One always has to ruin it........... a tale of feeding

[rlditmars]

So I went to feed my snakes and for the first time in probably a year, I thought everyone was finally going to eat. Because of breeding season, or shedding, and Bps being Bps, it seemed like there was always a few that weren't eating. Some of mine eat live but the majority eat FT. So yesterday I am feeding and I open the last tub, literally, and there is one of my best female eaters fully in shed and refusing the prey item. Arrrgggh! Between adults, juvi's, and hatchlings I have 32 mouths to feed. I guess 31 out of 32 should be a moral victory, but in the end I fell like Lucy pulled the football away again.

Thanks for letting me rant and feel free to share your feeding stories.

[Freakie_frog]

So I went to feed my snakes and for the first time in probably a year, I thought everyone was finally going to eat. Because of breeding season, or shedding, and Bps being Bps, it seemed like there was always a few that weren't eating. Some of mine eat live but the majority eat FT. So yesterday I am feeding and I open the last tub, literally, and there is one of my best female eaters fully in shed and refusing the prey item. Arrrgggh! Between adults, juvi's, and hatchlings I have 32 mouths to feed. I guess 31 out of 32 should be a moral victory, but in the end I fell like Lucy pulled the football away again.

Thanks for letting me rant and feel free to share your feeding stories.

its why I stopped feeding F/T. Cause 1 out of 32 isn't bad but when its 50 out of 400 that's when throwing away f/t gets expensive

[rlditmars]

its why I stopped feeding F/T. Cause 1 out of 32 isn't bad but when its 50 out of 400 that's when throwing away f/t gets expensive

Wow! Yes, I can see where that would be an issue. Once I have sold the hatchlings and a couple of breeders that don't fit in to my plans, I will probably only have between 10 and 15 left, only 3 of which won't take FT yet. I really don't want to raise rats if I can avoid it. Besides I think my wife has been very understanding with the snakes, and with having rats in our freezer. She'd probably appreciate me not raising live rats as well.

[DennisM]

I only thaw about 75% of the mouths to feed figuring some won't eat. If I come up short, they let me know, I take a head count of hungry snakes and thaw out more tomorrow. I'd say 31 out of 32 is close to a miracle!

[bcr229]

I feed at dusk/early evening. That morning I check and ball pythons that are in shed get taken off the food roster, and then I thaw enough rodents to feed 3/4 of them. Any leftovers go to the smaller boas and retics that are due to eat that night.

So far the only f/t feeders I'm discarding are when one of the BP's "kills" it and then doesn't eat it. If I'm lucky it didn't lie on the heat getting disgusting all night.

[Chkadii]

I feed at dusk/early evening. That morning I check and ball pythons that are in shed get taken off the food roster, and then I thaw enough rodents to feed 3/4 of them. Any leftovers go to the smaller boas and retics that are due to eat that night.

So far the only f/t feeders I'm discarding are when one of the BP's "kills" it and then doesn't eat it. If I'm lucky it didn't lie on the heat getting disgusting all night.

That's generally the same method I use. I will feed my best eaters last, and if some snakes refuse along the way I'll feed a good eater two smaller items rather than their normal prey size. If everyone eats beforehand, the better feeders will still be hungry the next day anyway.

I had one of my BPs leave a rat on the heat this summer... in a 6qt... That's a smell I won't soon forget! And that's saying something, since I used to be an EMT.

[distaff]

I'm feeding too Kings.
Thought they were supposed to be garbage disposals? Not mine.
I make sure the mouse is between 90F and 100F - so, temps shouldn't be the problem.
Snakes have warm spots in the mid 80's - so that shouldn't be a problem...

Cleaned enclosures, and figured that since they were in "hunting" mode, and feeding was a day late, eating would be no problem.
No go.

A lucky chicken will get the mouse tomorrow morning.
Now, there is an animal that WILL eat anything.

[distaff]

Too, to, two...I never catch that stuff in time.
I do wish the Edit option lasted a bit longer.

[greco]

I had one of my BPs leave a rat on the heat this summer... in a 6qt... That's a smell I won't soon forget! And that's saying something, since I used to be an EMT.

Ugh, that's a really bad smell... But the smell of a regurgitation is even worse! Bad smells don't usually faze me, but that one gets me every time...

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