Puggle

[den]

Here's a statement you probably won't hear every day: Echidna spit is really, really slimy.

Rexie ate 86 grams of solid food today. There would have been more but Rexie stuck both front feet into the mush and went "Feet in something! Must dig!" and half her food ended up on the mat. I scooped it up and thought I'd put a blockage across the opening of the dish, so I grabbed the top and let Rexie stick her nose through the gap to lick up the food.

After 10 minutes of this she put both her front feet on my hand and pushed in. Isn't that cute, I thought.

Rexie thought: "Something in the way! Must dig!" and bloody near dislocated my little finger.

anyway.

It took an hour but she slurped down 86 grams. She was still licking the dish clean when I put her away, but puggles will eat them selves to death, literally. We'll have a go at 100 grams in 2 days, and maybe she'll start to put on weight.

Must rush. A lady called about an echidna in her garden.

Later: he has a bad tick infestation. I've just applied a solution of pyrhethrum-based tick&flea shampoo, and will let him go tomorrow.

Comments

[weyrdbird.livejournal.com]

It's too bad there isn't a way to make her dig for her dinner; sounds like the digging instinct is innate. It still fascinates me how different creatures are born with everything they need to work with. Even if they aren't a full blow pilot yet:D.

"Pesky human! Between me and my dinner! Must eradicate obstacle!".

Silly Rexie!

[tendyl.livejournal.com]

The "Feet in something! Must Dig!" is a cute reaction, but not on your hand. Glad you're okay and thanks for the stories - they bring smiles to my face.

[beki.livejournal.com]

Just out of curiosity, might it be a good thing to sit her and her food in a cat box full of dirt for her to dig in? Or would that not be really helping s/he/it learn how to dig up termites? At least that way she isnt digging your fingers out by the root :)

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

The food I'm feeding her is a wet mush that would turn to mud if it cam into contact with stuff like that. I've just purchased a plastic kiddies sand-pit that I'll partially fill with clean sand or potting mix, and then throw in a termity log. That will get her white-anting like real echidnas should. Project for the next few weeks.