two hours of my life later, and we have to go back 4 more times for 4 more shots to be administered... goody!
She ended up being a very expensive snake indeed; hopefully the shop I got her from will at least give me some store credit once I let them know what's up, they're usually pretty good about that and she definitely already had this problem when I got her. Oh well, she is worth it. The vet and vet techs (3 in all were involved in restraining her and giving her her shot) said they'd never seen her species before, and the vet had been working with exotics for 15 years! Not a rare snake, but rare in the hobby here, it would seem.
Bet the vets won't want to see her again.
She's an odd snake.
