New Male: Perseus

[Montypython696]

Good afternoon fellow forum readers! I recently purchased a Male Albino on 12-15 to go with my Albino girl Medusa. His name is Perseus (I'll give an internet cookie to anyone who gets the connection to the names) and he's a nice high contrast albino with a cute little orange spot on his tail. He currently weighs in at 182 grams and was born on 6-28-13. I’ve got big plans with the two of them when they are older.

However, this little bugger is giving me a hard time eating. He’s in a 15 quart tub, with a small water dish and a hide box. I’ve offered him live food three times since I’ve purchased him, and all three times he will follow the mouse around and just stare at it. A few times they even touched noses. Here’s a pic:


As you can see, he just sits there and stares at him, and that mouse was in there for well over an hour today (under close supervision). So do you guys have any suggestions? I normally feed my brood on Fridays, so I plan on not touching him like I have been until then.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[Archimedes]

Greek Mythology, Perseus was the fall of Medusa and wore her head on a shield to turn his enemies to stone. Gimme my cookie!! /grabbyhands/

Have you tried scenting with a rat/rat bedding?

[Montypython696]

*Hands Archimedes an internet cookie.* But no I haven't tried that. I don't have any rats that aren't in my freezer. The breeder I bought him and many more from told me he was a great eater, and fed small-medium mice once a week.

[Crazymonkee]

I would definitely leave him be except for water change and checking on him. I know it may sound stupid but have you tried a white mouse?
I have 4 that will eat mouse or rat, but my picky female will literally only eat live white mice.

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[Montypython696]

You know, now that I think of it, the last two mice I've tried have been black and white, the first one I tried was all white though.

[Salem]

When I was switching my live feeder to f/t, I warmed it up a lot, then moved it slowly around the tub a little then left it in there. It was gone in the morning. Not sure if he would take a f/t but since then my live feeder is completely switched to f/t and eats every 5 days like a champ.

good luck!

[lyndsayscott]

My female normal will only eat white rats too. Tried her with black and white ones and she wasnt interested in the slightest.

[Montypython696]

LOL, I find that weird that some finicky snakes will only take a certain color of food. I guess I've never given it a thought. Any more suggestions? Has anyone else had issues like this?

[Crazymonkee]

Have you tried a rat pup? Do you know what he was eating before?

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[Montypython696]

No, I've not tried rat pups. They are a little hard to come by around here. The breeder had him on small to medium mice once a week, and said he never missed a meal.