Refused first meal

I defrosted an f/t hopper mouse on a table only a foot from the cage, heated it to 102 and tried to dance it around the cage abit...she didn't come out so I...probably foolishly uncovered her.


She seemed interested but nervous. I could tell by her breathing she was tense. A little scared of the mouse when it touched her. A few times I thought she was about to take it but she didn't.


I left it at an entrance to one of her hides. The temps are much better today since I picked up a zoo med rheostat as a temporary fix.


I was really hoping she'd have a healthy feeding response. I wonder If I messed with her to much.

In my opinion (if your speaking of a hatchling ball python) touching the snake with the hopper might have messed you up. In my experience (i feed all live prey) first time feeders rarely let a hopper mouse come in contact with them before they attempt a feeding strike. If they do get touched by a hopper mouse they feel like they have been ambushed, remain timid and wont feed that attempt. If you insist on feeding f/t i would not unhide the snake at all cost and never force the hopper closer than 2-3 inches of the snake. Let the snake come to the prey. Good luck and happy herping. P.S. I dont find it difficult to switch live eaters (as neonates) to f/t using hemostats to feed with. That live factor might help your b/p kick off with a good feeding response. :gj: happy herping.

I did use a set of rubber tipped forceps.


From now on though I won't unhide her or touch her with it. Poor thing I wanted to do something right for her for once.



Think she might eat it if I leave it overnight? Or should I just refreeze it?


Thanks for your help!

I would leave it in over night. Once a f/t has been thawed, most people throw it away, something about it continuing to decay (I can't remember since I mostly feed live).

You're gonna have to find out how she wants to eat. My female won't take p/k or f/t unless I uncover her, drop it in there and cover her cage. She used to not be so picky, but recently she has been.

Good luck!

I was always told Ball's were picky, but I was hoping since she was young I could talk her in to f/t.


I just hate the thought of feeding live, if it comes to it I will. I don't even know where to get them though. Should I wait a whole nother week to offer again if she doesn't eat?

That's what I would do. You'll probly be able to convert her to f/t, sometimes it just takes a little more elbow grease than we expected.

Feeding live really isn't that bad, yeah, you'll feel bad for the mouse. But, you will feel so good about your snake eating it will overcome it. If it makes it any easier, my BF has made me say thank you to the mouse/rat before I offer it off.

I would feel very bad for the mouse, especially if she didn't take it and I was stuck looking at a future meal wondering what to do with it.


But yes right now I'd be happy just to have her eat. I hope I can get her to enjoy f/t. Maybe I should try splitting the head or putting a little tunafish on it.

Sorry if you have already told me before but when did you get this snake?

Don't be disappointed if she didn't eat her first meal with you. It is common. Don't think that f/t is out of the question now. Wait one week and try again.

Did you pre-scent before offering the food to her? I usually just blow dry the head of the feeder in the same room as the snake. The heat from the blow dryer makes the smell very strongly.

Next time, wait for her to poke out of her hide a little bit before putting the mouse in front of her so you know she is ready. Keep the lights off in the room.

Oooh the lights were on. I keep forgetting they are nocturnal!

I got her yesterday but the breeder fed her every sunday and suggested trying today might not hurt.


I blow dryed it over the vents and on the table next to it until it was 102*

I'll wait for her to emerge next time. I hate uncovering her as I know it makes her tense.

This was the first time I did it on purpose. In hopes she'd be enticed.


Fingers crossed she will eat it overnight. If not I suppose I will let her alone all week,(Aside from temp checks), and see if she will take a prescented hopper next week.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Seru1

Oooh the lights were on. I keep forgetting they are nocturnal!

I got her yesterday but the breeder fed her every sunday and suggested trying today might not hurt.


I blow dryed it over the vents and on the table next to it until it was 102*

I'll wait for her to emerge next time. I hate uncovering her as I know it makes her tense.

This was the first time I did it on purpose. In hopes she'd be enticed.


Fingers crossed she will eat it overnight. If not I suppose I will let her alone all week,(Aside from temp checks), and see if she will take a prescented hopper next week.

