Not Eating

[Bhikku]

DO NOT FEED FROZEN. Hatchlings need to be fed live to establish a good feeding response.

If this is the case, at what age do you switch a snake over to frozen/thawed?

[RichsBallPythons]

If this is the case, at what age do you switch a snake over to frozen/thawed?

you switch when you feel the sanke will still thrive with a good feeding response on frozen. He on frozen and becomes picky then you know to stay on live lil longer.

[dr del]

Sorry,

DO NOT FEED FROZEN. Hatchlings need to be fed live to establish a good feeding response.

I have to call total BS on this one.

Virtually all captive bred BP's in the UK are started on frozen and eat perfectly well.

It might be easier to start them on live but it is absolutely not "needed"


dr del

[BP-NJ]

My male hatchling ate f/t within 4 days of receiving him and has been enthusiastically eating them ever since. I think we were very lucky with that one. My new little female hatchling, however, refused her first offering of f/t. I am thinking we've got to go with live with her for awhile. My very minimal experience tells me it depends on the snake.

[Kaorte]

There is no evidence to support that all babies must be fed live. That is a false statement to make.

Can you maybe post a picture of the snakes setup? What are your temps? How are you measuring them? What are you using to control the heat source.

Wait one week from the day you put him in the new enclosure and then offer him a fuzzy. Pre-scent the room before hand and if possible, blast the mouse with a hair dryer for a few seconds before offering it to him. Offer it to him in his home enclosure preferably while he is hiding. Don't just shove it in his face. Let him smell it and then come out of the hide on his own.

Good luck!

[jjmitchell]

If he would take it the rat pink would be better than the hopper.... I have a thing with my snakes if they dont eat they dont get handled until they do. Works for me if they are stressed not messing with em gives em time to relax and decide to eat when their next feeding comes

[Big Gunns]

OK...they may not "have to eat live", but they are more likely to eat live. Get a live fuzzy mouse, put your snake in a 6 qt tub on Aspen bedding (100% must)and try and feed it at night. This will usually work if the temps are good. Since this snake is refusing f/t, you need to get it eating well before switching it back. Your best chance for that is to feed it live.

[Mike Schultz]

If you have live rat pinks I'd use those! better to get them started on rats early anyways.

[Big Gunns]

If you have live rat pinks I'd use those! better to get them started on rats early anyways.

This is only the case if they eat right away. This snake may be starting to become weak from not eating. It's very small. It probably should be fed something small(mouse fuzzie) and then switched over to rat pups. They are much more likely to eat something with hair in BG's experience. This is why a mouse fuzzie is best.

[OgleRpets]

Just tried feeding him and he ate a live hopper african soft fur within 10 minutes of being put into separate 27 quart container. He is now happily settled in his hide.

His owners are ecstatic and can't decide if they want me to let his tummy settle for a day or so and take him back or let me keep him and see if he eats again next week. I told them I thought he might be having space issues (meaning he is not ready for a big cage).

They are supposed to let me know later what they would like to do.