Feeding Problems, Need Some Advice

[jtomb1510]

Ok here's my dilemma, I've got a female normal that weighs in at 220g and my new female cinny that weighs in at 177g as of today. I'm not too worried about the cinny because I've only had her for a little over a month and she was on live rat fuzzies and I'm trying to switch her over to frozen but my little normal I am worried about. I've had her since July of last year and when I got her she weighed almost 200g. She has taken f/t before but except for about 2 weeks ago when I had to assist feed her, she hasn't eaten in months. Now she's not really dropping weight, but at her size, I'm considerably worried about her lack of eating. I have tried all the tricks, trying at night, during different times of the day, heating the rats head to about 104 degrees. I've tried mice, different size rats, rubbing a mouse onto a rat, putting the rat in a cage that was used for mice. I just can't figure out what to do other than trying live prey which I really don't want to do. Is there anyone that has any advice on something I can do to get her eating??

[Daybreaker]

If I had a snake that was almost roughly a year old and only 220 grams I would have tried live a long time ago!

Try live with her (something small that cannot hurt her) - I would be wanting to get some good weight on her since she's so small for her age. Sometimes some will just NOT take to F/T, and some will take a long time to transfer. I would just try to get her eating regularly, even if that's on live.

[Snake_Tooth]

I feel the same way when it comes to feeding live, but eventually it might come down to that and your snake is more important than a feeder rat. I have a little female that is a little over 100g. and i gave her a 6 day old rat and right when she was about to finish swallowing i popped a f/t rat in her mouth and she took that at the same time. The next time i tried feeding her f/t she took it as if it was alive! I would recommend trying this, but if you do, be sure that the live and f/t rat will not be too much for her to eat when they are combined. Sometimes this works, and sometimes a snake will just refuse f/t but its worth a try. Hope this helps!

[jtomb1510]

[QUOTE=Daybreaker;1785609]If I had a snake that was almost roughly a year old and only 220 grams I would have tried live a long time ago!

Well I would have but she has eaten f/t. She just goes for a very long time between feedings and that's what worries me. She never loses much weight so I guess I felt there was really no reason to give up on more constant f/t feedings.

[jtomb1510]

I feel the same way when it comes to feeding live, but eventually it might come down to that and your snake is more important than a feeder rat. I have a little female that is a little over 100g. and i gave her a 6 day old rat and right when she was about to finish swallowing i popped a f/t rat in her mouth and she took that at the same time. The next time i tried feeding her f/t she took it as if it was alive! I would recommend trying this, but if you do, be sure that the live and f/t rat will not be too much for her to eat when they are combined. Sometimes this works, and sometimes a snake will just refuse f/t but its worth a try. Hope this helps!

I never thought of that. That is an excellent idea. Thanks

[Daybreaker]

She just goes for a very long time between feedings and that's what worries me..

Exactly why I mentioned that I would have tried live a long time ago It's good she's not loosing a lot of weight and that you're monitoring her weights regularly it sounds, but she is defiantly way too small for her age IMO and I would be worried as well. I would try live with her, a rat fuzzy perhaps - something that you can safely leave in with her if need be, and see how her response is. If she eats that way (ie on live) and becomes established eating regularly then I would try to go back to F/T.

[Slim]

Sometimes they just refuse to eat regularly on F/T. At some point you may have to come to terms with the fact that she's gonna' be a live eater.

And trust me, I feel ya' on this one. I'm a firm believer in the benefits of F/T, but I have one right now that is showing all the signs of being a live only eater. I'm not happy about that, but I will do what's in the snake's best interest, even if that mean's feeding it live.

[jtomb1510]

Very good advice all the way around. Thank you guys very much for the responses. I think I'm just gonna bite the bullet and go get some live fuzzies tomorrow lol Thank you all again.

[Rob]

Have you tried leaving the F/T in there over night. I have one snake that will only eat that way. I would try everything before going to live. My 2cents

[jtomb1510]

Have you tried leaving the F/T in there over night. I have one snake that will only eat that way. I would try everything before going to live. My 2cents

Yup, multiple times. My female lesser and male spider are like that. They will eat every time, but only if you leave it laying on the floor of the enclosure over night lol.