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What to expect in feeding

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  • 11-30-2013, 10:24 PM
    Wheatley
    What to expect in feeding
    Tomorrow is my first time feeding my snakes, Cave Johnson and Caroline.

    What do I expect? What do I do if they don't eat?
    I am excited too!

    I know it's short, may sound stupid..
  • 11-30-2013, 11:28 PM
    Physician&Snakes
    Re: What to expect in feeding
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Wheatley View Post
    Tomorrow is my first time feeding my snakes, Cave Johnson and Caroline.

    What do I expect? What do I do if they don't eat?
    I am excited too!

    I know it's short, may sound stupid..

    Step 1: Check husbandry.
    Step 2: Offer rodent warm
    Step 3: if you do not get an immediate strike just leave the prey in overnight, preferably this is done only with pre-killed prey however some will leave mice hoppers alone with their specimens.
    Step 4: if no takers in the morning then just wait a few days and try again.
  • 11-30-2013, 11:55 PM
    shadowsnakes
    Re: What to expect in feeding
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Physician&Snakes View Post
    Step 1: Check husbandry.
    Step 2: Offer rodent warm
    Step 3: if you do not get an immediate strike just leave the prey in overnight, preferably this is done only with pre-killed prey however some will leave mice hoppers alone with their specimens.
    Step 4: if no takers in the morning then just wait a few days and try again.

    Pretty much covers everything. I love the names you picked!
  • 12-01-2013, 12:00 AM
    Crazymonkee
    Re: What to expect in feeding
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Wheatley View Post
    Tomorrow is my first time feeding my snakes, Cave Johnson and Caroline.

    What do I expect? What do I do if they don't eat?
    I am excited too!

    I know it's short, may sound stupid..

    Are you feeding live or f/t?

    Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk
  • 12-01-2013, 01:32 AM
    NYHC4LIFE8899
    You feeding live or FT?

    snakes are diff.. My one guy takes anything,live or FT. My other wants nothing to do with FT,will only eat live....if your enclosure is set right,they will most likely eat, especially if live..if FT it can be hit or miss. If FT Make sure prey is fully defrosted and warmed up nicely
  • 12-01-2013, 07:33 AM
    Naom9Anne
    Everything has been covered for F/T but will differ if you are feeding live. I sometimes find it takes a bit of enticing and not an immediate strike, I've been known to sit wiggling the rat on the tongs for 10 mins before I've had a strike, by this point my hand had cramped on the tongs and I thought it was hopeless. I did get my strike though! :)

    I remember my first time feeding when I only had my one! I remember being so nervous but excited at the same time! My hand was shaking! I managed to perfectly thaw and heat the rodent, did the wiggle and my pastel wouldn't eat! It's not unusual for snakes to refuse feed initially due to the stress of a new home etc; on the other hand all of my others have eaten perfectly every time so you could have some fab eaters on your hands :) Let us know how it goes! I find more success feeding when it is dark personally :)
  • 12-01-2013, 10:22 AM
    Wheatley
    Re: What to expect in feeding
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Crazymonkee View Post
    Are you feeding live or f/t?

    Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk


    I am feeding f/t, yes. :)
  • 12-01-2013, 10:36 AM
    Crazymonkee
    Re: What to expect in feeding
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Wheatley View Post
    I am feeding f/t, yes. :)

    Some may take it more readily than others, you may have to the zombie dance, you may have to just leave it overnight... you will have to find the "trick" that works for each. Just make sure it's warmed up enough but not cooked. Good luck, let us know how it goes :)

    Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk
  • 12-01-2013, 02:14 PM
    MsGolightly
    I feed all my ball pythons live so my experience will differ from yours, but every snake is different. I remember my first feeding. I was very inexperienced and I just thought my snake would immediately strike and go for the mouse. It didn't end up going that way at all. I had to dangle the mouse for her for about 10 minutes or so for her to even strike. And once she did begin to eat it she go confused and was eating the tail end rather than the head and had to drag the mouse all over the box to get it how she wanted it. Definitely a learning experience for both of us.

    Now we have both gotten better and she is much quicker. But have fun! I love feeding night! Let us know how it goes!
  • 12-01-2013, 05:04 PM
    Crazymonkee
    Re: What to expect in feeding
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by MsGolightly View Post
    I feed all my ball pythons live so my experience will differ from yours, but every snake is different. I remember my first feeding. I was very inexperienced and I just thought my snake would immediately strike and go for the mouse. It didn't end up going that way at all. I had to dangle the mouse for her for about 10 minutes or so for her to even strike. And once she did begin to eat it she go confused and was eating the tail end rather than the head and had to drag the mouse all over the box to get it how she wanted it. Definitely a learning experience for both of us.

    Now we have both gotten better and she is much quicker. But have fun! I love feeding night! Let us know how it goes!

    It's never good to dangle live prey, just put in the enclosure and keep watch. A dangling mouse/rat is very dangerous for your snake. You want to just calmly put it in and it will really just explore the new surroundings and bam... snake strikes :)

    Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk
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