first feed = fail :(

I bought my buddy a f/t, I put the mouse in a bag and placed it in hot water too let it thaw, after so, i placed it in a seperate container, then I placed snake in the container and closed it up, half hour later, he was moving around but not interested at all. I moved the mouse a bit around in front of his face, still no action.. Can I put the mouse back in the freezer or should I toss it? and when should I try to feed again, and any feeding tips?
he ate last thursday according to petco. and he weighs 166 grams.

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Originally Posted by TraviZ

I bought my buddy a f/t, I put the mouse in a bag and placed it in hot water too let it thaw, after so, i placed it in a seperate container, then I placed snake in the container and closed it up, half hour later, he was moving around but not interested at all. I moved the mouse a bit around in front of his face, still no action.. Can I put the mouse back in the freezer or should I toss it? and when should I try to feed again, and any feeding tips?
he ate last thursday according to petco. and he weighs 166 grams.

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What size mouse was it? Maybe the mouse wasn't warm enough. If it was really small it will cool off quickly. I generally put them in a ziploc bag in a warm container and put something on it to weigh it down. After its thawed I fill it again and leave it sit for about 5-10 minutes in the warm water making sure it's really warm. You can also just put your hand against the bag to make sure its warm to the touch. Dangle it in front about 2-4 inches away from his face. You could also try just feeding in the enclosure as well, maybe because you moved him it stressed him out a bit.

PS: it's not a fail, it's just a patience game.

Thanks

Wait a week and try again. Sounds to me like he was more concerned with finding a way out of his feeding enclosure than he was with eating.

In my opinion, it is OK to refreeze once, but not a second time. If the mouse was sitting out for too long, I would toss it.

Try feeding in his home enclosure next week and just leaving him in his tank with the mouse. If you have a loose substrate, put a piece of paper towel down and place the rodent on the paper towels. Leave the room and turn off the lights. I leave my snakes like this over-night and by morning, the rodent is usually gone.

I just had my first REAL F/T attempt. I thawed out a small rat I had left over and tried to give it to my garbage disposal Ribbit. She struck, coiled, and tried to eat it, but couldn't figure it out and kept trying to eat it sideways taking the little paw up t the shoulder and backing out. I reset and took the mouse out, reheated the head with a blow dryer and she was not interested anymore. So I took the rat and put it in a tank with my huge, picky female. She didn't care at all and I made the thing zombie dance the cha cha cha and the macarena till my shoulders hurt but she was just like whatever. So I left and came back just now and it was gone. Picking up 60 F/T now. Whoot

Leave it in there for a good 24 hours and give your BP some privacy. chances are when you come back, it will be gone.

But to answer your question, yes you can refreeze. Some BP's will only take f/t that has been re-f/t. The cellular structure breaks down after a refreeze and it has a stronger odor.

BP's are not above scavenging in the wild and will eat a carcass if it is not too decayed. We had trouble with our first feed but leaving it in there and not even peeking in for a while seemed to do the trick. If it still isn't eating in another week, there's lots of little tricks you can try.

We never move our snake for feeding. She gets too wigged out. We just put down a paper towel over the substrate in her enclosure and zombie dance the f/t all around it and she comes right out.

Keep us posted.

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Originally Posted by TheNunciate

Leave it in there for a good 24 hours and give your BP some privacy. chances are when you come back, it will be gone.

But to answer your question, yes you can refreeze. Some BP's will only take f/t that has been re-f/t. The cellular structure breaks down after a refreeze and it has a stronger odor.

BP's are not above scavenging in the wild and will eat a carcass if it is not too decayed. We had trouble with our first feed but leaving it in there and not even peeking in for a while seemed to do the trick. If it still isn't eating in another week, there's lots of little tricks you can try.

We never move our snake for feeding. She gets too wigged out. We just put down a paper towel over the substrate in her enclosure and zombie dance the f/t all around it and she comes right out.

Keep us posted.

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I have refrozen a few times, but only once. I know where the rodent is in the bag and its always the next one that gets eaten.

The 24 hr. part may work, I've tried that before and just woke up to a stinky mouse and the snake in it's hide haha. Maybe try that if the snake has never eaten before or if the problem persists, just my opinion. Not sure about eating things that are already dead but haven't decomposed too much, haven't heard that before. Where did you read that? Just interested in knowing.

Thanks

What was the pet store feeding it before you got it? F/T or live? Mine was being fed live so thats what I stuck with. What I have done the two times I have attemted to feed mine was, keep the mouse in its little carry box and place it in the snake feeding 10gal. I have. Then I place my snake in the 10gal. and cover all but one side with a blanket. I place my CHE on top for some warmth and leave the room for 15-30 minutes. When I come back my bp is wrapped around the mouse box anxious to eat. I take the box out and place the mouse in and he takes it within a few seconds to minutes everytime so far. It works for me at least. I don't know if you would just rather do F/T or not but I prefer live. I just fill like I have a better chance of having my bp feed plus he was already use to it. It's an idea at least. Also what size mouse are you trying to feed? make sure it's the apropriate size for you bp. Hope this helps.:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Quickone4u

What was the pet store feeding it before you got it? F/T or live? Mine was being fed live so thats what I stuck with. What I have done the two times I have attemted to feed mine was, keep the mouse in its little carry box and place it in the snake feeding 10gal. I have. Then I place my snake in the 10gal. and cover all but one side with a blanket. I place my CHE on top for some warmth and leave the room for 15-30 minutes. When I come back my bp is wrapped around the mouse box anxious to eat. I take the box out and place the mouse in and he takes it within a few seconds to minutes everytime so far. It works for me at least. I don't know if you would just rather do F/T or not but I prefer live. I just fill like I have a better chance of having my bp feed plus he was already use to it. It's an idea at least. Also what size mouse are you trying to feed? make sure it's the apropriate size for you bp. Hope this helps.:rolleyes:

