Chicken Broth? Opinions/Experiences appreciated!

Boots is acting very strange. He ate only 4 or 5 days ago and only took 1 mouse (he's a 1400g 4ft big boy). He's been quite the problem feeder due to his past situation. Lately he has been pacing like you wouldn't believe and shows great interest in his feeding tub. I read on here and several other places that chicken broth helps stimulate a snake to eat and I am tempted to try it on a f/t rat for him. Does anyone have any experience to share on this? Any objections? I really want him to eat normally!

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He ate 4 or 5 days ago - do not start messing around with the food.

Males at this time of year can be more interested in breeding than eating.

You shouldn't even be offering food again if he ate 4 or 5 days ago, let alone scenting with chickrn broth.

I agree with the others about not changing "scent". Just curious, how old is he? And I've tried the chicken broth thing a couple of times, on boas and balls. Didn't work for me. I'd be curious to hear if it's worked for anybody, and on what kind of snakes.

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Originally Posted by dr del

He ate 4 or 5 days ago - do not start messing around with the food.

Males at this time of year can be more interested in breeding than eating.

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I don't think it's the breeding. He is terrified of his food because his previous owner let rats attack him

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Originally Posted by hungba

You shouldn't even be offering food again if he ate 4 or 5 days ago, let alone scenting with chickrn broth.

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He's a big snake that has just started eating after a 4 month strike so I am worried

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Originally Posted by Sonny1318

I agree with the others about not changing "scent". Just curious, how old is he? And I've tried the chicken broth thing a couple of times, on boas and balls. Didn't work for me. I'd be curious to hear if it's worked for anybody, and on what kind of snakes.

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He is 6. I just really feel concerned and want to see him eat the right sized food this upcoming Saturday

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If he ate one 5 days ago, he clearly can eat when he wants to.

You don't need to do anything besides put the food in the enclosure. He knows how to do the rest if he's in the mood to eat.

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Originally Posted by 200xth

If he ate one 5 days ago, he clearly can eat when he wants to.

You don't need to do anything besides put the food in the enclosure. He knows how to do the rest if he's in the mood to eat.

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I know but he isn't eating the proper amount and he hasn't pooped at all and I've had him much more than a month. He also paces in his cage a lot and acts antsy when he is near his feeding bin

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Originally Posted by SCWood

I know but he isn't eating the proper amount and he hasn't pooped at all and I've had him much more than a month. He also paces in his cage a lot and acts antsy when he is near his feeding bin

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Well, let's find out what type of enclosure you are working with and what are your husbandry numbers? Maybe this will shed some light on things. Maybe he isn't hungry also! Maybe he wants a different prey item? Or offered in a different fashion? :confusd:

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Originally Posted by SCWood

I know but he isn't eating the proper amount and he hasn't pooped at all and I've had him much more than a month. He also paces in his cage a lot and acts antsy when he is near his feeding bin

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The proper amount is relative, some snakes eat more, some snakes prefer smaller prey, etc, and in many cases, the proper amount is overstated; they need less food in general than you probably think.

Doublecheck your environment. If the temps are correct, humidity is correct, he's got enough places to hide and feel secure, etc, then there is nothing else to do but offer food on the regular schedule.

The fact that he did eat something indicates he will eat if he wants to. What he will not do is eat just because you think he needs more food.

If you're worried about him not eating, monitor his weight. If you see no loss or trivial weight loss, there is usually nothing to worry about.

When it comes to food it's not about what YOU want them to eat (prey type, how big and how often), it's about what THEY want to eat.

Over the years I have had animals that preferred very small prey less frequently and so long the animal is healthy and eating there is nothing wrong with that.

As far as bowel movement, well there is no schedule I have animals that can go 8 weeks without a bowel movement so there is o worry there.

Here are the important things

Make sure your husbandry is optimum, downsize if necessary and feed in the enclosure.

And keep in mind that if you want him to eat more it does not necessarily mean getting a bigger prey, you can offer two mice next time and two adult mice for an adult male is more than enough.