"Braining"

So i came across this on a facebook group. Its apparently the practice of cracking open the skull of the dead rat and smearing a little of the brain matter around to supposedly entice more finicky ball pythons to eat. Ive never seen it described or mentioned here and wondering if anyone has seen/heard/used this practice. Sounds like a bit too much effort to me. Ill just let the guy miss a couple meals lol

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by OTorresUSMC

So i came across this on a facebook group. Its apparently the practice of cracking open the skull of the dead rat and smearing a little of the brain matter around to supposedly entice more finicky ball pythons to eat. Ive never seen it described or mentioned here and wondering if anyone has seen/heard/used this practice. Sounds like a bit too much effort to me. Ill just let the guy miss a couple meals lol

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

---

I would let her starve for that matter before messing with the poor thing brain. LOL

Never heard of it before anyway.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I brained F/T rats for my carpet python to get her switched from mice to rats. It worked awesome. You don't need to actually smear it around and stuff. Just use a sharp pocket knife and split the top of the skull so some brain is exposed.

And yes, braining is a known practice to get stubborn eaters to eat. Took 3 times before my carpet would just eat rats normal.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sauzo

I brained F/T rats for my carpet python to get her switched from mice to rats. It worked awesome. You don't need to actually smear it around and stuff. Just use a sharp pocket knife and split the top of the skull so some brain is exposed.

And yes, braining is a known practice to get stubborn eaters to eat. Took 3 times before my carpet would just eat rats normal.

---

The person talking about it apparently uses an Axe lol. I was like an axe to open a rat skull??? Seemed weird

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

Lol an axe sounds like overkill. Like I said, I just used my Benchmade pocket knife and just split the top of the skull. Didn't have to dig around or anything like that. Just split it and left it on a sheet of printer paper in the cage. My carpet sat on a perch all the time so she came down and checked it out and ate it. For a BP, i'd lay it kind of by the hide door but not directly in it. Give the BP room to come out and check it out. then just leave it there until the morning.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sauzo

Lol an axe sounds like overkill. Like I said, I just used my Benchmade pocket knife and just split the top of the skull. Didn't have to dig around or anything like that. Just split it and left it on a sheet of printer paper in the cage. My carpet sat on a perch all the time so she came down and checked it out and ate it. For a BP, i'd lay it kind of by the hide door but not directly in it. Give the BP room to come out and check it out. then just leave it there until the morning.

---

No kidding? I suppose maybe if one ever goes on a long hunger strike i might try that. Like i said for me personally i dont know if its worth the effort lol. I suppose might also be a good way to switch to. F/T if it works.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mike17

I would let her starve for that matter before messing with the poor thing brain. LOL

Never heard of it before anyway.

---

I get the sentiment, but I have to say this - I'd be willing to do ANYTHING before letting one of my animals starve.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Eric Alan

I get the sentiment, but I have to say this - I'd be willing to do ANYTHING before letting one of my animals starve.

---

Yeah me too, I was just kidding cause it is really gross


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's not as gory as it sounds. I have had to do it for a hognose that wouldn't eat. Just a quick slice with a razor blade and it did the trick


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm going to throw this out there although it may be wrong... From what I've heard and seen with my limited experience with troublesome ball pythons braining doesn't work. Sure it might work for a carpet or a hognose but I've never seen it work with a ball python and I've heard from others that it doesn't.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kxr

I'm going to throw this out there although it may be wrong... From what I've heard and seen with my limited experience with troublesome ball pythons braining doesn't work. Sure it might work for a carpet or a hognose but I've never seen it work with a ball python and I've heard from others that it doesn't.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

Interesting. The FB group i saw it being talked about in, the people were specifically addressing ball pythons. But its FB lol. Figured thats why Id ask here, see what people thought. I really dont think its something i would try unless the ball hadnt eaten in months and its health was in question or if i decided i wanted to switch to F/T. I dont really need to switch to F/T as i breed my own rats and always have live available. But if it works for people and they can stomach it more power to them i suppose lol.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by OTorresUSMC

Interesting. The FB group i saw it being talked about in, the people were specifically addressing ball pythons. But its FB lol. Figured thats why Id ask here, see what people thought. I really dont think its something i would try unless the ball hadnt eaten in months and its health was in question or if i decided i wanted to switch to F/T. I dont really need to switch to F/T as i breed my own rats and always have live available. But if it works for people and they can stomach it more power to them i suppose lol.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

---

Like I said I could easily be wrong lol I'm going off what I've heard from a few people and my experience with 2 maybe 3 animals that I've tried it on


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah, a small knife is quite sufficient. For not quite so stubborn snakes, squeezing the rodent to get some fresh (-er) blood from the nose can work, and feels less drastic.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I've done it before for finicky eaters. I take my feeding tongues and squeeze the skulls until it crushes. It works really well for difficult feeders if need be.

