Problem Feeders...

I have been let down again by my male pastel:(. I tried switching him over to rats again and he wasn't having anything to do with it! So I thought that I would share my issues with him and see if anyone else shares my pain.

Mojo has been a picky feeder from the start and will go off feed for a few weeks at a time for no apparent reason. When he does eat, I can get him to take two or three large mice. He will do this for three or four weeks, and just when I think I've made some progress with him, he stops eating! I seem to be regressing with this guy.

The past few weeks he has taken two or three large mice. So this week, I decided to try a small rat and he cowers into his hide at the sight of it. I don't know what to do...

Over the years this is what I have tried

-scenting the rats like mice.
-make his tank as secure as possible
-wait until dark to feed (If time permits)
-wait 14 days between feeds to make sure he is extra hungry

Here is a photo of the fella. He's a 2006 Male Pastel and only weighs 786g. I bought him in 2007 at 450g. That is 336 grams in 3 years :(

My 2006 male normal now weighs 1700g.

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...009_065web.jpg

Live? FT? PK?

Always been live

Try PK or FT

I have some that will only take PK

Interesting?! how do your snakes that take pre killed react to live prey?

Do they show signs of disinterest or is it more of a cowering behavior?

The behavior I notice is the cowering. I think he doesn't like them getting close to his head.

Sounds to me like you have a mouser. One of my females will only feed on live mice, its a pain because of the availability of quality live feeders in my area but I tried very hard to get her to switch with no avail.

Edit: She also cowered away as soon as she smelled the F/T rat or live rat when I offered. She would take a quick smell then go in her hide and block the hide entrance with her body.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Spaniard

Sounds to me like you have a mouser. One of my females will only feed on live mice, its a pain because of the availability of quality live feeders in my area but I tried very hard to get her to switch with no avail.

Edit: She also cowered away as soon as she smelled the F/T rat or live rat when I offered. She would take a quick smell then go in her hide and block the hide entrance with her body.

---

Ahhh, This is what he does exactly.

Woohoo!!! I'm so excited right now, I just need to tell someone.

It's official, Mojo is no longer a mouser! He just took his first live rat.:bow:

The trick turned out to be pre-scenting his cage. I followed all of my previous tricks with him such as, late night feeding and extra time between feeds to boost hunger. Then, I placed a rat in one of those clear critter cages you see at the pet stores and set it in front of his cage. I also opened the glass to let in the scent.

Ten minuets later, he pokes his head out of his hide. He tastes the air with a few flicks of his tongue, and spots the prey. I see Mojo recoil into strike position and realize that this is my chance. So, carefully, I remove the rat from the critter cage and gently toss him into the tank. Then, *Wham* its a hit!!!

The road to growth has just appeared for this fella!

The trick now is reproducing the process and making this a regular occurrence.

congrats!
i have a few mousers:(
i guess my tough love just isnt tough enough ive tried everything:please:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nixer

congrats!
i have a few mousers:(
i guess my tough love just isnt tough enough ive tried everything:please:

---

Aw don't give up! I spent 3 years on this guy, and finally succeeded.