I have a dilemma...

[Ginevive]

OK, I think I told you guys about Ginger, the rescue-case BP that my nature center took in. He is about 5 foot long, and is a male.
we have him in a good rubbermaid setup with good temps and everything. he shed about 2 weeks ago. but feeding is the problem here. I have tried placing a thawed, and very warm, rat in his cage over night to no avail. I tried moving a fresh-killed rat around him on tongs, and he was terrified of the thing and rapidly flew into his hide (did you ever see a truly wild-caught bp and hiow fast they can move themselves?!)
Ginger has no visible weight loss now. He appears healthy, after being treated for several ticks we found on him I am sure he is clean now. he defecated a few weeks ago and expells urates every week or so.
But man, I need advice on what to do with him. I may keep him. I wish I could just send him back to Africa. I'd hate being a WC adult bp. Humans piss me off by selling these, and buying them.

[beaglegod]

Hmmmm I can only go on what Ive read here in the forums, but I do remember the prez (Ballkingdom) getting one of his BPs interested in eating again by offering a gerbil. If its truly wild caught Gerbils would be the closest thing to what he would find in the wild. Now if he eats gerbils getting him switched to rats is another story,but first things first right? :wink:

[Smulkin]

Second that - give the gerb a whirl. If it works you can then use it to scent the prey you want to transition him to.

[Marla]

My guess is that he just needs a while longer to acclimate. Also, Bo Peep and Sir Not will not eat anything that moves and are very shy, so you might try doing what I've done that works with them: put in a dead mouse like you did with the rat and make sure the enclosure is good and dark (lights out, towel over the top, snake and prey in paper bag, whichever). But I'd give it at least a week, preferably two, before trying again.

[freakoverdose1]

exactly, let him acclimate like marla said. Also, have you tried feeding outside of the enclosure? In a cardboard box or something else? This always worked for me.

[MacWin]

I can definetly recommend the gerbil after not eating for 2 weeks after being freaked out by a stunned rodent Bob went right after a gerbil. Definetly give that a try first.

[Marla]

The only problem with the gerbils is that it can be very difficult to get them eating mice or rats again after they've discovered gerbil is an option if they hold out for it. I would only try that as a last resort and only if I knew for certain he was losing significant body weight or hadn't eaten in at least 3 months. Otherwise you'll find yourself paying as much as $8 or $9 every week for food for one snake or breeding an animal you hadn't intended to even keep.

[MacWin]

Good point Marla I had not thought of that, but I can get gerbils around here for 3 or 4 bucks only a dollar more than rats. So it is an option for me, by the way how big can gerbils get? i would assume rats get bigger but just curious.

[freakoverdose1]

no. gerbils get bigger than rats

[Marla]

Mac, if you can get them that cheap that certainly makes it a more attractive option than it is here, where they typically run $7.99 to $8.99 in the pet stores I've been to. If I had them readily available at that price I might consider trying a gerbil sooner than I said, but only if that seemed to be the prevailing price range in the area.