Yeah I've gotten snakes to take something they initially showed no interest in after braining it. There's no smearing the brain matter around though, that sounds like overly dramatic hyperbole lol. You just puncture the brain cavity. Can be done with a small knife or nail.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lizardlicks

Yeah I've gotten snakes to take something they initially showed no interest in after braining it. There's no smearing the brain matter around though, that sounds like overly dramatic hyperbole lol. You just puncture the brain cavity. Can be done with a small knife or nail.

---

Was it with a ball python?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I wonder what it is about brain that makes snakes more receptive, is it just blood and organ smell or is the brain special or something?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ja88er

I wonder what it is about brain that makes snakes more receptive, is it just blood and organ smell or is the brain special or something?

---

Snakes are distantly related to zombies. It is known.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kxr

Was it with a ball python?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

Yup, couple different ones, too.

I sure hope it never comes to that. Crossing my fingers.

I usually brain my rats for Serket. Sometimes she's so slow in getting to eating them that they've cooled down too much for her to find them by heat, but she can smell the brained ones fine and slurp them down. It's not any kind of big deal, or hassle, just one extra step that takes hardly a couple seconds, and there's no noticeable smell increase to a person.

I just tried braining my picky boys mouse to see if he'd take. He's been on a feeding strike since December when I started pairing him up. He's only lost 10-20g in that time and none after the first month, so I'm nit worried at all. But I offered the mouse the first time before cracking the skull open, he just ignored it. As soon as I cracked it open he popped right out and chased it a bit. But he wouldn't commit. It's still a step in the right direction. I think it's due to me warming in a bowl of hot water, and the heat dissipates very quickly due to being wet. They go from 105-110* down to 80* in just a couple minutes. So I'm going to change my warming method for him since I physically can't run back and forth to the sink to warm it at the moment, plus each warming washes away some scent. The others don't care if the rodents are wet.

I think braining is worthwhile to keep in your bag of tricks, and is very easy to do and not messy at all.

Kyle


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kroberts10

I just tried braining my picky boys mouse to see if he'd take. He's been on a feeding strike since December when I started pairing him up. He's only lost 10-20g in that time and none after the first month, so I'm nit worried at all. But I offered the mouse the first time before cracking the skull open, he just ignored it. As soon as I cracked it open he popped right out and chased it a bit. But he wouldn't commit. It's still a step in the right direction. I think it's due to me warming in a bowl of hot water, and the heat dissipates very quickly due to being wet. They go from 105-110* down to 80* in just a couple minutes. So I'm going to change my warming method for him since I physically can't run back and forth to the sink to warm it at the moment, plus each warming washes away some scent. The others don't care if the rodents are wet.

I think braining is worthwhile to keep in your bag of tricks, and is very easy to do and not messy at all.

Kyle


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

Try warming with a hair dryer, got the tip here, keeps a full scent and it is very easy to keep re-warming on site.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

For what it's worth ..
This method WORKS if done properly ...
I wait until evening as they're nocturnal of course . I let the rodent thaw out in the reptile room so they get the smell ..
Then I warm up the mouse / rat with a hairdryer and offer with tongs IMMEDIATELY whilst still warm . If refused simply repeat the heating and offering as many times as needed. .
A couple of mine will only strike feed from within their hides so I dangle the warm rodent in front of the hide's entrance - usually works but if it fails simply reheat the rodent with a hairdryer and immediately offer again whilst it's still warm , continue until it's grabbed ...
I always wait until evenings to feed as they're nocturnal of course .

Incidentally , if it shows no interest at all not even a tongue flicker maybe it's best to leave for a week or so.

