Missing something..

[Andrew666]

Hello I've had my BP for about 2 and half months now, and I've had nothing but problems with his feeding. It took him about 3 weeks to eat when I first got him. I offered once a week and for the first 2 weeks he showed no interest at all. So by the 3rd week he ate and only took a few minutes to take it. He then stopped for about a month (for what seemed to be no reason since no conditions had been changed since he ate. So I moved him into little plastic tub (because I was worried the glass tank was stressing him). He ate 7 days after I moved him over on the first attempt and it's been 3 weeks now since he ate. I keep attempting once a week. He was eating frozen thawed hopper mice from the breeder and they guarantee a successful feeding at least 3 times before they'll sell a snake. I've talked to them since I bought the snake and they haven’t had any other trouble with the others. I've also tried live, and the snake didn’t seem interested when the mouse came close he bit at it and took its ear off but I think it was just defensive bites, since he didn’t coil, but I really cant be sure. He does the same thing too pre-killed really. He always bites at it at least 2 or 3 times, but he doesn’t get a good hold. So my setup is perfect I believe. (Link below) It’s a 15Quart tub with 2 hides. Their flowerpots with a whole cut in them, there pretty snug- I tried to go a size smaller but he didn’t use them. The humidity is 55% or so usually. The hot side around 92. Cold side around 82. But it goes up or down within 2 degrees or so depending on how cold the room is. I have a under tank heater with reptile thermostat. And a red heat light, which I only turn on if, the room gets colder. There is a picture at the link below. I need serious help with this cause I'm considering giving the snake back to the breeder if he doesn’t eat soon. Please give me your thoughts. I'm sorry if this is redundant too a lot of you but I've tried everything and I've been reading a lot of forums daily for ideas. Additionally I haven’t been handling the snake at all, unless I have too for a few seconds to clean up or move something in his tub. And I use digital probes to monitor the temps so I have faith that there accurate. Thanks!

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/9985/hpim0178si9.jpg

[Sausage]

One quick comment: those round analog thermometers are fairly innacurate, I'd reccommend getting an AcuRite digital thermometer from WalMart.

As for feeding, I think you're being kind of impatient(no offense! ) and offering too often, which may be a factor to his stress. Try waiting ten days before attempting to feed again. I don't see any reason to return the snake just because he's not eating.

[Andrew666]

Well he's looking thinner, and I dont want too hurt him at all. I'll wait abit longer before offering next time. I always try for about 30-45 mins and he usually starts hissing or snapping and I know then he wont eat. Up until then he just stairs at it as if he's interested.

[Sausage]

Have you been dangling the mouse with tongs or just laying it there? The gruesome dead mouse marionette works for some people. Also make sure Mr. mouse is nice and warm when you offer it.

Have you tried pre-scenting the room? That might work for you too.

[Andrew666]

The mouse is nice and heated, and I use tongs and grab it by the lower back so the snake has tons of room too grab at it. Its worked both times he's eaten. Umm I've also tried leaving the mouse overnight and I've watched him at random times and he's been staring at it but hasnt eaten that way.. As for presenting the room.. I tried that by defrosting the mouse on top of his cage. It stunk up the room abit, but since he's in a tub with holes punched in it, i'm not sure how much of the smell made it too him. He's very nervous and gittery about eating seems scared too take it, and if you stay too close after he coils he'll drop it.

[kavmon]

keep feeding him what he ate before! don't change up alot.


try the crumpled newspaper trick, crumple up loose balls of newspaper and fill his tub. try this for a couple of weeks , then gradually reduce the paper.

try feeding him at night when it's dark and quiet, keep the same feeding and routine, offer food only once a week.

if feeding f/t, if he doesn't strike right away. it's ok to leave in overnight. throw it away the next morning though.


vaughn

[frankykeno]

Take Vaughn's suggestion of the newspaper trick. It's really a simple thing but amazingly handy to settle in a nervous snake. The process of constriction and swallowing a whole prey item is a very vulnerable time for a snake so if they aren't feeling completely secure they just won't settle in and hunt/eat properly. Here's a couple of pictures of one of our tubs set up with the newspaper (and yes there is a snake in that tub lol)....

Top View....


Side View....

[UWStoutNinja]

I noticed that the temp probes are in the middle of the tank. You might want to consider at least moving one above the UTH but under the substrate taped to the bottom. Your temps might be completely different for his belly heat than for his back heat. Just my

[UWStoutNinja]

i just thought of something else. When you fed live, was the snake in one of his hides when you put the mouse in?

My snake wouldn't eat for a while either, and then I tried prescenting by putting the little carry box with the mouse and some bedding right into his tub with the cover on for about a half hour. I put the mouse in when my snake was out of his hide and it was almost as if the mouse wasn't even there. The mouse even walked down my snakes back. I quickly put a hide over him with the mouse still in the tub, and he ate as soon as the mouse got in front of it. Hope some of this helps.

Good luck. I would also suggest having some more patience. Once you have established a consistant feeding response, I am sure you will fall in love with him even more!!!!