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ok well generally we tell people to leave their snake completely alone for a week before handling or feeding.

She isn't adjusted to her environment yet, don't sweat it. Offer again next week and she will probably take it just fine.

Yeah I thought it was to early to. I know how important a good acclimation can be. I guess I was just hoping she would take it. And trying to follow advice.


Is it still okay to check her temps? I don't think I have them totally right yet. Plus I have some smaller tighter hides coming in monday and I was thinking of replacing hers with those. as she doesn't seem terribly snug in the 8 inch flower pots.

yeah its always best to get the enclosesure set up a week before you pick up your new snake.

there can be all sorts of probs and extra things you may want to change that can be done before your new family member arrives.

Thats what i did and mine smashed the first mouse offerred after just three days in his tub.

Oh and P.s. Once a mouse has been thawed its best to throw it away if its not eaten within an hour or so. Re-freezing is not best practise as the mouse would have already started to decay.

Jim

Thanks jim, luckily for me I left it overnight and she ate it. But yes I really should have preset up the cage.

No worries we have all been there and done that. we were all newbies at one stage.

You will definately prepare next time im sure

Regards

Jim

Most definatly!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Seru1

Oooh the lights were on. I keep forgetting they are nocturnal!

I got her yesterday but the breeder fed her every sunday and suggested trying today might not hurt.


I blow dryed it over the vents and on the table next to it until it was 102*

I'll wait for her to emerge next time. I hate uncovering her as I know it makes her tense.

This was the first time I did it on purpose. In hopes she'd be enticed.


Fingers crossed she will eat it overnight. If not I suppose I will let her alone all week,(Aside from temp checks), and see if she will take a prescented hopper next week.

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leave your snake alone in his place for 2-3 days. Don't touch it ...
if your snake is still a baby, he might be need to be more secure. Put papers on your tank so he can hide. if you feed him, try to put inside the tank and leave it and stay away from that. May be a little dim light could be good ...

if the snake didn't touch it .... just leave him alone for a week. it should be okay not to eat for a week.

Having just bought that animal Saturday.. I'd give it a good week to 10 days before offering food.. Remember it's been boxed up, bounced from GA to AL put on a show table for 8 hours, handled, poked prodded, boxed up, taken home, put in new enviroment, and had a rat shoved in its face..

Give the little one a chance to relax, Then offer some food..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Elise.m

That's what I would do. You'll probly be able to convert her to f/t, sometimes it just takes a little more elbow grease than we expected.

Feeding live really isn't that bad, yeah, you'll feel bad for the mouse. But, you will feel so good about your snake eating it will overcome it. If it makes it any easier, my BF has made me say thank you to the mouse/rat before I offer it off.

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DITTO. My BP refused F/T for a month in a row...i offered it live and snapped it right up.

Poor little guy, didn't even see it coming... don't feel bad about feeding live though, cause the rat and mouse population of the world exceeds that of humans at least by about a million times, LOL. Sure, most of them are cute, that's why i don't mess around with them, or even look at them before i put them in the cage. LOL.

then again..when i get bit by the feeder as i'm putting it in the cage...i dont feel bad at all, and if they draw blood, i even stay and watch. LOL. ---> not that i'm one of those sickos that gets a kick out of the mouse dying or anything like that...
in reality i watch cause it's MY fault the mouse is going to die, i'm not a hypocrite who drops it in and looks away like it's not his fault.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

Having just bought that animal Saturday.. I'd give it a good week to 10 days before offering food.. Remember it's been boxed up, bounced from GA to AL put on a show table for 8 hours, handled, poked prodded, boxed up, taken home, put in new enviroment, and had a rat shoved in its face..

Give the little one a chance to relax, Then offer some food..

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She did end up taking it over night but your right ed. Since that experience I have left her be, only opened the cage to scan temps.


It makes me mad at myself cause you know I have read about acclimation alot. I know it's important. But I goobered out and did this stuff anyway. My brain don't work right.

I'm gonna leave her alone...aside from temp checks...till sunday when I offer another item. Maybe she'll take this one with a good strike if I try to feed at night in the dim light and don't uncover her or touch her with it.