How much can he lose?

Little Dude decided to stop eating in late November, about the same time as my other male (he did eat a single mouse in Dec.) So I decided this is as good a time as any to try to switch him over to rats from frozen mice. All my other snakes have been back on the food for a few weeks now, but LD is still refusing to eat. Small live rats scared him, I tried keeping the rat with a mouse so it smelled mouse-like, tried f/t rats, leaving it in overnight, but nothing is working (I offer food once a week). I just did a weigh-in, and since January 13, he's dropped from 688g to 657g, everyone else has gained 150-200 g. How far should I push this before I give in and give him mice? He's starting to look a little thin.

Bump. Please advise me, I don't want to take this too far, but I don't know what percantage of body mass loss is too much.

At 600-700 grams, he has a little leeway, but not like an adult would. If he is starting to look visibly thin to you, it's time to cave in and let him have his mouse. Let him have 4 good meals, then hold out on him again for a few weeks. I try 3 on and 3 off. And by 3 off, I mean NO food at all for 3 weeks. Just water and cleaning. Then after 3 weeks offer a comparably sized rat. If he doesn't take the rat, wait another week and try a rat again. If he still refuses, let him have his mice for 3 feedings, then try again.

I successfully converted a few snakes this way. And a few still get their mice every week. I wish you all the best.

Gale

Quote:

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Originally Posted by angllady2

At 600-700 grams, he has a little leeway, but not like an adult would. If he is starting to look visibly thin to you, it's time to cave in and let him have his mouse. Let him have 4 good meals, then hold out on him again for a few weeks. I try 3 on and 3 off. And by 3 off, I mean NO food at all for 3 weeks. Just water and cleaning. Then after 3 weeks offer a comparably sized rat. If he doesn't take the rat, wait another week and try a rat again. If he still refuses, let him have his mice for 3 feedings, then try again.

I successfully converted a few snakes this way. And a few still get their mice every week. I wish you all the best.

Gale

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This sounds like a fantastic method to help the picky ones who wont transition to rats. I'll have to remember it if I have troubles.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by angllady2

At 600-700 grams, he has a little leeway, but not like an adult would. If he is starting to look visibly thin to you, it's time to cave in and let him have his mouse. Let him have 4 good meals, then hold out on him again for a few weeks. I try 3 on and 3 off. And by 3 off, I mean NO food at all for 3 weeks. Just water and cleaning. Then after 3 weeks offer a comparably sized rat. If he doesn't take the rat, wait another week and try a rat again. If he still refuses, let him have his mice for 3 feedings, then try again.

I successfully converted a few snakes this way. And a few still get their mice every week. I wish you all the best.

Gale

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Thanks for getting back to me, I've never dealt with this before. I will definitely give this a try (and feed him his mice as soon as I get home).