Need some help please.

Hello, some of you might of read a post a had about four snakes I bought about a month ago that won't eat for me. I believe only only one of them ate a live rat and that was it when I tried that option about two weeks ago. I think I've had them actually for a 5 or 6 weeks off the top of my head. I just don't know what to do. They were pretty bulky when I got them and I have not weighed them lately but certainly do not look like they did before.
I'm wondering if I should either buy them more live and throw the rats in and leave them for about an hour which was suggested by Tim Bailey or try and get some ASF bedding and roll the f/t in the bedding, which does this really work that well? The one reason why I have not wanted to buy live is just because I feel that I am contributing to them only wanting to eat live and then I'll never get them to switch over. But then again I need them to eat something.


I am feeding everyone tonight so responses will be key for tonight.

Thanks

The MAIN goal is to get them feeding right? So once they are feeding then worry about switching them to f/t.. Thats what I would do..

So, you know what we're going to ask:
What are their environments?
Why don't you know which one ate?
How long since they ate?
Where did you get them from?
How are you feeding them?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by starmom

So, you know what we're going to ask:
What are their environments?
Why don't you know which one ate?
How long since they ate?
Where did you get them from?
How are you feeding them?

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enviorment: 80-83 degrees for all my snakes, with a hot side that usually stays around 92-93.

and if I said I didn't know which one has ate sorry, I didn't mean to write that. I have only got one of them to eat out of the 4. But then offered her f/t the next week and didn't want anything to do with it.

The last time all of them ate was when the breeder had them, minus the one normal female that ate a live rat once two weeks ago.

And I got them from Tim Bailey, which I know they were piggies with him because they were nice and bulky when I got them.

And I warm all of the rats in a zip lock bag in very warm water. Then op their tub about 6-8 inches and present the food with tongs and at times walk it around a little and do a little zombie dance.

My other snakes fly out of their hides and have no problem, so I'm just having a whole lot of feeding problems.

What size tubs and what size snakes?

I believe and this is off the top of my head cause I'm not home right now to check my cards but they range from 250 grams to maybe 500 grams.

And they are in reptile basics 32qt tubs with the 16qt dividers put up. They also have one black plastic hide with a water dish up from in each of their tubs.

Do you think they might need a tub size change? I would think this would be a perfect size for them.

Oh and not to mention I'm still trying to get two of them to calm down. One of my normal girls and the cinnamon male are nasty. I've been tagged by the female twice, but just defensive strikes. They stay stiff for quite some time also when I take them out then if theres very little movement in the room meaning just me or if my gf is in the room she just stays still then they might start moving around. They have settled down tiny bit since I got them though so I can't say there is no improvement.

16qt should be good and how bout putting in 2 hides? I needed to do this with my little hypo girl and it has helped her tremendously. She went from not eating to being a great eater!
Also, I had a couple of snakes who were not nasty, but who really needed to just be left alone for a little over a month. No touching or holding or anything except tub maintenance.
Lastly, and I'm certain you already know this, get int ouch with Tim. All great breeders (Tim included) are happy to help with any problems :)

Ya I just sent him an email along with a few others, which he has been trying to help me out.
And theres no way of me fitting two hides and a water dish in the tubs with the size of the tubs they are in. They don't fit in the hides that are one size down from what I have.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tmartin2347

Ya I just sent him an email along with a few others, which he has been trying to help me out.
And theres no way of me fitting two hides and a water dish in the tubs with the size of the tubs they are in. They don't fit in the hides that are one size down from what I have.

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I use my small zilla hides in the 16qt. they both fit along with the water bowl. Maybe you could find something smaller...?

could the humidity being a little too high make them not want to eat?

If you can't get them to eat mice or rats, try a gerbil. I'd suggest getting a small one or killing it first because gerbils can be aggressive. If they don't eat that, then it's probably something else. If they have eaten mice and rats before, I don't see why they won't eat them again. Perhaps leave them be a few days to calm down and try again?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lowen

If you can't get them to eat mice or rats, try a gerbil. I'd suggest getting a small one or killing it first because gerbils can be aggressive. If they don't eat that, then it's probably something else. If they have eaten mice and rats before, I don't see why they won't eat them again. Perhaps leave them be a few days to calm down and try again?

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Bad idea!

Yup.
Bad idea x2

:confused: How is that a bad idea?? It was suggested to me by a vet, and it worked without blemish..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lowen

:confused: How is that a bad idea?? It was suggested to me by a vet, and it worked without blemish..

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Because the snake could get used to eating gerbils and then refuse rats and mice, which are much easier to come by and less expensive.

Yep! Seconded(or fourthed?). I'm not about to go spend $12 per gerbil at my local Petsmart or Petco because a snake of mine won't eat(which doesn't happen anyway). $24 to feed ONE snake is beyond ridiculous..

If you haven't tried this, you might try to crumpled newspaper trick. It worked for my baby when she didn't want to eat when we first got her.

Just take newspaper and crumple it into loose balls. Put enough in that the entire floor of the enclosure is covered. That way the snake will feel secure and hidden even while not in a hide. Once the snake is eating again, you can gradually reduce the amount of newspaper.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lowen

:confused: How is that a bad idea?? It was suggested to me by a vet, and it worked without blemish..

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Because these snakes were eating fine for the breeder - not feeding is a symptom of a problem. It's usually best to figure out what that problem is and fix it, not put a bandaid on it. ;)

I usually feed in the evening. A couple of times when a snake has refused 2 feedings I have fed in the morning before dawn and they eat the f/t rat. Just a thought.

someone correct me if i'm wrong, but, someone once suggested to me that scenting your prey with something like chicken broth might interest your snake in eating. :) i haven't tried it myself, because it didn't sound too natural. just some food for thought!