Refused first meal

[Elise.m]

I would leave it in over night. Once a f/t has been thawed, most people throw it away, something about it continuing to decay (I can't remember since I mostly feed live).

You're gonna have to find out how she wants to eat. My female won't take p/k or f/t unless I uncover her, drop it in there and cover her cage. She used to not be so picky, but recently she has been.

Good luck!

[Seru1]

I was always told Ball's were picky, but I was hoping since she was young I could talk her in to f/t.


I just hate the thought of feeding live, if it comes to it I will. I don't even know where to get them though. Should I wait a whole nother week to offer again if she doesn't eat?

[Elise.m]

That's what I would do. You'll probly be able to convert her to f/t, sometimes it just takes a little more elbow grease than we expected.

Feeding live really isn't that bad, yeah, you'll feel bad for the mouse. But, you will feel so good about your snake eating it will overcome it. If it makes it any easier, my BF has made me say thank you to the mouse/rat before I offer it off.

[Seru1]

I would feel very bad for the mouse, especially if she didn't take it and I was stuck looking at a future meal wondering what to do with it.


But yes right now I'd be happy just to have her eat. I hope I can get her to enjoy f/t. Maybe I should try splitting the head or putting a little tunafish on it.

[Kaorte]

Sorry if you have already told me before but when did you get this snake?

Don't be disappointed if she didn't eat her first meal with you. It is common. Don't think that f/t is out of the question now. Wait one week and try again.

Did you pre-scent before offering the food to her? I usually just blow dry the head of the feeder in the same room as the snake. The heat from the blow dryer makes the smell very strongly.

Next time, wait for her to poke out of her hide a little bit before putting the mouse in front of her so you know she is ready. Keep the lights off in the room.

[Seru1]

Oooh the lights were on. I keep forgetting they are nocturnal!

I got her yesterday but the breeder fed her every sunday and suggested trying today might not hurt.


I blow dryed it over the vents and on the table next to it until it was 102*

I'll wait for her to emerge next time. I hate uncovering her as I know it makes her tense.

This was the first time I did it on purpose. In hopes she'd be enticed.


Fingers crossed she will eat it overnight. If not I suppose I will let her alone all week,(Aside from temp checks), and see if she will take a prescented hopper next week.

[Kaorte]

Oooh the lights were on. I keep forgetting they are nocturnal!

I got her yesterday but the breeder fed her every sunday and suggested trying today might not hurt.


I blow dryed it over the vents and on the table next to it until it was 102*

I'll wait for her to emerge next time. I hate uncovering her as I know it makes her tense.

This was the first time I did it on purpose. In hopes she'd be enticed.


Fingers crossed she will eat it overnight. If not I suppose I will let her alone all week,(Aside from temp checks), and see if she will take a prescented hopper next week.

ok well generally we tell people to leave their snake completely alone for a week before handling or feeding.

She isn't adjusted to her environment yet, don't sweat it. Offer again next week and she will probably take it just fine.

[nightingale2k1]

Oooh the lights were on. I keep forgetting they are nocturnal!

I got her yesterday but the breeder fed her every sunday and suggested trying today might not hurt.


I blow dryed it over the vents and on the table next to it until it was 102*

I'll wait for her to emerge next time. I hate uncovering her as I know it makes her tense.

This was the first time I did it on purpose. In hopes she'd be enticed.


Fingers crossed she will eat it overnight. If not I suppose I will let her alone all week,(Aside from temp checks), and see if she will take a prescented hopper next week.

leave your snake alone in his place for 2-3 days. Don't touch it ...
if your snake is still a baby, he might be need to be more secure. Put papers on your tank so he can hide. if you feed him, try to put inside the tank and leave it and stay away from that. May be a little dim light could be good ...

if the snake didn't touch it .... just leave him alone for a week. it should be okay not to eat for a week.

[snakeyes]

That's what I would do. You'll probly be able to convert her to f/t, sometimes it just takes a little more elbow grease than we expected.

Feeding live really isn't that bad, yeah, you'll feel bad for the mouse. But, you will feel so good about your snake eating it will overcome it. If it makes it any easier, my BF has made me say thank you to the mouse/rat before I offer it off.

DITTO. My BP refused F/T for a month in a row...i offered it live and snapped it right up.

Poor little guy, didn't even see it coming... don't feel bad about feeding live though, cause the rat and mouse population of the world exceeds that of humans at least by about a million times, LOL. Sure, most of them are cute, that's why i don't mess around with them, or even look at them before i put them in the cage. LOL.

then again..when i get bit by the feeder as i'm putting it in the cage...i dont feel bad at all, and if they draw blood, i even stay and watch. LOL. ---> not that i'm one of those sickos that gets a kick out of the mouse dying or anything like that...
in reality i watch cause it's MY fault the mouse is going to die, i'm not a hypocrite who drops it in and looks away like it's not his fault.