Largest live rat safe to leave overnight

[angllady2]

Ok, I have a few VERY stubborn snakes refusing feed right now. I've been trying every trick I can find once a week for the last 2 months plus, and no go.

So, I know sometimes using live instead of F/T can persuade them, but since they seem extremely shy recently, I thought maybe live overnight might help.

I need to know the largest size of live rat I can leave overnight without worrying about my snakes safety. Granted, the prey might be much too small, but if I can get them to take SOMETHING, maybe they'll come around.

Thanks in advance,

Gale

[llovelace]

NO!!!!!! Never leave a live rodent in with your snake unsupervised,(unless it's a rat pup) or you could wind up with a snake like this



They will feed eventually, how old are they?

[musicalKeyes]

I'd say none, unless you're going to give them something that doesn't have their eyes open yet. Really, a curious rat can be a dangerous rat, and even little baby rats have teeth. I probably wouldn't risk it. Good luck on getting them to eat, though! If you have the time, maybe try putting the rat in and sitting there with the lights off until they take it, so it's supervised.


Edit:
Yikes, I'd forgotten about the picture

[llovelace]

Yikes, I'd forgotten about the picture

Yes a picture sort of puts things into perspective, one of the other members posted it a little while ago, after someone brought the snake in to him, a rodent was left in for who knows how long, so sad

[angllady2]

Umm, I did say largest SAFE size, didn't I ? I know perfectly well how dangerous it is to leave live prey, otherwise I wouldn't be asking would I ? I'd have just thrown something in and then come here crying my snakes got chewed up. So don't lecture me on that.

I know for a fact several people do this, what I want to know is do they stick with pinky rats? Fuzzies? Or if you can go a large as a rat pup. I don't care if a fuzzy rat would be like an M&M to these guys, I just want them to eat something, anything!

All four snakes have lost weight, and despite my best efforts, refuse to take any F/T anything. If I am going to try live, I want the best possible chance at coaxing them to eat, and right now that to me is overnight where they can have peace and quiet.

Gale

[cinderbird]

if you've ruled out every possible cause for going off feed (stress, temps, insecurity, etc) then maybe your snake is just off food. It happens. A lot. They will tell you when they want to eat again.

I have a female that goes off feed for me almost every year ive owned her in October and starts eating again in may/july. I don't even offer her food because its unnecessary, shes not displaying hungry behavior, and when she FINALLY did i offered her food and she ate.

do not leave a live rodent with erupted teeth in with your snake unsupervised.

[BPelizabeth]

I have had several pickey eaters lately and I do feed live. What I might suggest and it has worked for me is to prekill it and throw it in. After a couple of hours they have eaten it. Apparently they want some privacy and when you prekill them they typical pee a little....(sounds weird but I think that helps). BP's can go quite a while without eating....depending on their weight.

[DJ_Bizarre]

small rat pup around 20g at the largest I would say is what anyone should leave overnight if they absolutly have to, otherwise, nothing in a tub overnight if it is live

[BPelizabeth]

Also I am not sure when you got this snake but there are some BP's out there that just plain refuse to eat rats!! Spoiled little poopers!!

[GoingPostal]

Well first off I would try just regular feeding live, mouse, rat, asf. If you are leaving anything in there unsupervised make sure there is food and water and I wouldn't recommend overnight.