Suggestion for First time feeding baby BP

[r_rod10]

Hello. I'm planning on feeding my baby bp this evening and wanted a few opinions. Should I feed him in his enclosure or in a different feeding container? His enclosure is a 20 gallon tank with mesh top, it has two hides (one on cool side and one on hot spot), water dish, and a climbing branch. ALSO, I am using about a 1/2 inch ASPEN substrate. Thanks for your help!

[SRMD]

Yes, always feed in his enclosure cage aggression is a myth, and feeding him in a different tub can stress your ball out. So feed in his normal cage!

Try this method:
get the rodent and place it in the same room as your reptile, maybe on top of the tank let it thaw out for about half hour - 1 hour depending on the rodent size.
Then get a blow dryer and start blow drying the scent of the rodent towards the ball hopefully he should come out of hiding looking for the prey
(when i do this the second i place the frozen rodent wrapper on top of my cage my ball flies out looking but has to wait 1 hour hehe)

once you have blowdryed the scent of the rodent, and at the same time warmed it up just dangle the rodent above the ball and hopefully he sould strike it, if not leave it in his cage over night but if it is still their in the morning remove it, and feed on the next scheduled day.

[snakesRkewl]

The same can be said for a live feeding, placing the rodent in a plastic container close to or on top of the tank can get the snake interested before offering the meal...

[KMG]

My bp eats great. I Never have to scent the room. I just heat the mouse in a zip bag in hot water from the tap. The bag keeps it dry so the substrate doesn't stick to the fur and get Eaten by the snake. I hang the snake by its tail with tongs and dangle it for just a second outside whatever hide it is in to let the snake know its food is ready. She will always come right out and strike.

If you use f/t make sure to give the skull a lite squeeze to make sure it is warm all the way through. Also feel the stomach to make sure you done feel any cold lumps.

Feed in its tank.

- - - Updated - - -

Scenting works well for stubborn eaters but many times will not be necessary and just create more work for no reason. I would try what I suggested first and see how it goes.

If it refuses to eat you can refreeze the mouse once if you have not had it out to long. To long being, letting it thaw by sitting out for hours. If thawed in water and refused you can refreeze with no problem.

[GHOST_584]

KMG...Do you really hang the snake by it's tail With tongs and dangle it for a few seconds outside it's hide?

Sorry just could not resist.

[KMG]

KMG...Do you really hang the snake by it's tail With tongs and dangle it for a few seconds outside it's hide?

Sorry just could not resist.

What? You don't? I find it really helps!



LMAO! Opps! I'm not real sure how I let that happen.



WARNING- DO NOT HANG YOUR SNAKE BY ITS TAIL WITH TONGS.

[Helifreak]

I started my baby BPs on live mice - just to make sure they had a couple easy meals in them - and switched over to F/T after a couple of successful feedings. Never had a problem with the switch.

Also, I just throw the F/T mice into a bowl of hot water - I don't even worry about keeping the mice/rats dry. Never had a problem with this approach either, but YMMV. I got this idea after attending several feedings at the Cape Fear Serpentarium - where they feed all their snakes with dripping wet F/T animals... I at least take the time to wipe off excess water before offering them to the snakes.

[Chuckels]

I just fed my first hatchlings about 2 hours ago. I just laid a live rat pink in with them, checked back 15 minutes ago, and 8 of 9 had eaten. This was their first meal. I waited 5 days after the last one shed though, it may not be the norm, but it worked for me.

Trey

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[r_rod10]

Ok so it seems that the consensus is that it is best to feed my BP in its enclosure. I just wanted to make sure it would be ok since I had aspen bedding and not newspaper or paper towels( didn't want him to get the aspen bedding stuck in him). I will put a live one in the room to get his senses up and then drop it in his enclosure. I let y'all know how it turns out. Thanks for all the advise and tips!!!!