I've got a single clutch incubator setup and ready to go, but no eggs. So I'll just set set it for about 105* and use it to warm up the feeders. Since I have no hair dryer, closest thing is a heat gun. And you have to be VERY careful with it, it'll immediately burn the rat if you get too close.

Kyle


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kroberts10

I've got a single clutch incubator setup and ready to go, but no eggs. So I'll just set set it for about 105* and use it to warm up the feeders. Since I have no hair dryer, closest thing is a heat gun. And you have to be VERY careful with it, it'll immediately burn the rat if you get too close.

Kyle


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

A heat mat is nearly as good if you have a spare lying around ..
You can defrost a few normally then put them on the heat mat to warm them just before feeding them ...






Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

This may have helped me get my boy on f/t. RBM had him on small live mice. First attempt he ignored it and I tossed it out a window to one of the neighborhood cats. Second attempt, I left it in the cage overnight and it was still there by morning, so mr kitty got another treat. Third attempt, I stuck a scalpel in the mouse's head and twisted it just a little and left it in the cage overnight, it was gone it the middle of the night when I woke up to use the bathroom. After that, he takes f/t right off the hemostats. His first rat this past Friday night got scented with a mouse, he took it right off the hemostat, mouse went to that cat. Now I have a f/t rat eating snake and an alley cat that stares at my window.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sneksNferts

Now I have a f/t rat eating snake and an alley cat that stares at my window.

---

LOL!!!! [emoji23]
This comment really made my day


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Braining has been around for a long time but I've never talked with someone who's done it. I've got a strong stomach and that's pretty disgusting. I'd rather cough up the extra 4$ for a gerbil than go opening up skulls. Balls go absolutely insane for gerbils. Ever since I learned about prions I can't say I'd be excited about playing around with brain matter.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The_Godfather

Braining has been around for a long time but I've never talked with someone who's done it. I've got a strong stomach and that's pretty disgusting. I'd rather cough up the extra 4$ for a gerbil than go opening up skulls. Balls go absolutely insane for gerbils. Ever since I learned about prions I can't say I'd be excited about playing around with brain matter.

---

It's really not a big deal guys, you don't see brain bits, or smell brain, or touch them, or anything. Just.... poke the head? Honestly.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lizardlicks

It's really not a big deal guys, you don't see brain bits, or smell brain, or touch them, or anything. Just.... poke the head? Honestly.

---

I'm sure there is a wide variety of ways people think is best to brain a rodent that run the entire spectrum of puncturing the skull to painting modern art on the cage walls.

Whatever is necessary obviously and it's lauded as being very effective.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lizardlicks

It's really not a big deal guys, you don't see brain bits, or smell brain, or touch them, or anything. Just.... poke the head? Honestly.

---

Why the brain by the way ??

Why not the heart / stomach ??

I think the brain must have some sort of odor that's hard for them to resist. Maybe it's some genetic desire for certain food items like we have. Where we crave fats and carbs since they are a concentrated fuel source. Maybe them smelling brain, is like us smelling doughnuts, we just can't help ourselves. Since a brain is mostly fatty tissue and a concentrated fuel source. Brain tissue is also used as a base material in several canine trapping scents, with good results. So there must be something that's irresistible to a variety of animals. And all you need is the scent to make it work.

Kyle


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Zincubus

Why the brain by the way ??

Why not the heart / stomach ??

---

I think braining may be the easiest. Not a lot of thought needs to go into it...just a quick slice down the head. The heart would require a little more thought and I would imagine that if the stomach was cut, you risk cutting into the rest of the GI tract, which could get messy and gross. Plus the brain stays held in place by the skull. A big slice to the body and things would start to fall out and be messy.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ohhh the intricacies of exotic pet ownership lol.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

Oh thought i would also point out i did give this a shot, none of my snakes partook of the "brained" animal. Two investigated closely and seemed intrigued but ultimately left it be. One of these males is currently in my breeding program so that could be a factor but my first attempt a failure just the same.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by EmilyandArlo

I think braining may be the easiest. Not a lot of thought needs to go into it...just a quick slice down the head. The heart would require a little more thought and I would imagine that if the stomach was cut, you risk cutting into the rest of the GI tract, which could get messy and gross. Plus the brain stays held in place by the skull. A big slice to the body and things would start to fall out and be messy.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

Interesting.

It's not something I've ever needed to do thankfully ....


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk