Still not Feeding

Hey guys,

If it isn't a little obvious, I know Zargoon in RL :P.

Here is the situation: I've been trying to help him get this lil guy to feed for the last two months. The original issue was that the BP was living with another BP for a while, however, he relocated him to an 8 qt tub. He has two hides that are a perfect fit, a water bowl, and the temps and humidity are spot on (88-90 on hot, 78-80 on cool, 55% + humidity). He also keeps the tub in a dark room, and covers it with a towel. The reason he was trying small food items was because the other food item he had available was a 25g rat pup and was worried it was too big because the snake seemed terrified of it (its a F/T no worries).

After he moved him into his new tub he waited a full week w/o handling then offered a fuzzy, then did the same the next week. He's been really great about not handling/touching/checking too frequently on his tub. Should he offer the rat pup? Or attempt to get a different food item?

And furthermore... if the snake doesn't take a food item still... is it time to assist feed?

Cheers,
Fatal

I would go with a live mouse. A small adult. That little one should take it no problem. Here is what I do with my stubborn feeders. Get a mouse from the store and have them throw a little mouse stinky bedding in with it. Set the box with the mouse in it on top of the bp's tub in the afternoon. With a few hours of prescenting he should get into feed mode with a quickness.

Is he hiding when your friend checks on him, or roaming the cage? Have you considered having a fecal test to rule out parasites?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by stratus_020202

I would go with a live mouse. A small adult. That little one should take it no problem. Here is what I do with my stubborn feeders. Get a mouse from the store and have them throw a little mouse stinky bedding in with it. Set the box with the mouse in it on top of the bp's tub in the afternoon. With a few hours of prescenting he should get into feed mode with a quickness.

Is he hiding when your friend checks on him, or roaming the cage? Have you considered having a fecal test to rule out parasites?

---

Hmm we were trying to avoid going for live... but I guess we don't have a whole lot of options left. He roams a bit at night, but for the most part he lies around in or out of the hides. We would LOVE to check him for parasites... but he hasn't pooped in over 2 and a half months on account of no food so... :confused:

Cheers,
Fatal

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fataltix

Hmm we were trying to avoid going for live... but I guess we don't have a whole lot of options left. He roams a bit at night, but for the most part he lies around in or out of the hides. We would LOVE to check him for parasites... but he hasn't pooped in over 2 and a half months on account of no food so... :confused:

Cheers,
Fatal

---

Oh. I see. I would definately go with live. I always do in young ones, and newbies. Unless, I know they are eating f/t. The first priority is to get him to eat, and live should jump start his instinct. Especially a smelly mouse. If that works, get him gaining a good fat weight, and then try and switch him.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by stratus_020202

Oh. I see. I would definately go with live. I always do in young ones, and newbies. Unless, I know they are eating f/t. The first priority is to get him to eat, and live should jump start his instinct. Especially a smelly mouse. If that works, get him gaining a good fat weight, and then try and switch him.

---

Thanks! We'll do that for sure. In case he doesn't eat the mouse... do we kill it and freeze it? Or should we buy some food for it?

Cheers,
Fatal

I would offer something live as well. A smelly mouse or softfur rat. They seem to like those things that bounce around a lot. Rat pups don't move enough to get the prey drive going in a picky eater.

Forgot to mention. If you are feeding live prey, leave some mouse food in the snakes enclosure if you are leaving it in there over night. Don't want the little mouse to get hungry and munch on your snake.