How do you feed?

[uafgrad]

Ok, I tried to feed my new guy early this morning (everyone asleep, quiet, warm, and somewhat dark) This will be his first feeding since he left the breeder. I got him Tuesday morning and tried feeding Sunday early morning.

So I tried a f/t mouse. I thawed it in warm water, let it sit in the room for about 30 min to scent the room, and then covered it with the CHE for about 2 min to warm it up again. I had tongs and kind of moved it in front of the hide back and forth by the tail for a couple of minutes. Nothing. So I left it in front of the hide for about 5 hours and it was still there. I removed it and disposed of it.

I had hoped to be able to use f/t, but apparently he isnt going for it. He had been eating live. Im going to go to PETCO today and see if I can find a live feeder mouse today and see if he is hungry tonight.
My question is how do you feed live to your snake? On snakebytes I see them holding the mouse by the scruff of the neck with tongs. Others talk about just dropping the mouse in and leaving it for 15-60 minutes.

Thoughts and suggestion?

[JayBP]

He probably just wasn't paying attention. I usually lightly tap the top of their hides to get their attention. They come out to see what's going on, see the mouse, and they go for it.

But if you want to feed live, you can just leave it in there with the snake. Try to make sure the snake knows it's in there though and if you feel more comfortable, you can watch and make sure everything goes smooth. Good luck!

[WizzySRT10]

I put the box with the 2 holes down with the live rat on top of the screen lid for about 20-30 mins. I come back in there and he's usually looking at the screen trying to get closer to the box. Open the screen drop the rat in and usually he's dead in under 2 mins and being worked to swallowed. I always watch make sure the rat is dead and not biting my snake. I haven't had any problems yet knock on wood for feeding. I try to keep the same feeding scedule that I got my snake from. Speaking of that tomarrow is feeding day I feed every monday or tuesday.

[Bart]

uafgrad, before giving up on feeding frozen, you might want to try again in several days. You said you got the snake this past Tuesday. I usually wait about two weeks before I offer any food. I wouldn't handle him either.

[starmom]

For my one snake who eats live, I pre-scent the area for about half an hour in the evening (around 8 or 9:00pm). I drop the mouse in and - BAM- snake takes the mouse.

For the rest of the snakes who eat f/t, I pre-scent all day long as the rats are thawing. When the rats are thawed, I open the bags and really let the scent out for about 30 or 45 minutes. I increase the heat signature of the rodent with a blow dryer and then hold the rodent between the shoulder blades with hemostats.

Most of my snakes just slam the rat the minute I open their cage or tub, but I do have a couple who need the rat zombie dance!!!

[m00kfu]

My question is how do you feed live to your snake? On snakebytes I see them holding the mouse by the scruff of the neck with tongs. Others talk about just dropping the mouse in and leaving it for 15-60 minutes.

Thoughts and suggestion?

Actually, you're probably thinking of 8 Ball Pythons feeding video. At BHB they usually just hold the live rat by the tail, unless I missed the tongs thing in a recent episode.

Anyways, I usually just drop the rat in the tub after pre-scenting for an hour or two and let the snakes do their thing.