Our second feeding!

[indygunnerguy]

He still wouldn't take them from tongs but I think we've figured out a routine...I've almost used up my mouse fuzzies. I can't wait to see how he does with rats! I laid them on the ramp to his water bowl to keep the feeders out of the substrate.

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[Bogertophis]

Hey, whatever works......

[RedRabbit]

Niiice, he gobbled them right up! (And I like how he climbed that tree to come in from above; looked like he was trying to air assassinate those mice, pfft.) If you're going to make the mice-to-rats switch soon, my advice is to save a couple of the mouse fuzzies, in case you need to rub the rats with mouse scent in order to persuade Gargamel to give them a try at first. Another option is feeding a combo of 1 mouse + 1 rat, where you give the mouse first, and then follow up with the rat as the "chaser" while your snake is still in food mode. Lastly, if the frozen/thawed mice don't have a strong enough scent to transfer well onto the rat, you can ask a nearby reptile store (if you have one) for some of the used bedding for their feeder mice, and put the rat in a plastic bag with the bedding to make it more strongly mouse-scented.

There's a chance that Gargamel will give you an easy time and just make the switch without even needing any of the above techniques, but it's always good to be prepared.

[Bogertophis]

This, exactly... ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

[Dorsa]

Super happy he’s eating specially if you’ve just gotten him! My bp didn’t eat for the first 2 weeks but I realized my temp wasn’t as high as it should’ve been. Also just to help prevent future problems I always lay down a strip of paper towel especially if the rats are a little wet (so substrate doesn’t stick to them and then impaction) then I hold the rat over that so if he strikes and misses he won’t have a mouthful of substrate


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[indygunnerguy]

Super happy he’s eating specially if you’ve just gotten him! My bp didn’t eat for the first 2 weeks but I realized my temp wasn’t as high as it should’ve been. Also just to help prevent future problems I always lay down a strip of paper towel especially if the rats are a little wet (so substrate doesn’t stick to them and then impaction) then I hold the rat over that so if he strikes and misses he won’t have a mouthful of substrate


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Yeah, my new Herpstsat EZ2 is really helping out with the temps. Ive had him three weeks now.

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[indygunnerguy]

Niiice, he gobbled them right up! (And I like how he climbed that tree to come in from above; looked like he was trying to air assassinate those mice, pfft.) If you're going to make the mice-to-rats switch soon, my advice is to save a couple of the mouse fuzzies, in case you need to rub the rats with mouse scent in order to persuade Gargamel to give them a try at first. Another option is feeding a combo of 1 mouse + 1 rat, where you give the mouse first, and then follow up with the rat as the "chaser" while your snake is still in food mode. Lastly, if the frozen/thawed mice don't have a strong enough scent to transfer well onto the rat, you can ask a nearby reptile store (if you have one) for some of the used bedding for their feeder mice, and put the rat in a plastic bag with the bedding to make it more strongly mouse-scented.

There's a chance that Gargamel will give you an easy time and just make the switch without even needing any of the above techniques, but it's always good to be prepared.

Great thanks for the advice! BTW...when he ate last night, he didn't strike or constrict. Is that normal? He basically just rolled up on them and grabbed them pretty slowly and ate like I would eat a sandwich or something. I was expecting something much more dramatic.

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[RedRabbit]

Great thanks for the advice! BTW...when he ate last night, he didn't strike or constrict. Is that normal? He basically just rolled up on them and grabbed them pretty slowly and ate like I would eat a sandwich or something. I was expecting something much more dramatic.

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Although both of my BPs strike and constrict their thawed rats (in the classic "dramatic ambush" fashion), I've seen others on this forum describe their snakes eating the way yours does, particularly the ones that seem to be accustomed to drop feeding. As far as being an indication of health or normalcy, both ways are honestly fine. With BPs and their reputation for being picky and inconsistent eaters, we'll take whatever we can get, as long as the snake is eating!

[reptilemom25]

So glad you little guy is eating! You are doing a great job with him.

Having to drop feed isn't a big deal IMO, as long as they are eating. I have new little guy I have had for 2 weeks, and he ate his first meal with me last night. I had to drop feed, but he ate. My normal female who has always snapped up whatever I gave her decided she wanted to be drop fed too. I think her issue is a new enclosure. More space has made her a little less secure.

[indygunnerguy]

So glad you little guy is eating! You are doing a great job with him.

Having to drop feed isn't a big deal IMO, as long as they are eating. I have new little guy I have had for 2 weeks, and he ate his first meal with me last night. I had to drop feed, but he ate. My normal female who has always snapped up whatever I gave her decided she wanted to be drop fed too. I think her issue is a new enclosure. More space has made her a little less secure.

Thanks! I'm really trying to do right by him. He had his first poo last evening, so I guess "all systems are go" now lol.

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