Won't eat :(

[dr del]

Hi,

Just one thing to rule out.

You said you had tried using a hairdrier to dry the fuzzy.

What temp was it when you offered it? I just wondered if he was moving towards your hand because that was the warmest thing he could see.

Also what size/ weight is the snake?


dr del

[Oxylepy]

I think all the snakes I have had and seen would look at me as if I were on drugs if I offered them a fuzzy (they only seem to accept hopper+ for me)

Also you want the prey item to be warmer than you and than the environment. As balls need 80-90 degree surroundings on their warm side they need prey that is mid 90s and up, I find that one of my girls will only strike if the prey item is around 102.

[balactm@jmu.edu]

when i warm up the fuzzy it's in boiling water, and then i used a hair dryer to just to get it dry. and the hides are a half log, and something i made out of cardboard. i'm using a thermometer on the side of the tank, and i would adjust it as i saw fit earlier on when i was trying to dial in the temperature. as for his daily routine, since i'm normally up when he is, he normally spends most of the day in his hide, or playing in the water, and when he comes out he comes out for 15mins to an hour and then goes back in. so he comes out and lays on the log to warm up, cools down in the water, just does that a lot. then at night he sniffs around the top of the cage (probably looking for a way out) and spends a good amount of time exploring. is that normal?

[p3titexburial]

Before you try live, have you tried braining an f/t pinky? It's pretty nasty but it's a trick I learned from corns. =)

Good luck!

[Elise.m]

Before you try live, have you tried braining an f/t pinky? It's pretty nasty but it's a trick I learned from corns. =)

Good luck!

You must've not read the whole thread, he stated he tried that.

He might not be eating the f/t mouse if you warmed it up too much in the boiling water and cooked it. Just use really warm water, but not anything that's boiling. Also, half logs don't give the security a BP requires. Try getting some plastic bowls from the dollar store, or wal-mart and cutting a hole in the side of them.

[Kaorte]

Don't warm it up in boiling water, you will cook the mouse. Just use hot tap water.

What kind of thermometers are you using? You should be using a digital thermometer with a probe right on top of the UTH (on the glass).

You should also have two IDENTICAL tight fitting hides. Half logs just don't cut it. You need hides that are low and have a small opening. Rock cave type hides are best. One for the cool side and one for the hot side.

Reusable substrate doesn't really work so well. You can never fully disinfect it and it gets smell fast. Think about switching to aspen or paper towels.

A fuzzy is probably way to small for your snake. Hatchlings are started on hoppers and quickly move to adult mice.

[p3titexburial]

Ah, no I did, I meant BEFORE trying live since someone suggested live first when the OP probably prefers to keep feeding f/t--considering if he tries modifying everything else.

[p3titexburial]

Whoops. I see what you mean. Sorry. ^^;;;

[Elise.m]

Whoops. I see what you mean. Sorry. ^^;;;

Lol, no worries

[balactm@jmu.edu]

i thought the rule of thumb for size of prey was the size of the snakes biggest part? if so, then it's the perfect size. i made a smaller hide for him on one side and i'll see if he likes that better. although, i still haven't gotten the answer to what live prey i should get? also, will feeding him live prey make him more aggressive towards me?