How many people are experiencing feeding refusals currently??

[Aeries]

Out of my collection, I have two that I've called picky eaters in the past.

One is my western hognose, and the other is my BP. The Hoggie used to oblige me almost perfectly every other week. She'd never eat while I was around either, never ever off the tongs. Then all of a sudden I tried running the rats under hot water right before feeding, and she's taken them immediately ever since.

My BP's a sissy. He never strikes. My current reliable method for him is to wait until he's in his warm hide, run the rat under hot water, then stuff if in the entrance of his hide so he can't get out without pushing it out of the way. It's usually gone within an hour now.

Nothing I hate more than wasting rats, but I've been really lucky, I haven't had to throw any out in quite a while now.

[j_h_smith]

I've got a few picky eaters that won't eat every week. However, I just learned a great lesson. I bought an 800 gram het for Pied female from Adam recently. I fed her yesterday for the first time. She wouldn't take the live small rat. I opened the tub, put the rat inside the tub and left for 30 minutes. Came back and she hadn't taken the rat.

Now realize, I asked Adam the usual questions about his husbandry. I got all the right answers. So I was confident there wouldn't be a problem, but here she was not eating.

I happened to be browsing the web and decided I'd go to 8Ball Pythons, Adam's web page. There was a video showing how he fed his snakes. There, while watching, the light bulb went off and I went in to the snakeroom, got the rat, fed the snake JUST LIKE Adam did in his video and the snake coiled around that rat like the best feeder you could ever want.

So, sometimes it's not the snake's fault, it's that we aren't doing something correctly and the snake has to learn how to live with us.

These snakes survive and thrive dispite our worst efforts.
Jim Smith

[SNIKTTIME]

I've got a few picky eaters that won't eat every week. However, I just learned a great lesson. I bought an 800 gram het for Pied female from Adam recently. I fed her yesterday for the first time. She wouldn't take the live small rat. I opened the tub, put the rat inside the tub and left for 30 minutes. Came back and she hadn't taken the rat.

Now realize, I asked Adam the usual questions about his husbandry. I got all the right answers. So I was confident there wouldn't be a problem, but here she was not eating.

I happened to be browsing the web and decided I'd go to 8Ball Pythons, Adam's web page. There was a video showing how he fed his snakes. There, while watching, the light bulb went off and I went in to the snakeroom, got the rat, fed the snake JUST LIKE Adam did in his video and the snake coiled around that rat like the best feeder you could ever want.

So, sometimes it's not the snake's fault, it's that we aren't doing something correctly and the snake has to learn how to live with us.

These snakes survive and thrive dispite our worst efforts.
Jim Smith

That is a great clip also the ''popping'' clip he has is good for people to see.

[j_h_smith]

That is a great clip also the ''popping'' clip he has is good for people to see.

It just goes to show that we may not know as much as we think we know. But our snakes thrive in spite of us.

Who would have thought that presenting a live rat in a different manner would get this little girl to eat. Just plopping the rat into the tub didn't work, but dangling a live rat from the end of hemostats and the snake ate like there was no tomorrow.

Who would have thunk it?
Jim Smith

[ElwoodG]

i just got my 09 female to eat on tuesday this week. last time she ate was almost 7 weeks ago on jan 4th. and in that time frame of not eating no matter what i did she wouldn't eat then on tuesday of this week i dangled the mouse by its tail in front of her and she took it like nothing had changed. happy that she ate but i thought you little bugger at the same time lol.

[snakemanandfred]

I have 2 snakes both balls told both Male but not really sure
one is over 4 pounds 5 3/8 OUNCE The other is 1 pound 13 3/4 ounce
both housed in separate cage the large one (snakeman) eats med rats f/t
had rat in cage for 24 hour did not eat last ate on Feb 3rd
the small one (Fred the snake) ate 2 adult mice F/Tin 24 hour time frame on
feb 3rd same thing on Feb 23. If he wants to eat two meals should i go to a small rat mabey F/T ?? to give him a larger meal

[jls6214]

My BP has stopped eating for the past couple of weeks. I have tried twice with no luck at all. He wont even come out of his hide to investigate... Whats up?!? Should I be concerned???

[Satanslillgrl]

My baby BP (5 months) has just decided she doesn't like pinkie rats. This is the first time I've tried them with her and it's the first time she's given me any trouble at feeding time. She grabbed it up and killed it fast enough, she just won't eat it.

Any suggestions?

[dr del]

Hi,

Could it be a security issue?

I know one of mine will refuse to eat if I am watching. When they are eating they are vulnerable as they cannot strike any attacker or run away quickly.


dr del

[Satanslillgrl]

My baby BP (5 months) has just decided she doesn't like pinkie rats. This is the first time I've tried them with her and it's the first time she's given me any trouble at feeding time. She grabbed it up and killed it fast enough, she just won't eat it.

Any suggestions?

*facepalms*

Nevermind. That was 100% my bad. I saw the post on the Husbandry Page called "Feeder Heat" and made me remember that I hadn't put the heat pad under her feeder tank. Did that and she took it like usual.