Feeding problems?

Hi! So, Thursday night I went to feed May (Going on my 5-day, 3-fuzzy schedule. She's on f/t.) and she struck but missed it. After a few minutes she seemed to lose interest in it and so I just set it in there for her to take. After almost an hour she still hadn't eaten it and had completely lost interest. I tried again the next day, and she struck, but got a face full of Eco-Earth! She couldn't close her mouth and had a big ball if it in there. I took her out and used a clean card to get under her jaw and slowly managed to remove it all. I attempted to feed her again, but like I expected she didn't. Next day she had no interest in it. But yesterday (Sunday) she was very interested and missed the first time, and the second time she struck got another mouth full of Eco-Earth. I did the same thing with her card, and after she was clean, I set her in an empty 10gal I had and tried to feed her in there. (It was 12:30 at night, I was just trying to get her to eat so I could go to sleep) She didn't take it, so I threw the fuzzy away and put her back. I'm going to try again tonight though. Any suggestions? What did I do wrong/right? Thank you!

Well I don't have the problem of getting substrate in the mouth because I use paper towels (Firnen also seems to think that he's a tree python and strikes from his hammock lol), but I've heard that other people place a piece of paper in the enclosure before feeding so that the snake doesn't get substrate in its mouth

Yea, I think I'm going to have to go back to feeding in tubs :upset:

Stop trying to feed her so often. That could be part of the problem. If she refuses, just let her be and try again on the next scheduled day. You don't want to set her up on a "pattern of refusal" so to speak.

As far as why the missing part may be happening, make sure the fuzzy is in the 100°F range (live rat body temp) when you warm it up. If it's much cooler than that they won't be able to dial-in their strike as accurately as they normally would and their aim will seem to be off. It also helps to make sure the head of the prey item is the warmest part.

As for the schedule, when I purchased her she was very underweight. She's still getting there, so I'm still feeding her more often to get her weight up:gj: But you're right! I didn't think if the temp if the mouse! I'll pay attention to that! Thank you! But should I not attempt tonight? Like you said, I don't want to set the pattern of refusal :P

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Originally Posted by GpBp

As for the schedule, when I purchased her she was very underweight. She's still getting there, so I'm still feeding her more often to get her weight up:gj: But you're right! I didn't think if the temp if the mouse! I'll pay attention to that! Thank you! But should I not attempt tonight? Like you said, I don't want to set the pattern of refusal :P

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Don't. Snakes do not need to be fattened up quickly. Take it slow, get them on a schedule and feed appropriate sized prey. No need to bulk up a snake right away, they are not Olympic weight lifters.

If your snake refuses prey, feed next scheduled day. Never try and force feed the next day. People make this mistake every time with snakes. Just keep on a schedule and don't deviate.

Ok... I followed what people told me by the schedule... I mean, she was 65g when I got her at almost a year! It's only been 2 feedings. I won't feed her tonight, but I feel I should stay on the schedule.

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Originally Posted by GpBp

Ok... I followed what people told me by the schedule... I mean, she was 65g when I got her at almost a year! It's only been 2 feedings. I won't feed her tonight, but I feel I should stay on the schedule.

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Oh my. Another one. 65 grams at a year? Really? Whoever you got that from should not be selling animals.

Has it ever eaten for you? what do you mean by 3-fuzzy? three fuzzy what?

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Originally Posted by JodanOrNoDan

Oh my. Another one. 65 grams at a year? Really? Whoever you got that from should not be selling animals.

Has it ever eaten for you? what do you mean by 3-fuzzy? three fuzzy what?

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Ugh yeah. 65 ):\ She's eaten for me twice, and shes on fuzzy mice. Which is the equivalent to a mouse hopper. I would be giving her hoppers, but I bought a 25pc of fuzzys [emoji19] Gotta put em to use!

