How do you feed your Snake?

[Drakion]

I think this might help newbies, (like me!) and veterans find a way to feed a inconsistent feeder. Sometimes they won't eat, or sometimes you want to try something new. (maybe?)

So, I want to know, how do you feed your snake???

I feed mine one or two pinky mice every 5-8 days depending when I last fed them, or one rat pinky if I would rather feed those. (I like feeding rats, cause I heard they are better for them?). With one I always do it the way I do the first one when I have two mice to feed. First mouse/rat I always use a tweezers to dangle it, and have them actively strike at it. The second mouse, if I have one, I hide somewhere, they then have to follow a scent trail or just find it randomly themselves within a few hours, or I take it out. (I warm it up every fifteen minutes or so). I never use the same place twice. Sometimes I put it behind their hide, sometimes in it, under their climbing log, etc. I find this works well, and encourages natural behavior and exercise. (P.S. I feed F/T )

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Well for one I never and would never feed pinky mice to a BP, even out of the egg they take a prey much larger and anything smaller to an average size animal constitute underfeedin. Pinky mice are for hatchling colubrid food.

Rats are not better gram per grams it's all the same the difference when a BP get to a certain size you have to feed multiple mice where as with rat you can just offer one (it's matter of convenience and cost) but ultimately what works is what should be fed.

How do I do it.

Open tub drop rat or mice, close tub, open tub drop rat or mice close tub repeat.....when the first rack is done go back check and remove any uneaten feeder.

For animals feeding on F/T open tub dangle prey by the tail for adults, grab it from behind the neck and moving it around like if it was alive for hatchlings and repeat X number of animals spending 2 min max per animal.

[Meerna]

For live I drop it in there, close the lid, and watch closely to make sure the prey doesn't take a bite of of the snake. For f/t I zombie dance it, but Circe doesn't always strike. I've found though that every time I leave the thawed rat in her tub overnight she always eats it. Emrys usually ends up striking, but he also gets any live prey that is refused by Calypso.

[Maddlesrain]

I've only had my guy for a short while and struggled getting him to eat at first, but I finally got it! I think a lot of it was just me being a giant worry wart and him being so new.

What I do.
I just thaw an adult mouse, starting by having it in a plastic bag in warm water for about 20 minutes and then letting it set under his heat lamp (not directly, the lamp is at an angle so it's not getting the full force of the heat) for another 15 to get it nice and warm, then I dangle it by the tail in front of his hide and he comes out and snags it. I feed him every seven days, and he knows it's feeding day! He'll start eyeing me, almost as if reminding me that he needs to be fed. Haha

I tried a small rat once, he refused, so going to stick with the mice a little longer.


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[Zincubus]

All mine are on defrosted mice / rats and are all drop fed apart from the 5 Royals which all get warmed mice dangled in front of their hides


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[redshepherd]

All mine are F/T except for an adult female, so I buy her a live rat every other week. I just dangle by the scruff of their neck, and they usually take it!

I have one adult who loses an appetite around October~January, so I keep the feedings sporadic for him, and I find that he's more "consistent" that way. I'll feed him a day, and sometimes feed him 9 days later, sometimes 14 days later.

[BR8080]

Quick newbie question and not an attempt to hijack the thread...

I've noticed a lot of folks add they thaw the frozen prey in zip lock bag either in hot H2O or the fridge - the reptile shop I got my bp from said to toss the frozen in hottest tap H2O (NOT boiling) and let it soak for 10 mins. Then lightly dry and proceed to do the zombie dance in front of the snake and it seems to be working, so far every time.

Is there a better/proper/safer way or this method is just fine?

Thanks

[Zincubus]

Quick newbie question and not an attempt to hijack the thread...

I've noticed a lot of folks add they thaw the frozen prey in zip lock bag either in hot H2O or the fridge - the reptile shop I got my bp from said to toss the frozen in hottest tap H2O (NOT boiling) and let it soak for 10 mins. Then lightly dry and proceed to do the zombie dance in front of the snake and it seems to be working, so far every time.

Is there a better/proper/safer way or this method is just fine?

Thanks

If it's working I wouldn't worry tbh . I don't do that as I wondered if it would kinda wash away a bit of their smell , probably doesn't though ... I let mine defrost naturally in the snake room which works well for me apart from putting some of them on RED ALERT


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[redshepherd]

Quick newbie question and not an attempt to hijack the thread...

I've noticed a lot of folks add they thaw the frozen prey in zip lock bag either in hot H2O or the fridge - the reptile shop I got my bp from said to toss the frozen in hottest tap H2O (NOT boiling) and let it soak for 10 mins. Then lightly dry and proceed to do the zombie dance in front of the snake and it seems to be working, so far every time.

Is there a better/proper/safer way or this method is just fine?

Thanks

10 minutes is way too short, unless it's a rat pinky or something really small. I soak in very warm water (but that you're still able to run your hand in without getting burned) for an hour or a few hours, depending on the size of the rat. You don't want to risk a bit of the inside of the rat still being frozen, as it could cause necrosis and then death of the snake... Better to over-wait than to be hasty about it.

[BR8080]

10 minutes is way too short, unless it's a rat pinky or something really small. I soak in very warm water (but that you're still able to run your hand in without getting burned) for an hour or a few hours, depending on the size of the rat. You don't want to risk a bit of the inside of the rat still being frozen, as it could cause necrosis and then death of the snake... Better to over-wait than to be hasty about it.

Thanks for the heads up, I figured the larger the prey the longer the soak - and yes, making sure the innerds aren't stiff is what the reptile guy told me also. I guess I was concerned the prey would start to spoil but it doesn't seem to be the case based on your experience.

Also, speaking of size, I am feeding too small I think honestly - I have to buy more frozen today and I'll ask for the next size up from fuzzy (the fuzzy is just under her thickest point so I've feed her 2 the last couple times)

If it's working I wouldn't worry tbh . I don't do that as I wondered if it would kinda wash away a bit of their smell , probably doesn't though ... I let mine defrost naturally in the snake room which works well for me apart from putting some of them on RED ALERT

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Thank you..

I put the hot H2O bowl with mouse in the tupperware I feed in as to pre-scent that and not the entire room although I'm sure some of the scent permeates throughout. It's pretty awesome that when she goes into that tupperware, she knows what's next and is tongue flicking and ready after having her for just 3 weeks now.