First Feed

I am about to feed my bp his first meal since I got him two weeks ago. I picked up some F/T fuzzy rats (this is what he had been feeding on prior to his residence with me). Is there anything special I need to know, other than thawing out the rats, or using tongs? Thanks in advance.

Jeremy

Well, I guess my question to you is, do you know how to thaw the rats appropriately? I couldn't tell if you were asking how to, or...? I think all there is to know is make sure you leave him alone for at least 48 hours after he eats, to ensure he will digest properly (and make sure he has a hide on the warm side of the tank).

Good luck feeding.
Jennifer

i always thawed by placing the rodent in a zip lock, and putting the zip lock in hot water for about 20 minutes.

I didn't know for sure, so I remembered reading somewhere to put it in a ziplock bag in warm water. That is exactly what I did. Thanks for the help. I am going to give it a few more minutes and then see if he'll eat. Wish me luck.

Jeremy

That's how I have always done it, as well, Will.

Good luck.

then you open the bag and smell the horror. :twisted:

Well...he doesn't seem to be interested in eating right now. I had the fuzzy rat ready to go. Got it in with some forceps and moved it around. He seemed interested at first. He moved towards it and then just went to the other side of his cage. I have left it in there for now in hopes he will change his mind. Would it be bad to leave it in over night?

Quote:

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Would it be bad to leave it in over night?

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It is if you want to refreeze. You don't have much time to get it back in the freezer. An hour of sitting is on the long side IMO. I don't feed f/t anymore.......tried it, my bp accepted it, but I prefer the fresh killed method myself. I just stick the rat in a bag and smack it against a door frame.....preferably just to stun the bejesus out of it rather than actually finish it off-leave it twitching, in other words. That way I know the body temp is perfect and if it still draws breath, then great. If he decides not to take it, then I would freeze it for one more attempt before pitching.
Works for me, yours may behave differently....
Great avatar by the way :wink:

Since the food was rejected, how long should I wait till I try to feed him again? Thanks,

Jeremy

If they refuse, I wait a week to try again.

As a potential f/t rat feeder, I'd love to have wizill elaborate on "smell the horror." :shock:
Thanks,

K

Try it out........
They get a wee bit gamey! Put off a funk all thier own......
MMMmmmmmmmm.....rat funk

Ah, but it smells like steak to a hungry BP!

One more question. I have handled him one time in the two weeks that I have had him. Should I wait till he eats his first meal before I start trying to handle him again? Thanks again,

Jeremy

Three days after he eats you should be able to. But not before that. If you stress him, he could regurgitate............now that's a pretty thing to see and smell!

Bet that's pretty! I actually meant that since he didn't take the rat, is it ok for me to handle him now or wait till the 3 days after he has eaten his first meal?......Whenever that may be.

LOL, you can probably take him out for 10 or 15 minutes. If he seems freaked, put him back. If not, enjoy your animal! He'll groove on the heat your hands are throwing and some nice mellow handling in a not too bright area will help him love you for the nice warm tree that you are! Take a little time to get to know him and read his body language. You'll know if he wants to get away are just rope around your hands and arms for some heat. I believe that if you do handle them often, they won't link your fingers as a threat or worse yet food. How much is too much? They'll usually tell you. Try 15 minutes at the later part of the day or evening. I seem to remember you saying you've had him for a few months now, right? If thats the case he's not a new arrival anymore so I don't see why you can't handle him. Sounds like he's just sending his dinner back to the cook! I doubt he'll starve, when he's hungry he'll eat. Can you post pics of your setup? That and temp/humid info would help any of us to assist you better.

I have only had him for two weeks today actually. I just always have to make sure things are perfect. I'm weird like that. Almost obsessive. I have gotten the humidity to stay between 50-60%. Thanks to some help on here, I put duct tape on half of the screen cover and it helped to bring the humidity up. During the day I keep the warm side at 87-90 and the cool side at 80-82. At night warm side at 82-85 and cool side at 75-78. He has been staying on the cool side a lot lately. He is now rubbing his head on his back. Almost like it was itching. I may be crazy but, I think he is going into shed. He has gotten very active all of the sudden this evening. And I still have his heat lamp on. I haven't noticed him getting that hazy look. He keeps rubbing his head on things. His hide and such. Should I mist the cage to get the humidity up? Sorry, I am new to all of this. So every little thing is pretty exciting.

yeah went back and re-read first post. two weeks. oops....read too many forums, details get sketchy....

Yup, I'd say most likely he's shedding. Explains the lack of interest in eating, anyway. Gotta get humidity to high sixty low seventy range. you can mist, give humid hides (look in DIY) and soak.... warm low to mid 80's on the water temp should be alright. Some people put them in lidded rubbermaids with maybe 2 inches or so of water. Or in the tub. Or a lid on your water bowl with a hole in it so snake can soak and hide.........love to hide and conspire..........
Hope this helps....and don't worry, LOL being obsessive and constantly checking environmental conditions are essential in proper bp care IMO :wink:

Monty has been doing some shedding. He also peed and pooped. He has had a big day. Ha! I sprayed the cage to get the humidity up to 75%. I know a lot of people probably have named their bp's Monty, but I must say it is a great name. Anyway, I just want to say thanks to everyone for all of your help.

Jeremy