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If you have a lot of snakes, live prey is just too expensive, unless you breed your own. F/T is safer and cheaper. Im sure Ill still buy live for a picky eater here and there, but I am full on convert to F/T. Saturday is mass feed day for all snakes, and everyone is getting F/T. Those who won't eat F/T rats will get F/T ASFs. I am sooooo over spending $3+ on a dumb a** rat.

petco fed him 'fuzzies'. which are f/t. so I did the same. the mouse is about the same size as his biggest part of his torso, maybe a bit smaller, definitely not bigger then him. should I get even smaller mice?can i leave it tonight overnight as some of you suggested? i like that idea but maybe tonight is too soon?

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Originally Posted by pavlovk1025

If you have a lot of snakes, live prey is just too expensive, unless you breed your own. F/T is safer and cheaper. Im sure Ill still buy live for a picky eater here and there, but I am full on convert to F/T. Saturday is mass feed day for all snakes, and everyone is getting F/T. Those who won't eat F/T rats will get F/T ASFs. I am sooooo over spending $3+ on a dumb a** rat.

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I don't have alot, I only have one and so does the op. Live is no more dangerous then what they face in the wild to eat and there are plenty of people on here and otherwise that feed live. F/T is cheaper but, my snake is use to live, I'm fine with feeding live, and he eats live with no problems thus far. No reason for me to switch, I actually prefer it, just my opinion and I'm sticking to it. Just wanted to put out some other options and info for the op is all, not trying to start another Live-F/T debate!

It might be coincedence, but Sheva ate F/T after many failed attempts when we dipped the fuzzy's nose in chicken broth before presenting it. She eats like a champ now.

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Originally Posted by Quickone4u

I don't have alot, I only have one and so does the op. Live is no more dangerous then what they face in the wild to eat and there are plenty of people on here and otherwise that feed live. F/T is cheaper but, my snake is use to live, I'm fine with feeding live, and he eats live with no problems thus far. No reason for me to switch, I actually prefer it, just my opinion and I'm sticking to it. Just wanted to put out some other options and info for the op is all, not trying to start another Live-F/T debate!

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Huh? Who wants to debate Live over F/T? I would feed live always if they cost the same as F/T. As for being no more dangerous, true. But these are captive snakes and when some stupid mouse takes a bite outta my BP cause she struck it wrong (last week) then it becomes an issue. You're good with with feeding live man, right on. I was just making an observation I guess. I suppose I forgot the topic..?!

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Originally Posted by pavlovk1025

Huh? Who wants to debate Live over F/T? I would feed live always if they cost the same as F/T. As for being no more dangerous, true. But these are captive snakes and when some stupid mouse takes a bite outta my BP cause she struck it wrong (last week) then it becomes an issue. You're good with with feeding live man, right on. I was just making an observation I guess. I suppose I forgot the topic..?!

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Cool man, no problem. Yeh, I wasn't sure if the OP cared or not to feed live verse F/T so I figured I would share my live experience with him since I currently have no F/T experience. Figured some info would be better then none and it's an idea at least;)

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Originally Posted by Quickone4u

I don't have alot, I only have one and so does the op. Live is no more dangerous then what they face in the wild to eat and there are plenty of people on here and otherwise that feed live. F/T is cheaper but, my snake is use to live, I'm fine with feeding live, and he eats live with no problems thus far. No reason for me to switch, I actually prefer it, just my opinion and I'm sticking to it. Just wanted to put out some other options and info for the op is all, not trying to start another Live-F/T debate!

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Originally Posted by Quickone4u

Cool man, no problem. Yeh, I wasn't sure if the OP cared or not to feed live verse F/T so I figured I would share my live experience with him since I currently have no F/T experience. Figured some info would be better then none and it's an idea at least;)

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Haha ok gotcha. Yeah I completely zoned out and forgot the topic. :confused:

now back on topic, would trying again tonight be too soon?

Yes. Introducing prey to a BP over and over again causes stress and potentially increases the length of the hunger strike. Wait 5-7 days and retry.

Hey guys, just an update, tonight, he ate! its about 1 in the morning and I was up and noticed he was out of his hiding spot and looking around, I guess parental instinct kicked in, I said fudge it, im gonna try, so I boiled up my mouse again in a baggy, this time making sure it was warm to my touch, and with tongs I dangeled it in front of him in his home cage and right away he alerts to it and sticks his tongue out frantically, within 5 seconds he strikes and curls, and in about another minute or so he gulps it down and viola! im a happy boy.
How long do you guys recommend before holding him again? I read 24-48 hours? which one is it? since its 1am friday morning now can I hold him saturday morning when I wake?

Hi,

48 is the best time to give them - but if it's the first time with a possibly overlarge meal you can even think about 72.

I wouldn't disturb him until sunday just to make sure. :)


dr del

[ Not sure about eating things that are already dead but haven't decomposed too much, haven't heard that before. Where did you read that? Just interested in knowing.

Thanks[/QUOTE]

Encyclopedia and I think I saw it on anapsid.org too.

I hope you did not actually boil the mouse. You want to get it warm, but not cooked.

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Originally Posted by kc261

I hope you did not actually boil the mouse. You want to get it warm, but not cooked.

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you are correct, I put the mouse in a bag in boiling hot water, held it with my hand for a few minutes, just long enough to be warm to my touch.