Feeding SMALL prey

[akaangela]

I got a beautiful female in Sept. She was 1025g when I got her. I was told she ate hopper rats. I gave her a small rat and she took it. I thought "GREAT" she took a second small rat a week later. Then she refused. I was puzzled so I offered her a hopper rat. She still refused and kept refusing every week. She started to loose weight and went down to 934g. In despration I offered her a weanling asf. She hit it so hard I thought she was going to knock herself out. She took another and a third. Now she is not huge but considering that the weanling asf is about the size of two peanuts I can't see how she can live off 3 or 4 a week. I would LOVE to get her on at least small rats again. How slowly should I bring the sizing up for her? The last asf I offered was a hopper (the size of a very small mouse). I don't want her to stop eating again. How soon do you think I can offer her a weanling rat? How often should I feed her? My usual feeding is once a week. She is going to get costly really fast if I have to buy 3-4 weanling rats every week (they cost about $3 each here.) Thanks for your help.

[Argentra]

I hear that... my first BP, a sweet normal female, totally refuses anything larger than a large adult mouse and she's between 600 and 700g! I try offering a retired breeder mouse even and she totally hides from it.

I'm not entirely sure how to get them to eat larger prey since she still won't do it. I just accept it and am glad she eats and gains weight, even if it's a small amount. She's one of the pickiest eaters I have.

Good luck adjusting the feeding on yours. If I were you, tho, just in case she stays that way I would start breeding my own feeders. I'm looking to try rat breeding again now that I have 5 snakes on rats and the costs are mounting.