Feeding night angst!

Why is it some nights everything seems to go wrong? First I don't normally do a quick thaw in hot water but I lost track of time this afternoon and forgot to take out 4 weaned rats for tonight. Then the ziplock bag they were soaking in leaked and filled with water. :tears: I really hate it when they get wet as I heat them with a hair drier which fills the room with the smell of wet rat. :mad: Then to top it all off the first rat I feed explodes! Yippee, now I can add the smell of exploded rat guts to the wet rat smell. :rage::rage::rage:

Ok rant over, at least all 4 ate with no other problems.

Anyone else have rants or pet peeves about feeding night?

Mine isn't eating right now so there's that.

I hate when I forget to change the water (we have to thaw them in the fridge) and they cool down.

It kind of bugs me when mine takes forever to find the head or tries to eat it tail-end first.

My Pied is off food since January so I can sort of relate, I know it's not time to panic yet or even remotely close but it's still annoying.

DVirginiana, I know what you mean about frustrating eaters. If you ever want to feel better about trying to feed picky eaters watch the youtube video's by Viperkeeper. At least our snakes aren't trying to kill us!

I'd rather go through that than have none of my snakes eat again like my last feeding attempt :tears:

Sounds like you've had a rough one and in need of a cold one! LOL

Lately (last two feedings) one of my pastel females, who also just happens to be my best eater, has refused. Although I'm hoping it's a good sign as I've been pairing her since November, so the abnormal feeding issue along with the fact that when I paired her earlier this week she sat on the same male she has been locking with and would not allow him to mate her .... Maybe I will see an ovy soon :please:

I had my first regurge last week :O ... Let me tell ya .... I wouldn't wish that upon anybody!!

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Originally Posted by T_Sauer

I had my first regurge last week :O ... Let me tell ya .... I wouldn't wish that upon anybody!!

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Yeah, I haven't had that pleasure yet, I'm sure it's not much fun!

I always had boas of all kinds ( BCI, BCC, BCA, BCO, Etc. ) young get my point. rainbows, dumerils. Then I started with balls. Always was just a obsever, than I joined the form. All six of mind were eating like clock work. I used to think why is everybody having trouble. It wasn't like the wild caught balls you would get in the nineties. But then it started. It's never more than a month, but now I feel everyone's pain. So now I learned only to defrost 2 at a time. I got strikers, I got casual I get around to it eaters. And let me sleep on it eaters. But I think these guys might just be my favorite, but I would'nt might if they had that boa appetite.

Each of mine have only eaten once since the end of November.....how long to wait before I start getting nervous?

Have you been tracking their weights? Also when you say each of mine, how many are you talking about? If you mean two or perhaps three it could be coincidence but if you're talking about more then it may be something with your husbandry, like perhaps your temps are too low or something else is off.

I have two and yes I have been tracking their weights...
Jack
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...bf0b912f91.jpg
Rockey
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...d2474535f4.jpg
Jack
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...2d84c92f08.jpg
Rockey
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...913f919713.jpg

I have them in an AP T8. Belly heat with heat tape and each have RHP...both set up to a herpstat 2. Temps are right on and I havent changed anything.....if they are fasting for winter....when do they usually start eating regular again? I never had this problem last winter......very frustrating!!

Here is my SOP for refusals. 1. Check for signs of impending shed, ie pink belly, cloudy eyes, general dull appearance. 2. Double check husbandry- temps, humidity, and whatever. If those 2 check out, I usually just chalk it up to a bp being a bp. Last year half my collection went off feed within a couple weeks, and some of the rest became inconsistent feeders. Ended up having to wholesale a bunch of rats because my freezer was full and nobody was eating. And there's only so much 2 boas and a blood can eat. And I've had fasting go for anywhere from a couple months to 8, with 3-4 seeming to be about normal.

Intersting, it does sound like your husbandry is perfect and you've been doing a good job recording their weights. I go through a similar set of steps when something seems off. I've noticed a couple of mine are very active if I'm in the room, even during the day. Yesterday they were no where to be seen so when I checked on them last night they were both in blue so that explained their absence. Sounds like perhaps your snakes have just hit the dreaded wall and decided they don't want to eat for a while. There are lots of threads here on picky eaters, I've tried several ideas with some working and others not.
Out of curiosity what are you using to track your weights & feedings? It looks like the weights are in grams but 900 grams is only 31 ounces?

Well....I convert grams to pounds.......I think of oz. as liquid.???... I use a kitchen scale to weigh them.

Oh I think I understand now....duh....I use the app "time to feed"

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Originally Posted by BrandyL1193

Well....I convert grams to pounds.......I think of oz. as liquid.???... I use a kitchen scale to weigh them.

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LOL I was thinking of something else. I track mine in grams too but use Reptile Scan (reptiscan) to track them. Really should have had more of my coffee before trying to write something coherently.
:rolleye2:

:gj:

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Originally Posted by BrandyL1193

I have them in an AP T8. Belly heat with heat tape and each have RHP...both set up to a herpstat 2. Temps are right on and I havent changed anything.....if they are fasting for winter....when do they usually start eating regular again? I never had this problem last winter......very frustrating!!

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Well, don't get frustrated get busy. By that I mean after the non feeding continues for over 1 month, try switching from f/t to live. If already on live switch to f/t and in both cases try a smaller prey item. Change feeding interval to more extended time frame also. This is normal bp behavior especially if the husbandry is spot on. BTW, nice record keeping! Stay in peace and not pieces.:gj:

So, monty always strikes. Without fail. Tonight being feeding night, I did the zombie jig, and when she struck, she got a huge mouthful of substrate. Now she is completely disinterested in the rat, after swallowing a mouse sized mouthful of substrate.. Should I grab the rat with tongs, heat him back up and try again?

Answer coming a little late I know but that is what I do, just reheat and present it again.

I just pointed the no contact thermometer at the rat, through the glass. It caught her attention and she ate.

Ha, too funny. I use tubs in racks so I can't try it. Kinda bummed. :(

Forgot to mention I had a rat pup explode tonight. :mad:

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Originally Posted by C2tcardin

Ha, too funny. I use tubs in racks so I can't try it. Kinda bummed. :(

Forgot to mention I had a rat pup explode tonight. :mad:

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You can pull the tub and open it. Get his or her attention on the laser, and she will follow. I think at least.