Yearling Retic feeding question/problem

[robert7107]

Your hot side is 90 what about your cool side?

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[smvmarine]

She's in a tub as of now so I haven't measured her cool side honestly. Either way I figured her out she is pounding f/t small rats every 5 days now like clock work. She was in shed when I was having problems and didn't realize it. Also, seems she eats better about an hour after the lights go out. She's a lavender albino so its hard to tell when she starts to dull.

[robert7107]

She's in a tub as of now so I haven't measured her cool side honestly. Either way I figured her out she is pounding f/t small rats every 5 days now like clock work. She was in shed when I was having problems and didn't realize it. Also, seems she eats better about an hour after the lights go out. She's a lavender albino so its hard to tell when she starts to dull.

Ok... I keep mine 87-90 hot side an 74-78 cool at 70% humidity tubs or cage..

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

[Stout76]

I have one about the same age that I was having trouble with too. I was trying 4-5 days on the feeding schedule and he would strike sometimes and wrap then just leave it. I went the live route and had some success, but not what I want in the long run. Recently I've tried going longer between feedings, 6-9 days. So far it seems that somewhere between 7-8 days is the sweet spot for him. At 7 days he goes after a F/T pretty good but at 8 days he is after it as soon as the door opens. I've tried moving back to 5 days and I get the same uninterested reaction. So I'm pretty much going to go with the 7-8 days for now. I don't want to starve him but I also don't want to waste food either. Everything else seems good, he's active at night, just had a complete shed and he is still a joy to handle out of the cage. Although I will be offering up a variety come lately.

[Sauzo]

She's in a tub as of now so I haven't measured her cool side honestly. Either way I figured her out she is pounding f/t small rats every 5 days now like clock work. She was in shed when I was having problems and didn't realize it. Also, seems she eats better about an hour after the lights go out. She's a lavender albino so its hard to tell when she starts to dull.

The only way i can tell when Caesar is going into shed is when he turns kind of a dull orange instead of a bright yellow as he is a white albino tiger. Heck the only way i can tell when Pat is in shed is when his blacks get dull.

[Skyrivers]

I found this thread interesting. I can't see Rainbow being a picky eater or missing a meal ever. I honestly think she would eat herself to death. Don't worry I regulate her but 6 days of not eating is a long time to her. By then she is destroying her enclosure looking for food.


Seeing picky retic is interesting but not to hard to believe. they are all different with different personalities and desires.

[B.P.'s 4me]

Ok, I know this has been covered extensively here but here it goes. Got a young female retic (born Jan. 18’)
that has been eating weekly but it’s been a struggle. The problem........I have been feeding her F/T rat pups and she takes them with a really great feeding response. When she takes them she coils them as normal, but won’t eat them. I have left them overnight several times and they are still laying there in the morning. After about 2-3 days of trying she usually eats one. I’m wondering if I should try her back on live or be persistent with the f/t. My other retic and burm are both on f/t and have absolutely zero issues with them. This is my first this young, so wondering if she just hasn’t got goin yet or what. Also, u try to feed her every 5-6 days.


She she is kept in a 40qt tub (waiting on AP cages) with a hide.
90 degree hot spot verified with IR temp gun
60-70% humidity.

My Ball python did that. She came to me as a hatchling, breeder said he'd fed live, but first time I fed her I offered f/t and she nailed it right away. She ate f/t for about 4 months and then abruptly started refusing them. She'd grab them right away, coil, and leave. I tried everything, including letting her get good and hungry... no go. She would take fresh killed, but not f/t. In the end, after she'd gone hungry for over a month (she was pacing the bin etc., and seemed very interested but just wouldn't eat them) I caved and started feeding live. After about 5 live feedings, I offered her a f/t one day (just for kicks) and she took it. She's now had several f/t feedings and I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Good luck on your retic.

[Sauzo]

I found this thread interesting. I can't see Rainbow being a picky eater or missing a meal ever. I honestly think she would eat herself to death. Don't worry I regulate her but 6 days of not eating is a long time to her. By then she is destroying her enclosure looking for food.


Seeing picky retic is interesting but not to hard to believe. they are all different with different personalities and desires.

Lol none of my snakes are picky or turn down meals. The only one who has is my BP and Rosey once when she was on Fortaz. Caesar the retic, ate within 2 hours of me unpacking him out of the box. Heck even Pat the GTP is a garbage can. Last night he was so happy to see dinner, he started caudal luring it while i wiggled it in front of his face. Reminded me of a dog wagging it tail for a treat lol. Louie was so worked up, he struck the cage door 2 times after eating his rat. Took him about an hour to calm down and go out of feed mode. He is a psycho when dinner time comes.