When to force feed?

I recently aquired 20 CH females. Since I got them I have attempted feeding twice. So far only about 8-12 of them have taken the live rat pups I've offered. My question is, when should I start force feeding the ones that haven't eaten? I have read Adam's guide many times. I really do not want to resort to mice, I just don't want the headache of dealing with rats AND mice. Also, at the moment I do not have access to any ASFs. I just want all these girls on rats. Any advice?

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Originally Posted by Pwilliams58

I recently aquired 20 CH females. Since I got them I have attempted feeding twice. So far only about 8-12 of them have taken the live rat pups I've offered. My question is, when should I start force feeding the ones that haven't eaten? I have read Adam's guide many times. I really do not want to resort to mice, I just don't want the headache of dealing with rats AND mice. Also, at the moment I do not have access to any ASFs. I just want all these girls on rats. Any advice?

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Try assist feeding before actual force feeding. You would have to force feed when a vet would, when they lose weight or get skinny. :]

Some of them may have to eat mice, the smells can be different and could cause them to be picky. D:

I start all my Ball hatchlings on hopper mice and have never had one not switch to rats...

To answer your question though...I assist feed at the 5 week mark...It's very important to make sure you use a small prey item. I like to use fuzzy mice.

Why not just try mice if it might help get your snakes to eat? I got a little red tail from someone and he said she rarely ate - and he was feeding exclusively rats. As soon as I got her home and on mice she hasn't missed any feeds except 1 or 2 when she was in shed.

I would try mice before I would try force/assist feeding..

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Originally Posted by Pwilliams58

I recently aquired 20 CH females. Since I got them I have attempted feeding twice. So far only about 8-12 of them have taken the live rat pups I've offered. My question is, when should I start force feeding the ones that haven't eaten? I have read Adam's guide many times. I really do not want to resort to mice, I just don't want the headache of dealing with rats AND mice. Also, at the moment I do not have access to any ASFs. I just want all these girls on rats. Any advice?

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Bottom line - what's more important? Your convenience of rats only, or them eating? If it takes mice to get them started, then it takes mice to get them started.

How long have you had them and how old are they? If you've read Adam's guide, then you know he doesn't even consider to assist feed (not force feed) them until 7 weeks AFTER their first shed.

Offer them hopper mice and see if they'll take them - you have plenty of time to convert them.

Oh yeah I should have specified 5 weeks after the first shed...Which puts them at 6-6 1/2 weeks old...

Also do they have hides?

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Originally Posted by coldbloodaddict

Oh yeah I should have specified 5 weeks after the first shed...Which puts them at 6-6 1/2 weeks old...

Also do they have hides?

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They are roughly 4 weeks past their first shed. Yes, they do have hides.

Were they feeding before you got them? If so, what were they being fed? If they were already started on mice, then that may be what you have to feed them for the time being. Most balls will switch to rats with no problem but some will not. Feed them what they want to eat, not what you prefer.

After you have tried feeding them hopper mice and they still refuse to eat and are loosing weight then you may need to assist feed them.

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Originally Posted by Pwilliams58

They are roughly 4 weeks past their first shed. Yes, they do have hides.

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Are their hides small and snug (touching them on all sides when they're in them)?

pretty darn close, perhaps ill try putting crumpled newspaper in their tubs tonight.

What size tubs are they in?

6qt rubbermaid shoeboxes

I have 2 from the same clutch that would not eat. I have assist fed them both twice and each time they fought me; I'd put the food in their mouth and they would basically spit it out. But with persistance I finally got them to take them. They both ate twice that way. Very stressful!

Tonight I went to feed them again and as soon as I put the f/t fuzzy mouse up to their nose they opened, clamped down and wrapped my hand! I slid them off my hand, they both wrapped the mouse and I put them in their tubs so they could eat in peace. Weird that they both did the exact same thing - but I'll take it!! Hopefully next time they will take a live hopper!


Btw - the babies hatched the first week of June and I didn't assist feed till they were 7 weeks. One went from 60gms to 47gm and the other was 65gm down to 58gm (weighed them tonight before they ate).

Good luck!

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Originally Posted by coldbloodaddict

I start all my Ball hatchlings on hopper mice and have never had one not switch to rats...

To answer your question though...I assist feed at the 5 week mark...It's very important to make sure you use a small prey item. I like to use fuzzy mice.

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Thats exactly how I do it. once in a while I get them to start on rat pinks because thats what I breed, but hopper mice for the most part and then rat fuzies or pinkies depending on size of snake.

As an absolute last resort; when it is affecting their health.

Noob question here. What's the difference between assist feeding and force feeding? Force feeding involves actually shoving the prey down the snake's mouth right? So what then is assist feeding?

Don't mean to hijack the thread here but I think having this info will help the other noobs understand this thread more. : )

assist feeding is using the mouse head to open the snakes mouse and then setting the snakes teeth in the mouse forse feeding is pushing the mouse down the snakes throat and working the mouse down the snakes body i have thankfully never had that happen to me