Vote for BP.Net for the 2013 Forum of the Year! Click here for more info.

» Site Navigation

» Home
 > FAQ

» Online Users: 584

1 members and 583 guests
Most users ever online was 47,180, 07-16-2025 at 05:30 PM.

» Today's Birthdays

None

» Stats

Members: 75,912
Threads: 249,117
Posts: 2,572,189
Top Poster: JLC (31,651)
Welcome to our newest member, coda
Results 1 to 5 of 5

Threaded View

  1. #1
    BPnet Veteran
    Join Date
    12-01-2011
    Posts
    790
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked 147 Times in 81 Posts

    Tips on stimulating feeding response

    We've all read them online: Try pre-killed, try live, dip in chicken broth, brain it etc. etc. But what are some of the ways you would suggest I get this snake I have to eat?

    I know you need to make sure that husbandry is right etc. but I really don't think that there is anything wrong as all my balls of that size are kept in the same rack and they are all kept the same with the same heating same substrate same waterbowls etc. and they all eat. This one is probably not eating because he is new, but then again its been about 2 weeks now.

    The previous owner said he fed him on BOTH rats and mice. He would feed frozen thawed rats which he bred himself and froze at the right size. When he ran out, he would go out and buy live mice (because around these parts they don't often sell rats of that size) and feed that way for that week. He said he never had a problem with her feeding and I do believe him. We have mutual friends and he has had good reviews.

    The snake is 788 grams, female. It is of course cold here but the room is so that the ambient is about 78 - 80F and the hot spot is 89 - 91 with flexwatt type heating.

    I tried first a thawed rat which is smaller than what is usually fed to her, heated as usual and did the zombie dance with tongs, no interest. I did that again the following week, no luck. I called the guy and he said he will give me one of his rats to try live, so I tried live while closely monitoring it. She showed some interest (I think) but as soon as the rat moved she curled into a ball.

    I never tried chicken broth, sounds kinda funky to me. Do you rise the rat in chicken broth and feed it wet? Do you dip the whole rodent? Or just say, the head?

    When I used to keep corns, I got a lot of non feeders to eat with a trick whereby I would was the rodent in Ivory bar soap, and then wash all the soap until none is left on the rodent, but unfortunately I don't know if that works with balls and also they don't sell that brand of soap anymore here.

    Also, does the smell of rodent urine increase or decrease the feeding response?
    Last edited by hungba; 01-23-2012 at 02:23 AM.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v4.2.1