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How big is too big?

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  • 12-28-2015, 06:51 PM
    JessicaK
    How big is too big?
    So i just got Slithers and the pet store said I should feed him the next day after I brought him home. They sent me with a fuzzy rat and I offered it to my snake twice and I didn't even try to eat is. Could it be that the rat pup is too big? http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12...66e43472e1.jpg


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  • 12-28-2015, 07:05 PM
    imitha
    How big is too big?
    If the prey is thicker than the thickest part of the snake it's too big otherwise it's good
  • 12-28-2015, 07:11 PM
    JessicaK
    Re: How big is too big?
    Will the snake not even try to eat it if it's too big? I didn't think it was. It definitely looks about the same size as his widest point but he actually slithered over the rat without even paying attention to it


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  • 12-28-2015, 07:40 PM
    Mada
    some snakes wont eat unless its the right time of day, some wont eat unless its been long enough sense their last meal, while they store is open call them and find out when his last feeding was. you may have to leave the little rodent in there a while to get him to eat, if it is alive do not leave your snake and the food unattended. keep feeding tongs or a set of forceps handy if its alive or stunned to ensure if it tries to bite your animal you can stop it. your food item seems young but always better to be safe then have sorrow.

    you also might want to wait a full week before trying to feed it, many snakes stress out from being moved and put in a new environment. a week to 2 weeks of leaving the snake alone and only checking water, humidity and temp are required to keep its stress down while it adjust to the new area its in. who did you buy him from that didn't give you this advise?
  • 12-28-2015, 07:55 PM
    LightningPython
    You should let him settle down for a few days. Feeding next day after a stressful move isnt really ideal. Leave Slithers to rest, the offer food again.
  • 12-28-2015, 08:45 PM
    hazzaram
    I think you should wait at least a week before feeding a new snake. But you should also realize that some snakes have unique feeding habits and you'll have to learn what your snake's are. My female yellowbelly is so dense when it comes to feeding. A f/t rat could be sitting right on her or in front of her face and she won't be able to find it. She'll go crazy because she can smell it, but she can't find it. I usually have to pick it up and dangle it in front of her face 2-3 times before she'll finally strike. My albino male is a great eater and never misses a first strike and my rainbow boa is super shy. She will not eat in front of anyone and I have to leave the pinky in front of her hide. It's always gone by morning.

    You'll come to find out your snake's feeding habits with time. Sometimes it takes a bit of experimenting :) Good luck.
  • 12-28-2015, 10:36 PM
    JessicaK
    Re: How big is too big?
    I'll definitely wait. They said the last time he ate was last Tuesday and they feed the hatchlings once a week. I figured I would at least try. He's really relaxed seeming


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  • 12-29-2015, 12:09 AM
    Mada
    Re: How big is too big?
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by hazzaram View Post
    I think you should wait at least a week before feeding a new snake. But you should also realize that some snakes have unique feeding habits and you'll have to learn what your snake's are. My female yellowbelly is so dense when it comes to feeding. A f/t rat could be sitting right on her or in front of her face and she won't be able to find it. She'll go crazy because she can smell it, but she can't find it. I usually have to pick it up and dangle it in front of her face 2-3 times before she'll finally strike. My albino male is a great eater and never misses a first strike and my rainbow boa is super shy. She will not eat in front of anyone and I have to leave the pinky in front of her hide. It's always gone by morning.

    You'll come to find out your snake's feeding habits with time. Sometimes it takes a bit of experimenting :) Good luck.

    you might not want to feed in front of a hide, one forum user had a snake break its neck on the hide when she did that...

    jessicak give it a week and try, if he wont strike right away its ok give him 5-10 min watching closely, also try to feed at or around sunset that is the time they are most active in the wild. if feeding dead rub the animal along a wall of the enclosure and then hold it with tongs by the shoulder fur and wiggle it some or by the tail with the back of the head towards the snake and gently move it side to side a little bit above the substrate. many snakes like even their non alive food to be moving before they strike.
  • 12-29-2015, 08:59 AM
    hazzaram
    Re: How big is too big?
    She doesn't strike at all. She just reaches out and gently drags it in, lol. She's really shy. No striking for her. I will keep that in mind though. She doesn't seem to want to eat any other way. I've tried many ways of feeding her.

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  • 12-29-2015, 10:14 PM
    Yodawagon
    That's not a snake. It's a bottle cap.
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