Feeding issues

[Megz]

Quite frankly I just want my BP to eat it. I don't want a rat and now I'm increasingly worried about her because it's almost been a month and it's almost like she's scared of rats or something. She literally went right up to it and just didn't care

[Megz]

I mean she is horrified of this rat. I tried again (last time was 8 hrs ago) and she just hides from it. I don't understand how a snake can be afraid of a rat. The last time she ate was December 23rd and since she has been refusing all frozen so I get a live and still nothing. Any thoughts on this because she is losing weight and I'm getting worried if she's afraid of rats of all things

[200xth]

She could just not be hungry. If she weighs around 1200g, she can miss a few meals without issue.

How much weight has she lost?

[patientz3ro]

Incidentally, around 1kg is the proverbial "I'm gonna mess with your head and fast until you go nuts" wall. If she's right around that weight, that might be what you're up against. In that case, I have two suggestions...

1. Offer f/t, but less frequently. If you feed every 7 days, cut back and offer food every 10 days or so. If she takes food, go back to the normal interval.

2. Get a nice Boa. Whatever the BP refuses, I bet the boa will eat it!

I haven't had any feeding issues of my own yet (knock on wood), but I have also heard that varying the intervals between feedings can help decrease the likelihood of fasting issues. I vary my feedings between 5-7 days, with the occasional extra day or two, depending on my work schedule. You could also try dropping a thawed and warmed prey item into the cage at a completely random time of day.

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[Megz]

Incidentally, around 1kg is the proverbial "I'm gonna mess with your head and fast until you go nuts" wall. If she's right around that weight, that might be what you're up against. In that case, I have two suggestions...

1. Offer f/t, but less frequently. If you feed every 7 days, cut back and offer food every 10 days or so. If she takes food, go back to the normal interval.

2. Get a nice Boa. Whatever the BP refuses, I bet the boa will eat it!

I haven't had any feeding issues of my own yet (knock on wood), but I have also heard that varying the intervals between feedings can help decrease the likelihood of fasting issues. I vary my feedings between 5-7 days, with the occasional extra day or two, depending on my work schedule. You could also try dropping a thawed and warmed prey item into the cage at a completely random time of day.

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I started a once a week feeding then I went to two weeks then I tried three days later etc. so I have been caring but the 1000g thought may be it. So right now I have the live rat living with me and my BP (separate tanks of course). I think it's too funny but at least ill have it to offer her which will be good.

[patientz3ro]

I started a once a week feeding then I went to two weeks then I tried three days later etc. so I have been caring but the 1000g thought may be it. So right now I have the live rat living with me and my BP (separate tanks of course). I think it's too funny but at least ill have it to offer her which will be good.

If worse comes to worst, you can always thaw and warm an F/T, then crack open its skull and smear brain matter on the live one's head. It sounds brutal, but for some reason they go NUTS when they smell brain.

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[Megz]

Wow seriously?! That's crazy

[bcr229]

Get a nice Boa. Whatever the BP refuses, I bet the boa will eat it!

This is why I love my boas, kings, corns, etc... they are little garbage disposals!

[h20hunter]

Not really crazy at all.....I believe it is called pithing....

[Megz]

Ok well I'll try that. How do I wash brains off my snake though if they get on her? I tried again today and I watched don't worry but the rat scurried around and sniffed her even climbed on her and she was so not interested. I don't get it. She got scared of it and then went back to roaming and trying to get out of the enclosure. I guess she must not be hungry but she is roaming the way she does when she's hungry. I will try this pithing on Wednesday. So just defrost a frozen rat and smear the brains on the live one? What happens if she still doesn't eat it what should I do :-/