Can picky eaters improve with time?

[Gerardo]

I have 3 BPs and 2 eat great for me but the smallest one (125 grams as of today) Has given me trouble since i first tried feeding him. He refused the first 3 meals (rat pups) i offered and the 4th time he ate but not very convincing. He ate sometime during the night. The next week i fed a hopper mouse because the pet store was out of rat pups and he took it as soon as i put the mouse in. Today i fed a rat pup and he ignored it for more than 2 hours. I then make the rat pup "dance" and it still took about 5 minutes for him to strike. I want to know if picky eaters can become eating machines later on. Also should i start feeding him hopper mice until he is big enough to eat a rat that can run around? It seemed like the movement of the mouse is what made him excited.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Some do and some don't. You'll just have to wait and see and make sure your husbandry is OPTIMAL.

You might want to consider a smaller enclosure where the animal is very cramped.

If the animal eats rats you might want to consider mice

Etc

Try everything in your power to see if their are changes, you may have a real picky eater just like you may have an animal that is more subject to husbandry or stress issue.

[Gerardo]

I checked the temp and humidity. Its all good. Also my other two snakes have the same temps/humidity. I might just have a picky eater. He doesnt seem to respond well to the rat pups. I think its because they dont move much but i dont know. The one time i fed a mouse hopper he instantly started following his movement and struck within seconds. And maybe im overreacting but ive never dealt with a picky eater.

[BoostedMX3]

My pastel needs the movement.. Had one asf hide in a corner and she wouldn't go get it.. I had to take a pen and force it to run to the other side where she snatched it..

She is pretty consistent about cruising around on feeding day as soon as it gets dark so I'm going to try and just catch her when she's out n about n throw it it..

The one she stared at for 20min she was in her hide on the other side of the cage.. But she almost always seems to wait untill her prey is moving b4 she goes for it she will slither up and the mouse will freeze.. She then watches and waits untill it makes a move b4 she grabs

[kitedemon]

I write based on my experiences (20 or so small snakes and 12 permanent animals and about 100+ short term rescues.)

I have never know a 'poor' feeder to improve* this is not account for a snake maintained under poor conditions and improving the conditions usually husbandry and feeding are closely related. A snake in imperfect temps will often refuse. It is not always reciprocal however a snake in perfect conditions can still often refuse (this is what I call a poor feeder)

I have never had a small snake (under 500gm) refuse often, my experience is they will usually eat what is offered with little issues. I have not had hatchlings so every animal had arrived feeding and none stopped eating until they hit that close to 1000 gm mark. (I have had two stop feeding around the 500 gm area)

I would suggest the exact same check your temps carefully. I personally use for little snakes (under 500gm) 88ºF warm/ 78ºF cool ambient air around 80ºF give or take 3º. this is open to debate but I believe little snake do not need as much heat as larger animals (more active).

I would never suggest every animal will follow my pattern but this is what I have experienced.

[Gerardo]

I did check the temps and humidity. He has eaten the last 3 times but refused the first 3 times. The first time he ate i had to leave the rat pup overnight and the second time he instanly went after a mouse hopper. The 3rd time he ignored the rat pup for hours until i made it "dance" around. I dont know if he is a picky eater or if he needs movement to get him excited. Could that be it?

[barbie.dragon]

I guess you have a mouser

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[Gerardo]

I guess you have a mouser

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NO!!! Take it back. I hope thats not the case. I really dont want to be feeding him multiple mice later on. I hope its just the movement that gets him excited and when he is a little bigger he will be taking rats that move more than a pup.

[barbie.dragon]

NO!!! Take it back. I hope thats not the case. I really dont want to be feeding him multiple mice later on. I hope its just the movement that gets him excited and when he is a little bigger he will be taking rats that move more than a pup.

Hahaha! You can try scenting the rat with the mouse. Or get a smaller rat and feed the rat after the snake eats the mouse

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