Quick feeding question

My question: How long do I leave the f/t mouse in the tank?

The situation;

My hubs has been very adamant about not feeding the snakes in their tanks. Well hubs is out on pad (he works with nat gas/fracking co) and will be gone a few more days and the kids filled the bin I usually use to feed the snakes up with toys. (I bleach out the bin before & after every feeding) so i said screw it and put the f/t mice in the tanks. Li didn't hesitate, she is now a plump and happy snake.

However Livia has circled hers, went to a corner, dove in her water dish, circled again and is now staring at the mouse. It's dim in the room, the kids are all in bed. Should I just leave it till morning?

You can. Many people do.

Your husband needs to search the forum and he will find out that feeding in another tank is absolutely not needed with f/t. It does nothing but make you handle a snake in feeding mode and therefor actually increase your chances of getting tagged by smelling like food or just picking up a hungry snake. It also can add to stress and make a snake not feed. Like you, your snake is most comfortable in its home and feeding there will give you the best odds of having good feedings.

I leave mine until morning. I have a couple that will only eat in the middle of the night, and I have others who sometimes don't eat immediately for whatever reason, so I leave the rodent overnight to give them a chance to eat at some point if they want.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KMG

You can. Many people do.

Your husband needs to search the forum and he will find out that feeding in another tank is absolutely not needed with f/t. It does nothing but make you handle a snake in feeding mode and therefor actually increase your chances of getting tagged by smelling like food or just picking up a hungry snake. It also can add to stress and make a snake not feed. Like you, your snake is most comfortable in its home and feeding there will give you the best odds of having good feedings.

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I've suggested that to him, but he shrugged it off and turned most the husbandry over to me because of his schedule (two weeks on, one week off) (mwahahaha!! I have the power! **cough cough**) I'll probably look up a few threads and read em aloud to him when he gets home. It sometimes take a little bit of time to get new ways of doing things through to him. His snakes, oh 15 years + ago were never fed in their tank because of the aggression myth and he treats the information he had back then as solid fact.

I have to say, I'm so glad I found this place. I've learned so much from just lurking and reading over threads. Thank you for your comments. I'll leave mr mousy there and see what happens.

:)

Do snakes really eat a thawed mouse if you just throw it in? I thought you had to jiggle it around and make it look alive?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by auhsojnacnud

Do snakes really eat a thawed mouse if you just throw it in? I thought you had to jiggle it around and make it look alive?

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Some will while others wont even look at it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by auhsojnacnud

Do snakes really eat a thawed mouse if you just throw it in? I thought you had to jiggle it around and make it look alive?

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Most react and feed better/ faster when you mimic live prey. However, some will eat F/T even when left in the tank.

Update; mr mousy was still in her tank this morning. I'll call this skipped/refusal and offer her food next feeding day. Thanks for the input folks.