Advice PLEASE :)

Well i'm almost on week two of keeping my first snake! So here's what's going on... Khaleesi weighs 65 grams, last ate July 13 and shed July 14 she was shipped to me on the 17 from Ben Siegal reptiles! I e-mailed them asking what she was feeding on and they couldn't remember... So I waited a week to try feeding and I tried a F/T Adult mouse on July 24. She seemed scared and showed zero interest, so I thought maybe it's a little too big so I went and got a F/T Hopper mouse and tried on July 25. Again nothing I tried feeding both at around 9 p.m. I left both in overnight and even tried the zombie dance but nothing! I thawed the Mice in warm water for about 30 mins then dried them with the blow drier! I also tried a live mouse today but again she was scared! O her enclosure is a 15 qt steralite tub with paper towel substrate a black hide and a water dish. Hot side 95F and cool 80F I use a thermostat. She's also really sweet, not head shy doesn't hiss and is awesome! Sooo any tips on getting her going? I'm used to reptiles not eating so i'm not really freaking out I just want to make sure i'm doing things right! Any tips would be great!

Here's the little gal!

[IMG]http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/...2667963645.jpg[/IMG]

Your husbandry sounds good, but I would lower the hot side of the tub to 90 and the ambient by a couple degrees. Try keeping her in complete darkness for a couple days without opening her tub except for checking on water and doo-duty. NO handling. After a couple days offer the mouse again and hopefully she'll be more interested. Good luck!

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Originally Posted by TXpythons

Your husbandry sounds good, but I would lower the hot side of the tub to 90 and the ambient by a couple degrees. Try keeping her in complete darkness for a couple days without opening her tub except for checking on water and doo-duty. NO handling. After a couple days offer the mouse again and hopefully she'll be more interested. Good luck!

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^^^Sorry, that meant to say **raise** the ambient temp...

I am new, but I will try and help. I went through a similar issue with mine when I got him and I read that waiting 3-5 days between trying to feed is best. Also, cut back on the interaction (no handling/loud noise/etc.). Mine didn't take to f/t but did well with live. It was suggested to me to set the rat in a container nearby for a little while to get the snake interested in the scent. Once she comes out and is on the hunt, she should be more interested.

I would agree that the hot side temp needs to come down a bit. should be 88-92 I keep mine at 90. I would try a live hopper next.

I would try live.
I have gotten 3 snakes from Ben and all 3 were pigs when it came to eating.
I don't feed f/t, so I can't really compare whether or not mine took it the first time. But they took live right away in a matter of seconds. They tend to take food right as it's dropping into the tub.

When I called BSR a year ago to ask what the snakes ate, they said hopper mice or rat pups.

And yup. I agree with the others to lower your hot side. Young snakes as small as yours prefer the lower end of the 'hot side' spectrum.

Also, try not to handle your snake until it starts feeding consistently.

I have one snake from Ben and she's a great eater. But hey all snakes are wired differently. I would try leaving the F/T in there over night, chances are its gone in the morning.

Are you feeding in a separate container? You could try that (or not doing that if you are).

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Originally Posted by Talae

Are you feeding in a separate container? You could try that (or not doing that if you are).

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If you're feeding in a separate enclosure, I'd suggest feeding in it's enclosure. It can be stressful for the snake to be moved around a lot.

I'd leave your snake alone completely(no handling, just daily cage cleaning) until it's eaten.

Also, I'd keep trying live.

My one girl will refuse to eat if I sit and watch her, so I drop the mouse in and move to the side so she won't see me.

Have you tried feeding her at night time? Ive heard that's successful for some.

Defiantly lower the hot side temp. At temp that is too high can actually cause them to not want to eat.

I made the mistake of holding the baby cinny I got last Saturday and he didn't eat for me :( It's so hard to resist taking them out and playing with them but it messing them up lol