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When my boy was little and clumsy I had a section of flat rock that was in front of his main hide that I would feed him on so he couldn't roll it in the bedding first. Now that he's older I don't worry about it since he rarely gets any mulch on his food. It helps if the prey is absolutely dry when offered

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Originally Posted by Crowfingers

When my boy was little and clumsy I had a section of flat rock that was in front of his main hide that I would feed him on so he couldn't roll it in the bedding first. Now that he's older I don't worry about it since he rarely gets any mulch on his food. It helps if the prey is absolutely dry when offered

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Thats a great idea! Ill have to do that! And I guess the mouse has always been a little damp, thawing in hot water. Ill make sure its as dry as possible [emoji2]

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Thaw it out in a baggie

The first thing I noticed is also that you are offering too often, lessens her chance of eating. I would offer every 3 days for her size.

How are you offering the prey? Hanging by the tail? It's easiest to get them to aim properly if you hold the prey by the scruff of the neck and stick the nose right in their faces.

IMO, if the snake is really that starved, and won't eat, it is time to feed live. This is how they are programmed to eat for millions of years. The snake could starve, just buy a live appropriate sized rodent, (after waiting a few days as the others have said). and throw it in there. Nature will take its course. I find feeding live increases their response 100fold. (that being said I still feed thawed, purely too save money, since I buy in bulk. If I was a large breeder, I would breed my own rodents and feed live all the time.)

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

The first thing I noticed is also that you are offering too often, lessens her chance of eating. I would offer every 3 days for her size.

How are you offering the prey? Hanging by the tail? It's easiest to get them to aim properly if you hold the prey by the scruff of the neck and stick the nose right in their faces.

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Feed every 3 days? Ok I can do that, if that's what your saying :) The first time I offered by the scruff. 2nd time I was in a hurry and just by the tail. But she took that no problem so I just thought Id keep doing that. Ill offer by the scruff next time [emoji106] I didnt attempt to feed her today, so ill offer Thursday? 3 days from now?

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Originally Posted by GpBp

Feed every 3 days? Ok I can do that, if that's what your saying :) The first time I offered by the scruff. 2nd time I was in a hurry and just by the tail. But she took that no problem so I just thought Id keep doing that. Ill offer by the scruff next time [emoji106] I didnt attempt to feed her today, so ill offer Thursday? 3 days from now?

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Yeah, I mean only OFFER every 3 days if she DOESN'T eat. Not feed every 3 days haha, in case there was any confusion. Meaning, don't offer every day.

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Originally Posted by Godzilla78

IMO, if the snake is really that starved, and won't eat, it is time to feed live. This is how they are programmed to eat for millions of years. The snake could starve, just buy a live appropriate sized rodent, (after waiting a few days as the others have said). and throw it in there. Nature will take its course. I find feeding live increases their response 100fold. (that being said I still feed thawed, purely too save money, since I buy in bulk. If I was a large breeder, I would breed my own rodents and feed live all the time.)

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She was eating live mice as I was told by the breeder (they didnt indicate the size, I don't know why I didnt ask [emoji35]). I really wanted to get her on f/t though, and she took the offer no problem. She is now about 88g, she's growing good :) She was around 7-8 months as I was told. (Sorry I rounded to a year. But a female still shouldn't be that small!)

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

Yeah, I mean only OFFER every 3 days if she DOESN'T eat. Not feed every 3 days haha, in case there was any confusion. Meaning, don't offer every day.

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Oooh ok that makes alot more sense haha. I thought that was a little much [emoji6] I understand c:

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Originally Posted by GpBp

She was eating live mice as I was told by the breeder (they didnt indicate the size, I don't know why I didnt ask [emoji35]). I really wanted to get her on f/t though, and she took the offer no problem. She is now about 88g, she's growing good :) She was around 7-8 months as I was told. (Sorry I rounded to a year. But a female still shouldn't be that small!)

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ok, I was under the impression that she was emaciated and underweight. If she is decently growing and not emaciated, Nevermind then.

Indeed in a few weeks to put on 20+ grams of weight is impressive.

Good news! https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...da8bcc8857.jpg

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She ended up eating the 1st and 2nd, but refused the 3rd :rolleyes: