avoided a bullet

[Wolfsnaps]

Well, I avoided a bullet last night. I went to feed my ball and lately as you may know, I have been feeding him live african soft furred rats. So last night I decided to give the rat colony a break and use a frozen rat pup. Well, Stryker seemed interested but wouldn't go for it. I have lost my tongs so I tried using my hand but then I changed my mind...for one, I didn't want to get bitten by mistake and for 2, my hand was distracting the snake. So what to do? Well, as risky as this may sound I used dental floss. I loosely tied it around one of the rat's legs and dropped it in. Stryker smelled it but seemed uninterested.....Had I imprinted him onto ASF rats for good? I was kicking myself when I got an idea. I went to the asf rat cage and gently plucked some fur from one of the young rats. I sprinkled it onto the head of the dethawed rat. I did a small prayer and dropped my marionette into the cage. Stryker smelled it and the fur did the trick. He wrapped it, swallowed it butt first, and now he is lounging around without a care in the world and a full belly....'this is where I mention that when He struck I pulled the floss off so he wouldn't swallow it.

That was a close one...phew. I am trying to let my rats get bigger before feeding them off so the next few feedings will be f/t.....
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[adizziedoll]

Wow, i would never use floss ever again. I think you're pretty lucky this time around that nothing happened...just my ,
~Ginger~

[Wolfsnaps]

Yeah, I need to get tongs. I know it was risky. I made sure the head was all stryker could strike at and that the foot I had tied was as far as possible. It worked perfectly. And the string wasn't tied tight and it came right off. I think if something did go awry I would just spray him with my misting bottle to let him release. I saw someone tie a mouse to a chick with cooking string so their snake would ingest both and I think that is where the idea came from, but I am fully aware that dental floss would probably kill my snake.


But please, feel free to blast me it seems everyone does.

[lord jackel]

Well, I avoided a bullet last night. I went to feed my ball and lately as you may know, I have been feeding him live african soft furred rats. So last night I decided to give the rat colony a break and use a frozen rat pup. Well, Stryker seemed interested but wouldn't go for it. I have lost my tongs so I tried using my hand but then I changed my mind...for one, I didn't want to get bitten by mistake and for 2, my hand was distracting the snake. So what to do? Well, as risky as this may sound I used dental floss. I loosely tied it around one of the rat's legs and dropped it in. Stryker smelled it but seemed uninterested.....Had I imprinted him onto ASF rats for good? I was kicking myself when I got an idea. I went to the asf rat cage and gently plucked some fur from one of the young rats. I sprinkled it onto the head of the dethawed rat. I did a small prayer and dropped my marionette into the cage. Stryker smelled it and the fur did the trick. He wrapped it, swallowed it butt first, and now he is lounging around without a care in the world and a full belly....'this is where I mention that when He struck I pulled the floss off so he wouldn't swallow it.

That was a close one...phew. I am trying to let my rats get bigger before feeding them off so the next few feedings will be f/t.....
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Do you really think it was the fact you have been feeding ASF and not a rat or the fact that you were feeding live and tried F/T? Most of the people I have heard from on this forum (that feed ASF) haven't had an issue going back and forth?

Also, I agree with other floss (or any string) is a dangerous idea. In a pinch just wear a glove next time.

[Wolfsnaps]

Jackel...yes, I agree with you on both counts. 1. It was a combination of it being f/t while he was getting live that threw him. But then, when I put asf fur on the dead rat, he took it?! I think the zombie rat dance plus the intoxicating asf smell fooled him.

2.Yes, the string was dangerous. I won't do it again, I will go out and buy another set of tongs. I should say though, that my hand being in there distracted him. I was wearing a glove and it was pretty thick so I don't think it was the heat signature that distracted him. I don't know, maybe it was the movement?

Regardless of it all, I am just happy that he ate. He looks like he may have lost a little weight so I am always happy when he does eat. I am not going to powerfeed him but I am going to try to keep him on schedule and offer slightly bigger food items.