Yet another problem feeder tip: DIRT!

I acquired an 800 gram Ball last Summer that was supposedly a "great feeder". No such luck. :frustrate I tried pretty much everything with no results. She did eat about three times back in October, but that was it. Finally I stumbled on a tip that I read about on Kingsnake that someone used for WC Balls. He filled the cage up with regular potting soil and that made many of his WC snakes into feeders.

I figured I didn't have anything to lose, so I went out and bought a bag of topsoil. She ate three days later, and for the next two weeks. She was eating mice, but I decided to try a scented rat pup last night and she hit it immediately. :D

I'm not sure if it was just a coincidence that she started feeding again after I changed the substrate, or if it was the dirt itself. Either way, it might be something for you to consider if you have a problem feeder.

Sometimes, it's just a change that gets them going again.

Change is good!

Congrats! ;)

-adam

that's great news!!! congrats.

personally it makes sense to me that they would smell their 'home scent' and feel safer to eat. they are 'live' critters afterall.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

Sometimes, it's just a change that gets them going again.

Change is good!

Congrats! ;)

-adam

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Thanks. :) When she was eating back in October I changed the substrate from aspen to newspaper and I think that change might have been for the worse. Of course she punished me by going back on the fast even though I changed it back to Aspen. To make matters worse, I'm not even sure she's a female. The vet probed her about 5 scales deep. I guess I'll find out eventually...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

that's great news!!! congrats.

personally it makes sense to me that they would smell their 'home scent' and feel safer to eat. they are 'live' critters afterall.

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Yep, I think that must have something to do with it. I just hope I can get her back on a normal substrate as this dirt is... well... dirty! :rolleyes:

i would add some aspen to one corner of the viv... once you get her eating reg. again... and then slowly transfer her over to full aspen.