First feeding failed, double-checking my methods

I got my ball about 4-5 days ago. Last night was exactly 1 week since it had eaten for its breeder, so I tried a feeding (f/t... waited 'til lights out, and left it in overnight).

Rat was still there in the morning so I removed it and popped it back into the freezer.

The breeder feeds f/t rats, so this is what he was eating before, and the rat is the same weight/size as the ones he was being fed previously.

I was told that he was late to start feeding, but that once he started he's never had a problem.

He's still poking around his enclosure though, so I assume he's still settling in. I've read other posts regarding new snakes poking at doors, etc, and it doesn't seem like he's desperately trying to get out or too fixated on the door, more like he's trying to figure out what objects he can move and which he can't, and just generally exploring all around the enclosure.

He seems to have found a hide he likes, and spends all day in there (he has a total of 4, 2 larger ones, and 2 smaller ones, 1 of each on each side)

Basking temperature is 90F, cool side is 80F but usually drops to about 76F minimum at night (because the light, which produces some heat, is off). Perhaps I should add some insulation to keep the temperature up throughout the night? Or is this slight drop of the cool side at night tolerable? (the basking area stays at 90).

It's a PVC enclosure, so all sides except the front door are black.

Going to try feeding again in 2 days.

Any comments/suggestions?

Don't re feed the rat that wasn't eaten lastnight,

Another thing you could try is use a set of tongs and give slight movement of the rat in front of the snake.

You could also take him out and feed him in a separate tub

Thanks, I wasn't sure whether the rat would still be good or not and was actually looking that up now :)

I will not be moving him to a separate tub for feeding though.

I'd wait another 5 days to feed again. Keep it on a schedual. Offering to much could stress him out.

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Originally Posted by Tunechi

I'd wait another 5 days to feed again. Keep it on a schedual. Offering to much could stress him out.

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x2!

Offering two days after he refused will make him refuse again because you're freaking him out. Wait 5 days to a week, whatever your planned feeding day would be if he had eater.

X3

Also, are you holding him a lot? It took some of mine 2-3 weeks to settle in and eat. Duriing that time it was minimal handling. Good luck. :)

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it took mine a couple weeks to eat when I get them so I just wait a couple weeks now when I get a new one. They poke around the enclosure to just check boundaries and how far he can go. I feed in the same enclosure but I don't leave the rat overnight because once it gets to be the same temp as the ambient air he can't see it. I thaw mine with hot water to make them soft then dry them with a hair dryer to make them 100 degrees....it seems to work pretty well for me (except the one I have thats finicky and doesn't eat all the time.)

oh and I only try one a week if I offer and they don't want I throw the rat away (don't reuse) and wait another week. I feed on the same day every week.

Thanks, I'll wait longer for feeding.

No, I haven't handled him at all since he's new. I'm waiting to see that he's eating before I bother handling. Just changing his water and leaving him alone for the rest of the day.

I don't have a blow dryer though, I put the rat in a plastic bag and submerged it in hot water to warm it up. The blow dryer would probably be better though, I'll have to pick one up.

i had the same problem with mine when i first got him, took 2 weeks to realize he only wants live, try the f/t again if still nothing wait 5 days and throw a live one in there, my bp just sat over the top of the f/t and looked at it, but when i threw the live in there he instantly went for it

As I said, he was raised on f/t by the breeder, so I don't think he'd suddenly be holding out for live, but thanks for sharing your experience.! :)

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Originally Posted by Wiggy

I don't have a blow dryer though, I put the rat in a plastic bag and submerged it in hot water to warm it up. The blow dryer would probably be better though, I'll have to pick one up.

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That's probably it. If you don't have a heat lamp, you'll need to use the blow dryer to warm up the body and mostly the head. If it's hot enough they won't even really 'see' it so they won't eat. They're not interested in any prey that doesn't show up as 'live' to their heat pits. You don't need anything fancy, just something that'll end up producing hot air. Focus on the head, make sure the body is at least not cool to the touch.

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You don't need anything fancy, just something that'll end up producing hot air.

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If only it was election time :P

Yeah, I thaw my feeders with lukewarm water and when they no longer have any cold spots and feel soft and malleable, I take it out, hold it by the tail and blast it with the hairdryer for a minute or two. I usually do this last bit beside my tank, and within seconds, Lazy is out looking for his food :)

I tried the heat lamp method once, but he ended up striking the mid-section and then eating the feeder but first :P Now I stick to blasting the head with the blow dryer XD

Hope you get yours eating! :)

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Originally Posted by Wiggy

If only it was election time :P

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But it is! Set your rodent down in front of a TV turned on to a presidential candidate debate and you'll be all set in no time, ahaha. :P