New Scrub - Very Frightened / Nervous

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Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

Does she have something to perch on? At this point I'd leave her completely alone, except for water changes, for a solid 2 weeks. She'll get hungry eventually and will start looking for food. I wouldn't even try feeding her until I saw her perched or roaming for food. Also, try superheating the rat with a hairdryer for a few seconds before offering it to your snake. I usually the rats up to about 100F.

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Since I've gotten the camera to watch, everytime I'm not nearby, she is perched or exploring.

I really think she does want food, but she is too nervous. That's the vibe I'm getting.

I did the dance in front of her hide, but she didnt come out. Then I waited until she was roaming around. She struck at it a few times but wouldn't take it. So I've left it in there. So she still hasn't eaten since I've gotten her.

And my ETB hasnt eaten since 8/11, when she was previously taking meals like a champ. Nothing was changed with her.

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Originally Posted by wnateg

I did the dance in front of her hide, but she didnt come out. Then I waited until she was roaming around. She struck at it a few times but wouldn't take it. So I've left it in there. So she still hasn't eaten since I've gotten her.

And my ETB hasnt eaten since 8/11, when she was previously taking meals like a champ. Nothing was changed with her.

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"Mama said there'll be days like this..." ;) Snakes give us lots of practice dealing with frustration, for sure.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

"Mama said there'll be days like this..." ;) Snakes give us lots of practice dealing with frustration, for sure.

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Yea, it be a weight off the shoulders when she finally eats, that's for sure.

And when my alligator snapping turtle grows up, so I can stop throwing rats into the woods

I'm not sure why your girl still isn't eating W. It sounds like you're doing all the right things. My male hasn't missed a meal in the 14 months that I've had him. Do you have access to live feeders? You could see if that kicks her appetite into gear. You could also try a different prey type like a mouse or chick.

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Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

I'm not sure why your girl still isn't eating W. It sounds like you're doing all the right things. My male hasn't missed a meal in the 14 months that I've had him. Do you have access to live feeders? You could see if that kicks her appetite into gear. You could also try a different prey type like a mouse or chick.

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Yes, I was on the same train of thought. I was thinking of trying a mouse, in case the breeder wasn't correct about the rats. Not to mention, she doesn't even act like the rat is food. When I leave it in there, she doesn't even seem to notice or care. I was worried about trying live because she just seems so timid.

Thank you!

Got a live rat. Put it in the enclosure. Was waiting in the room, but she wouldn't come out, so I left, turned out the light, and watched from my camera. After a while, she came out, struck at the rat a few times, then just left it. The rat wasnt dead or anything, but she just perched up and ignored it, so I removed the rat. Now I have a rat I dont know what to do with and a snake that still wont eat. Next attempt: large mouse?

I removed the hide on the right side so the rat couldn't hide.

https://i.imgur.com/FqPVjX6.jpg

Was she eating rats previously for sure? For a timid snake, I'd try to get either a rat pup (crawler) or a mouse (young hopper)...something that won't fight back
effectively. Maybe she will gain confidence that way? Not that I can speak for scrubs (no experience with them) but some snakes just need to get a taste of the
right thing, something they can easily over-power before they move up in size.

And as with any snakes, feeding regularly comes before any handling, especially such a high-strung species.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Was she eating rats previously for sure? For a timid snake, I'd try to get either a rat pup (crawler) or a mouse (young hopper)...something that won't fight back
effectively. Maybe she will gain confidence that way? Not that I can speak for scrubs (no experience with them) but some snakes just need to get a taste of the
right thing, something they can easily over-power before they move up in size.

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The breeder said ft small rats. But these experiences leave me to believe that wasnt really the case.

So my thought might be she was eating mice. And shes unfamiliar with rat scent, so shes just trying to defend, not feed?