How long do you leave a feeder in unattended?

[mikedahitman87]

First of all, I am not a newbie, not an expert either but not a newbie. Anyway I was wondering how long do you leave a live feeder in an enclosure unattended? I know that you shouldn't leave a mouse or rat with your snake very long, but I imagine that those with larger collections probably do this often.

I am only asking because my new addition that I got about 3 weeks ago, doesn't seem too interest in F/T. I tried a live mouse last night, he seemed interested but also a little shy about being watched. I took the mouse out after about an hour. He might have eaten it if I left it overnight, but I am not sure.

[Slim]

Your poll doesn't have an option for Never. I would never leave anything larger than a fuzy in with any of my BPs unsupervised.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

When I feed I am always in the room, I leave the prey in each enclosure for 20 minutes at the most if not eaten by than I remove it.

I am only asking because my new addition that I got about 3 weeks ago, doesn't seem too interest in F/T. I tried a live mouse last night, he seemed interested but also a little shy about being watched. I took the mouse out after about an hour. He might have eaten it if I left it overnight, but I am not sure.

NEVER leave a prey unattended over night!

Your BP not eating might be due to several reasons hard to tell really without any details, often new owners experience.

• How big is your BP?
• What kind of enclosure do you have him in and how big is it?
• What are your temps and humidity and how do you measure them? (Type of thermometer/hygrometer)
• Do you provide hides, how are your hides? Are they tight and identical will all sides touching your BP's body?
• What type of prey was your BP offered previously?
• How often have you offered food?
• How often have you handled your BP?

[Little B-Py]

I stay in the room with mine when we feed, but the feeders only last in the tank about a minute or 2.

[waltah!]

When I have had to feed live I never took my eyes off of the prey item. I'm a bit OCD about it I guess, but with my luck something bad would happen if I left it unattended.

[milklover]

I never leave mine alone unless fuzzie or under sized.

[Pyth0nParalyze]

When I have had to feed live I never took my eyes off of the prey item. I'm a bit OCD about it I guess, but with my luck something bad would happen if I left it unattended.

I'm the exact same way! Our BP is relatively young yet, but we always watch how the situation goes. I would say just about 20-30 minutes i'll take it out if the BP doesn't seem interested, maybe even less depending on how the snake is reacting to the movement in the tank or close by it. Usually if the feeder crosses the path of our BP several times to know that our BP DOES sense there's a feeder near by, but our BP doesn't choose to pursue it or really isn't all that interested, that's when we'll take it out.

Word of advice though, I agree with everyone else before me that you should never leave a feeder in unattended. You might not think a feeder would be brave enough to do anything compared to a reptile that's bigger than itself, but feeders can get pretty defensive when they're put on the spot. I was worried for a couple days because the feeder our BP just recently ate was trying to bite our BP when our snake was wrapping around it after it caught it! Our snake is fine though, no noting injuries, but it goes to show that feeders don't surrender to the struggle so easily. And if they're roaming around with your BP not interested, there's a good possibility that they can hurt your BP by biting or scratching, so that's why you should NEVER leave it in overnight or for any period longer than I would say at least 30 minutes in my sense.

I would take into account the list that Deborah gave, since there's several possibilities why your BP probably isn't eating right now. If you could provide more details on that list, it would probably be easier to identify why your BP was uninterested in the feeder.

Keep us updated!

[mikedahitman87]

• How big is your BP?
• What kind of enclosure do you have him in and how big is it?
• What are your temps and humidity and how do you measure them? (Type of thermometer/hygrometer)
• Do you provide hides, how are your hides? Are they tight and identical will all sides touching your BP's body?
• What type of prey was your BP offered previously?
• How often have you offered food?
• How often have you handled your BP?

1. about 450 grams
2 I have him in a RBI mini cage which has the foot print of a CB 30 tub. I am keeping him in this until his QT period is up. then I will move him into my rack with the others.
3. Temps are about 78 on the cool side and 90-94 on the warm side. These are measure with two indoor/outdoor thermoters with probes. I also verify these temps with my tempgun. Humidity stays about 55% checke with hygrometr probe.
4. I provide two identical hide. They are smallest I could find without him wearing them for a hat. They could be a little lower though.
5. Previously he was offered live small rats
6. I offer food once a week to all of my BPs. The rest I have already switched to F/T.
7. While I usually handle my BPs pretty regularly about 1-2 times a week, I have only handled this new guy when needed such as when I first got him and after he pooped, to change the newspaper.

I really want this guy to start eating soon. I know it is not unsually for BPs to go off food, for a little bit. My 2 year old has gone as long as 6 weeks. It just makes me nervous when a new one does it because, I just spent X about amount of money on him and have some future breeding plans for him.

[snakelady]

I selected the 15 min option.

But I'm always still in the room feeding others, cleaning, record keeping, or whatever.
I always feed any picky eaters or "seasonal" eaters first. Then hopefully by the time I'm done with the others the ones that aren't sure will have eaten.

I feed mostly f/t on tongs so "how long" is not much of an issue for me. Most bite it right away. The live mice are never left in the tub longer than an hour. If it's not gone by then the snake gets to wait till next time.

1. about 450 grams
I really want this guy to start eating soon. I know it is not unsually for BPs to go off food, for a little bit. My 2 year old has gone as long as 6 weeks. It just makes me nervous when a new one does it because, I just spent X about amount of money on him and have some future breeding plans for him.

It's understandable to be nervous about newbies not eating. Just keep in mind your breeding plans are not necessarily their breeding plans.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

5. Previously he was offered live small rats

To me here is your main problem, you offered F/T mice to an animal that was eating Live rats.

Switching can be tricky and when done it is often better to

1# Switch a well establish snake, which means a snake that is eating for you with consistency already

2# Take one step at the time in other word switch to mice first than once your BP eats mice with consistency switch to F/T

Right now your priority is to get him to eat so try offering live rats once a week (If your BP refuses wait a week before offering again).

In the mean time only handle him like you have done only when necessary.