had BP for 3 days, last ate 6/22, should I feed?

[txsaluki00]

Ok, I have read a lot on these forums and found it all (well at least most) fairly helpful. From what I read it says you should give a new ball about 1 week to acclimate to new environment before attempting to feed.

I am trying to do that, but there are a few signs that I think show he may need to be fed sooner.

1) He is only a few months old and was last fed 6/22. He went through a shed the week after that, and then refused to eat on 7/15. I got him on 7/16.

2) After a short amount of initial activity checking out his new home, he was basically doing his BP thing and staying in his hide for the next couple of days, and getting active for about 2 hours at dusk each night. Today though he is being very active during the day. I have been told that this is sometimes a sign that they are ready to feed.

3) When I was changing water and adjusting temperature probes today I had to move him and he is feeling somewhat mushy like he is lacking muscle tone. When I got him last week, I had checked him out and he had felt fine.

So my question is should I go ahead and attempt to feed, or should I stick to waiting for the full week? I don't want to start my son's snake out being malnurished.

[bsash]

You may try to feed, if the snake refuses, then try to feed once a week. Also, make sure the husbandry is properly set up.

[txsaluki00]

ambient temp at 82, warm side hide at 89, warm spot outside hide at 94 (have UTH but waiting on thermostat to hook it up, so only relying on lamp).

Humidity is hard to control with lamp, but it has been held between 40 and 55. Once I get the thermostat tomorrow I will not use the lamp as much and humidity should be more controlled.

I have a hide on both ends, but the one on the cool side maybe too small.

I haven't tried to feed yet, this would be my first time. I was just wondering if the 1 week after getting the snake is a hard rule or if the above signs overrule that.

[txsaluki00]

Well went ahead and tried feeding tonight and he took it on the second try. Since it was my first time feeding a snake, I am glad it went so smoothly. I think he rejected the first try because I did not have it warm enough. My son had the idea to put it on top of the screen right under the lamp for about 5 mins to heat it up and let the scent into the tank. I then noticed the BP coil up just a little underneath a branch and wait. My son then took the mouse in the tongs and as soon as he got the mouse into the tank within reach, the snake struck and coiled it up. The mouse was gone after about 15 mins. Glad things are working out well. The whole family (even the wife) watched as my 9 yr old son's new pet ate its first meal.

[bsash]

Well, your husbandry sounds good, but I would suggest when you get the thermostat to rid of the heat lamp for good. Any how, congratulations on your first feeding!

[stevepoppers]

Sounds good. Those rules aren't infallible. They just give a new snake the best chance at actually eating. My little baby cinny ate the night we brough him home. He seemed so at ease, we figured we'd try. It seems like you read him well, though no need to worry about any malnourishment occurring from a week witout food.

[Vypyrz]

Congratulations. Just be careful when using a heat lamp for warming up prey, so you don't accidentally start cooking it...