Help Feeding

[RestlessRobie]

Ok guys I am just getting back into reptiles and am a little worried about my recent BP purchased at a local pet store. He is a great snake and is a pleasure to have around. My problem is with feeding. We are feeding F/T hoppers and he has eaten 2 since we have had him 7-11-11 both time we placed him in a seperate tank and added the well heated (95+ on thermal glove) however he seems to no want to eat regularly. I heat the feeder tub on top of his tank for half an hour or so before moving the snake to his feeding tub. Then wait a few minutes then insert thawed mouse. Have yet to see any type of feed response Doenst seem to strike or even coil (I dont watch) any Ideas how to improve his feed response or even get the poor little guy to eat more regularly
Thanks for the help in advance guys

Robbie

[llovelace]

Feed him in his enclosure, he may be getting stressed from the moving.
What is your husbandry like?
What size enclosure is he in?
How old is he?
Look over the care sheet in the forum section.

[snakesRkewl]

Yeah, feed him in his own home and don't pick him up prior to eating

[Homegrownscales]

Number 1. You could try to feed in his enclosure. Really there's 0 reason to Feed in a separate enclosure. It takes them out of their element and it's stressful whenever it occurs.
Number 2. Try live. I'm sure he's w youngster and I'm sure he hasn't really figured out that The slightly cold not moving thing Is food. Get a live prey item of the same size and let him go after that. Then when he is much more established in his schedule then switch him to ft.
Number 3. This could make him stay on strike. But if you're not willing to try live do you know if you're heating up to a temp hell look at and say yum food? Rodents are generally about 100.f if I'm not mistaken and your ft may have to be heated to such.
Number 4. Only offer 1x per week. Many people make Thr situation more stressful by offering daily thinking that Thr snake will change it's mind overnight. This is stressful and creates a strike.
Number 5. Check and double check your husbandry. And then check it again.


Check out what's new on my website... www.Homegrownscales.com

[EverEvolvingExotics]

I'm not sure how you present the F/T rodent. I have one that will only eat if I lay it in her tub and walk away, most the others need the zombie dance by using tongs and making it look alive. Good luck.

[rabernet]

Robbie,

Have you had a chance to review the "Why won't my snake eat?" part of our caresheet and gone through the checklist yet?

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

[RestlessRobie]

Thanks so much for all the great info. We are heating the FT to 95-100 checked with a thermal gun. Tank temps are 80 cold side 92 hot side with a 96-97 backing spot humidity is kept between 55-60. I have a white basking light turned off at nightvia timer and an infrared heat lamp on at all time UTH on the hot side as well. I only have one hide for him will ad another tonight. h\He is doing well and growing when I spoke with the breeder I was told he was eating F/T once a week in a seperate tank. So I think I have 2 issues first over handeling we are handeling him once a day for 30-60 min now and only have the one hide. I will try in tank feeding but have been told this is a bad idea can make the snake agressive and if he doesnt eat next week will switch to Live prey.
Thanks again
Robbie

P.S. I am not very net save or I would have posted picks of the enclosure and welcomed ideas on improvements there

[TheWinWizard]

Feeding in the enclosure makes them aggressive is an old wives tale. I feed all my snakes in the enclosures and none of them have developed an aggression from it. I use a hairdryer after allowing the rodent to warm to room temp to heat it to about 110 degrees. Works like a charm along with the zombie dance.

[RestlessRobie]

Sorry for bieng a newb but we all started with one snake right so what is the zombie dance
Robbie

[RetiredJedi]

The zombie dance is where you use the feeding tongs and grab the rat at the scruff of the neck and prance it around like it's alive... walking dead like a zombie hence the zombie dance.