Re: What little thing am I missing that's preventing my bp from eating?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
starfire
07 14 2009 update: Just wanted to let you know that the plan is working... thanks to all of you. On feeding day this week, my snake ate another f/t large mouse. Most significantly, he had a strong feeding response. In my initial post I commented that last fall he was eating, but he would only eat if I left the f/t prey in the tub and closed it up overnight. Ditto for the sporadic meals he took this spring. However, yesterday he hit that dangling, jiggling mouse like a freight train and gave a mighty squeeze. First time I've seen interest like that since last summer. I'm encouraged.
The plan is working; that's two weeks in a row, and I will continue to proceed very s-l-o-w-l-y. Goal is to establish a solid eating pattern from week to week. A large mouse is just an amuse-bouche for an adult male bp, but a regular something beats a regular nothing every time.
Thank you for giving me an opportunity to share this good news. When you run down the street laughing and waving your arms, shouting "My snake ate! My snake ate!" people just point and stare---and you get written up by the HOA. This forum is much more forgiving.
Wonderful news! Exactly what I think we all hoped you'd post. Slow and steady, stick to simple routines, do what works for your particular snake - it's simple advice but often works out well. :)
Oh don't worry about being crazy happy about getting your snake feeding well. My husband and I have been known to tiptoe out of a room in order to dance around in the hallway, high fiving like crazy fools because a rescue just took it's first meal.
Re: What little thing am I missing that's preventing my bp from eating?
08 04 2009 Epilogue.... Just wanted to leave one last post to let you know that I have kept to the plan, and my snake continues to eat each week. For several more weeks, I offered a large f/t mouse every 7 days---with a strong feeding response. Then for the last two weeks, I've offered a f/t small rat each week, and each rat has been snatched, coiled, and gobbled. I know I don't have to tell any of you how satisfying and affirming it is to finally see your snake eat on a regular basis.
My snake continues to thrive in all other ways as discussed in earlier posts, and he's added weight, now at 1673g. So I'm quite content to ride the small rat wave. Yes, he ate mediums last year, but as long as he's eating, I'll feed him whatever he'll eat---period. Feeling a lot of love for the smalls right now.
I learned a great deal from this experience---specifically, that it's OK to reduce the size and type of the prey and essentially start over to re-establish a successful eating pattern.
Thanks to all of you for helping me through and teaching me for the future.
____
Star
