Going for the kill...but that's it

Thanks for the advice.
I recently graduated her to regular mice. She was hatched in September 2013, so she is not really a baby anymore. I like to put her in a 5 gallon bucket to feed her. I play a little tug of war and then leave her alone for 10 minutes. She usually eats it or drops it by then. Her enclosure temps and humidity are within nominal ranges.

I will try again in another day or two and make her eating area dark after she kills. I will let you guys know if she takes or refuses again.

Leave her in her enclosure and feed her. No need to move her. That's probably your problem. She's probably stressed.

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Originally Posted by Greengirl

Thanks for the advice.
I recently graduated her to regular mice. She was hatched in September 2013, so she is not really a baby anymore. I like to put her in a 5 gallon bucket to feed her. I play a little tug of war and then leave her alone for 10 minutes. She usually eats it or drops it by then. Her enclosure temps and humidity are within nominal ranges.

I will try again in another day or two and make her eating area dark after she kills. I will let you guys know if she takes or refuses again.

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Agreeing with DooLittle posted above, try feeding in the enclosure rather than stressing her by moving her. Like I said, med. mice sound awfully small to me. I have a corn snake eating something about that size or larger, and she's no where near the weight of my small-for-size ball python hatched in July. But then again, you haven't yet mentioned the weights of your mice or ball python.

Definitely feed in the enclosure like DooLittle said. Feed her where she lives since she's most comfortable there. Also how are you thawing your f/t rodents? Once you feed in her enclosure, if she drops it again I would leave it in there for a while to see if she will eat it once she feels completely safe. I remember accidentally scaring my bp when she was eating and she dropped it but after I left the room for a while and came back she was gobbling it down. So once you feed, especially since your feeding f/t, you can just leave the room and wait and come back a while later to see if she's eating. If not I've also had success with heating it back up with a hair dryer which is why I was asking about your thawing method. Hope this is helpful, and I hope we can get her chowing down! 😊


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Thanks everyone. But I'm a little surprised to hear your advice about feeding her in her home. I was told by many people not to do that so she doesn't accidentally think my hand is food and bite me as I reach in to hold her. But if you all say it is ok, I will give it a shot.

I warm the mice up by pulling them out of the freezer and thaw them in the fridge from the morning until I get home from work. Then I warm up some water and soak the mouse for a few moments so the body is nice and warm. Then I dry it off a bit, and then she pounces within seconds of dangling it in front of her. Her strike reflex has never failed. She just stopped eating. Does this thawing method sound reasonable?

Many if not dang near all of us have been told in the begining to not feed in their home for that reason. Its not true! Moving and handling your snake before feeding could be adding stress to her pryor to eating. Plus you can have a better chance of getting bit trying to move her back to her home due to being in feeding mode.

She ate just fine over the weekend. I still put her in her bucket but I put a towel over it and turned off the lights. Thanks for all the advice.

Glad she ate for you. I know it has been said but c'mon......would you rather eat on the couch watching a favorite movie all snug or secure or would you rather eat in a bucket but a towell over your head?

I'm glad she finally came around to eat for you!! :D and your method sounds fine for thawing.


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