Problem Feeder

[Stewart_Reptiles]

When i first brought her, i handled her a couple of times, but when i saw that feeding was going to be a problem, I havent handled her at all in about 6 weeks.

Her cool side is 80, her warm side is 92, she is in a tiny tub blacked out on 3 sides. Humidity is 60. The tub is actually inside of the tank because the temp/humidity is already controlled there. The tank is covered with a blanket constantly and her lights are off.

I offer food every sunday at about 10-11pm, ive thawed them several different ways, lukewarm water as well as completely out in the open in the snake room to get the scent going, then i heat it up some with a blow dryer. I grab it at its lower back and move it around like it is alive, and she just slithers past it to the opening of the tub and tries to get out. Ive tried braining, live rodent bedding as well as chicken broth (no idea why it would work but ive read about it)

I havent offered live yet because im not sure if it is a prey issue or a husbandry issue. Id rather not end up with a pet rat if she doesnt eat it. Last I weighed her was about 2 weeks ago, she was at around 110g, a little bit less than she was when I got her some time ago. I noticed she doesnt use her hot hide, im wondering if she doesnt like it, but I made the opening alot smaller, maybe i'll just get 2 cheap bowls and make her new hides.

Lower the temps to 86/88 (92 is too hot for a small tub.

Get 1 or 2 plastic flower pot saucer to use as hides (6 inches wide) hides must be tight which mean low profile.

Once you made those changes wait 5 days (NO HANDLING) and offer a live small live mouse, in the evening, in the tub and remove after 10 min if not eaten.

[HanabiraAsashi]

out of curiosity, why is 92 too warm for belly heat in a plastic tub? I wouldnt think its any different for a glass enclosure.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

out of curiosity, why is 92 too warm for belly heat in a plastic tub? I wouldnt think its any different for a glass enclosure.

Because in such a small tub it is and does not allow for much room to thermoregulate, additionally hatchlings seems to do better around 86/88 (and I have help troubleshoot a few feeding issues )

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[HanabiraAsashi]

So I put in the new hides last night, and so far I don't think she's gone inside them at all. I see her curled up behind or sprawled up behind one of them. Im pretty sure she is sleeping outside of the hides as well. Maybe because the tank is so dark and covered she is treating the entire tub as a hide??

Earlier I turned on a dim light with this assumption to see what she would do, she stuck her head inside of the hide to get out of the light until I turned it off.

[HanabiraAsashi]

As per instruction, I lowered her hot side to 88, left b her alone for a week and a half except to clean a bit after pee/urates. I finally found a place wth live feeders, put it in her tank
... it honestly seemed like she would make friends with it before eating it. They took turns sniffing each other, then the snake started trying t find away out of the tub again. At a total loss at what to do with this snake and my apparently new pet rat.