Little Pin is a Finicky Feeder

There is this 180g Pin at work that has been there as long as I have i.e. almost 9 months. He looks skinny for his age, but he eats a mouse every week. Unfortunately, he should be fed weaned rats but we don't carry them. He's always striking the glass if you're working by the tanks and if you enter theirs, your going to get snapped at...guaranteed. We marked him down 50% but nobody wants him because he's such a finicky eater. He will get so aggressive, but it usually takes me about 45 minutes to get him to feed. He will strike the mouse, then hide and do this several times before finally striking and eating. People don't have patience. I feel so bad, so I asked the AM to ask if we can mark him down 75% so I can take him home, fatten him up, and maybe adopt him out (but probably not). :) what do you think?

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Be willing to bet with larger prey items and some time, you could have a nice snake there. I'd do it if you can give him a better life.

Dave

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Originally Posted by AKA Dave

Be willing to bet with larger prey items and some time, you could have a nice snake there. I'd do it if you can give him a better life.

Dave

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Thanks :) I think I should

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Would ASF help bulk him up and maybe entice him to eat?

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I feel like the adoption would be good, if he's striking a lot he may be stressed out a lot or scared. If he eats fine, try feeding him a extra mouse either the same size or smaller. It'd probably be best to work with him. I don't know his age, but my 3 month old ball python that I got when he was a month old has only ever struck once at me in fear. Just be thankful he eats, my ball python doesn't do it on his own needs assist feeds.

Also try mouses that are not white, some breeders I know feed their bps black mice since albino mice are not natural in the wild. From the whole strike and hide of it you should just leave the mouse in there for a bit. Or can try multi feeder tricks like brain cracking, etc.

avoid to feed mice ... better start straight to rats.

When you go in to speak to your manager, there are a few talking points that you can use to your advantage so you can bring this little guy home. Your biggest tool is going to be able to explain that a "seemingly" aggressive snake is going to make potential owners uncomfortable about getting a snake at all. After all, who wants to own a snake if one snaps at the mere passing of a customer? Make it about the dollar signs and potential loss of revenue. It's hard to sell a $200 snake kit when the snake scares people. Use your knowledge about the BP too, and present the position that you will be able to rehab him and give him a good life.

Hope you are able to work it out.

Dave

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AKA Dave

When you go in to speak to your manager, there are a few talking points that you can use to your advantage so you can bring this little guy home. Your biggest tool is going to be able to explain that a "seemingly" aggressive snake is going to make potential owners uncomfortable about getting a snake at all. After all, who wants to own a snake if one snaps at the mere passing of a customer? Make it about the dollar signs and potential loss of revenue. It's hard to sell a $200 snake kit when the snake scares people. Use your knowledge about the BP too, and present the position that you will be able to rehab him and give him a good life.

Hope you are able to work it out.

Dave

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I absolutely agree. My animal care manager owns a lot of snakes so she will be for it, we just need the GM permission ^^

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Originally Posted by Naraku

I feel like the adoption would be good, if he's striking a lot he may be stressed out a lot or scared. If he eats fine, try feeding him a extra mouse either the same size or smaller. It'd probably be best to work with him. I don't know his age, but my 3 month old ball python that I got when he was a month old has only ever struck once at me in fear. Just be thankful he eats, my ball python doesn't do it on his own needs assist feeds.

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I firmly believe this is the case. Unfortunately, it's often against protocol to feed 2 prey items, but I might need to do so anyway

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Naraku

Also try mouses that are not white, some breeders I know feed their bps black mice since albino mice are not natural in the wild. From the whole strike and hide of it you should just leave the mouse in there for a bit. Or can try multi feeder tricks like brain cracking, etc.

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I can only use what I have at work :/ that, and we have left him for HOURS with the mouse and he won't eat it

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Originally Posted by darkranger69

avoid to feed mice ... better start straight to rats.

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Exactly my thoughts

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Total= 30 ❤

Well, I mean like brain crack feeding is a good way to feed. There's a lot of need nothing tricks, like just putting him in a dark place to eat so he feels safe. I don't know if you feed him in the cage or not but cage feeding might help too.