Don't roll your eyes! It is yet another newbe with a feeding question!

[BPelizabeth]

hit it with a blow dryer right before offering and feed in her enclosure. It is kind of an old wise tale that it makes them cage agressive. The only time that they are typically agressive is if something is wrong or you smell like a mouse/rat.

When I got my first BP I was set on feeding her outside the enclosure.....it was a nightmare. She often would not take it....I had to jump through soooooo many hoops to make it happen. Then I found this site and started feeding in the enclosure....I have only had one refusal in 6 months. Plus it is so much easier for you and much less stressful for the snake. Remember snakes are most vunerable when feeding...so they want to feel safe while they are doing it.

[dr del]

Hi,

You didn't mention what the breeder was feeding - if you are offering rats but the snake is more used to mice that could be part of the problem.

I would ask the breeder if he could talk you through how he prepares and offers the food to see if there is any difference.

I would also suggest trying to defrost for an hour or so near the snakes cage rather than it all being in the fridge or plastic bag - the scent can get them in the right feeding mode.


dr del

[Kaorte]

I am curious as to what kind of hides she has?

Do you have a picture of your setup?

[Seru1]

You know On a similair vein I'd like to ask about defrosting a mouse.



How long does it take to thaw an f/t hopper in a little tupperware container of warm water?


I am so hoping she eats for me. Though I won't be surprised if she doesn't cause I just got her from the show yesterday, and I'm a moron trying to set up her cage while she's trying to hide.


I accidentally uncovered her 3 times! Each time she balled up so high I couldn't put the pot back down so I didn't know what to do except move the pot lid. I was afraid it would hurt her if I rested it atop her.

[proballo]

ok so the breeder was feeding rat pups and alternating F/T and live although I would probably bet it was feeding only live, not that breeders are dishonest but I heard a lot of cute sales pitches at the reptile expo about BP being "so easy to switch back and forth" ok So she did take the 1 F/T rat pup I offered on her 2nd feed attempt and she had really good feed response, it was so easy I got all excited but alas she has refused everything since.
It's hard to get a pic of her enclosure since it's mostly covered up now but I'll try. she has a lot of cover in her enclosure and she mainly likes to hang out behind a strip of corkbark that spans across the back of the viv. It's nice and tight back there she also has a small flowerpot in her cool side and a too big for her rock hide on the hot side. She uses the hot hide despite the fact that it is too large (that is where she successfully fed from) and alternates between the "lean-to" (cooler hide) and the rock which she can do by crossing about 1 inch of open space. I am reluctant to change the rock hide for something smaller because she seems comfortable using it and I don't want to mess with her enclosure till she is feeding regularly.
Today she was out for a while at noon tongue flicking and exploring all over despite the fact that people were up and around, she seems comfortable in the enclosure and it just seems to be the feeding that she is shy about. So frustrating!

Thanks for all the input though.

BTW I have left the rat out for 60 min on top of her enclosure to get to room temp and even tried the blow dryer thing last time but she doesn't get excited about the scent.

[WingedWolfPsion]

Try a live one. If she eats, switch back to FT the next week. I have found that once you get them eating again they aren't as picky.

I start all my breeders on live when they come out of the fast at the end of the breeding season. After that, the ones that will take it get FT, and they don't refuse it.

[MitsuMike]

Try a live one. If she eats, switch back to FT the next week. I have found that once you get them eating again they aren't as picky.

I start all my breeders on live when they come out of the fast at the end of the breeding season. After that, the ones that will take it get FT, and they don't refuse it.

What he said but I would offer smaller prey so not to intimidate the snake. Soo if it takes rat pups (20-25ish grams) try 2 big pinkies/fuzzies weighing about 10 grams each. They don't move much, they are already scented and will not harm ur BP if he mis strikess.
Also it sounds nuts but go to Petsmart or a pet store and ask for some mouse bedding out of the mouse cages (or rat if your feeding rats). Put this little bag open next to the cage and cover the cage and the bedding with a towel or something so the snake HAS to smell the bedding and I am pretty sure he will be VERY willing to eat. Do this for about an hour before feeding. Then drop in that pinkie/fuzzy and let the snake have at it.
Hope this helps.
Also I would say do this until the snake has eaten for atleast 3 weeks in a row then you can try bigger live prey. Then once the snake is used to bigger prey switch over to F/T and you should be good to go.