any tricks to feeding?

[OsirisRa32]

Ok 3.5 month old ball....been a great eater every 5 days with about 15% of body weight eaten via live mouse.....he just shed...everything else in the tank is perfect....temp and humidity...has been for over a week.....now he wont eat...its been about 10 day ssince his last feeding....

didnt have any shed issues...I know skipping a meal typically isnt an issue with snakes...but just wondering if there are any helpful tips for live mouse eaters?

His last meal might have been a bit on the stressful side...as I provided a second mouse that decided to climb all over him and he decided he didnt want a 2nd one...so after about 5 minutes of the 2nd mouse being in there I took it out.

Just tried to feed him on the 10 day mark and he wont touch the mouse and seems scared (?) of it....so I took it out of the tank.

I've always fed him during the day...would trying at night maybe work better?

any tips are appreciated..

[Don]

I'd try to convert him over to rats so you don't have to feed multiples. It sounds like he got freaked out during the last feeding. Just wait and try again and yes, I'd try in the evening. If that doesn't work, there are other tricks but you are no where near that yet. Just be patient.

[OsirisRa32]

Well other then attempting the switch to frozen...which I am adamant about not doing...and force feeding and assist feeding....which obviously I am no where near yet....any other helpful tips/tricks would be awesome...

also if it matters the breeder I got him from specifically mentioned that this guy was one of his champion eaters and that he had never had a problem with him feeding since he was born (hatched? same difference, right? lol)

[Annarose15]

Well other then attempting the switch to frozen...which I am adamant about not doing...and force feeding and assist feeding....which obviously I am no where near yet....any other helpful tips/tricks would be awesome...

also if it matters the breeder I got him from specifically mentioned that this guy was one of his champion eaters and that he had never had a problem with him feeding since he was born (hatched? same difference, right? lol)

As Don suggested, try him with an appropriately sized rat. A rat pup will move around a lot less than an equally sized mouse, which might help the intimidation factor. You can even scent the rat with a mouse to make it smell more appealing. Otherwise, just keep offering once a week and he will come around eventually. He is already eating regularly, so force- and assist-feeding shouldn't even be in the discussion.

[Dark Lady Kat]

Well other then attempting the switch to frozen...which I am adamant about not doing...and force feeding and assist feeding....which obviously I am no where near yet....any other helpful tips/tricks would be awesome...

also if it matters the breeder I got him from specifically mentioned that this guy was one of his champion eaters and that he had never had a problem with him feeding since he was born (hatched? same difference, right? lol)

Random question why are you against feeding f/t?

[OsirisRa32]

F/t feeding runs into a few issues in regards to my living situation...and only having 1 freezer and 3 other roommates...
frozen just seems like a huge pain in the ass when it comes to thawing, warming up etc etc
and personally (i know this is kinda odd)...im a wildlife biologist by undergrad education...there is something primal and more agreeable to me with live mice as prey...its exciting to observe and watch...etc etc...simply personal preferences i guess?

[nick654377]

will it be exciting when the mouse or rat bites the snake in the neck? stick frozen mice in a paper bag and hide it in the freezer. they will never know. wait a week and do not handle the snake. then try feeding. that should work.

[rabernet]

will it be exciting when the mouse or rat bites the snake in the neck? stick frozen mice in a paper bag and hide it in the freezer. they will never know. wait a week and do not handle the snake. then try feeding. that should work.

The chances of that happening are extremely small, as in way less than 1%. I've personally fed off over 20k live feeders with no bites that drew blood.

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[rabernet]

Ok 3.5 month old ball....been a great eater every 5 days with about 15% of body weight eaten via live mouse.....he just shed...everything else in the tank is perfect....temp and humidity...has been for over a week.....now he wont eat...its been about 10 day ssince his last feeding....

didnt have any shed issues...I know skipping a meal typically isnt an issue with snakes...but just wondering if there are any helpful tips for live mouse eaters?

His last meal might have been a bit on the stressful side...as I provided a second mouse that decided to climb all over him and he decided he didnt want a 2nd one...so after about 5 minutes of the 2nd mouse being in there I took it out.

Just tried to feed him on the 10 day mark and he wont touch the mouse and seems scared (?) of it....so I took it out of the tank.

I've always fed him during the day...would trying at night maybe work better?

any tips are appreciated..

How big is his tank. Most feeding issues are husbandry related, so you want to go through all that first.

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[OsirisRa32]

15 gallon tank...more then enough space(at least according to a few friends who breed and raise BPs)

And I don't feed him in his tank....i have a separate feeding tank for it...I also never leave the mouse in there with him unobserved....

I realize people will have their own opinions of a separate feeding tank....I have my reasons and all the literature ive read has provided ample arguments for and against the methods I have chosen...