Night Before Feeding Day, Advice Needed.

[Montypython696]

Alright guys, its the night before feeding day and I need some advice on my albino girl. She didn't eat again last Thursday, so that makes three weeks without food, if she doesn't eat again tomorrow that makes a month. She was in a 20 gallon long for about two weeks until I finished building my rack system. She is now in a 32 quart tub which is smaller than the 20 gallon. In her tub she has a good black plastic hide that she is in all day, and her water bowl. She has been in her new tub for a week now, and she is always out and about at night when I go in to check on everyone. So do you pros have any advice on how to proceed to feed her tomorrow? She's going to be fed a 20-25 gram mouse, and she's about 220 grams now, was 263 when I bought her. Should I try to feed her tomorrow afternoon when I feed the rest of my brood? If I do I'll have to lift her hide and try to feed her the frozen thawed. Should I wait until the evening when she's exploring? That way I just need to pull her tub out and wave the frozen mouse around. I don't know what to do however, I'm getting stressed.

[Sama]

Definitely not a pro but I noticed that my hatchlings ate better after dark when I was starting them.

[Annarose15]

Offer her live. If that isn't possible, warm the mouse and lay it in front of her hide. Don't check on or disturb her for at least thirty minutes.

I would also give her a second hide and aspen bedding considering her size and the size of the tub.

[Montypython696]

Well the breeder told me that she was eating frozen 20-25 gram mice. So that's what I've been offering. And the substrate I'm using is a thin layer of repti bark, I don't like using newspaper.

[TheSnakeGuy]

When feeding frozen I place a warm thawed rodent on a paper towel on the rack shelf right in front of the tub. I leave it there for a few minutes, and when I open the tub the snakes are ready to strike.

[Montypython696]

When I feed my guys, I place the rat/mouse in a zip loc baggie and put it in a bowl of hot water for about thirty minutes. My four other snakes I actually feed in an empty tub, (don't judge me) and they eagerly accept their meals with no issues. Her however, I will be glad if she eats no matter what enclosure.

[Montypython696]

Annarose, if I ever meet you in person, I'm going to give you a massive kiss on the lips. I don't care who's watching. I followed your advice and placed the thawed mouse in front of her hide. I took my tweezers I use to feed and wiggled it head first into the hide, and that's all it took. Within a nano second she struck that mouse. I put her lid back on and checked back after thirty minutes, no mouse to be seen. That's a huge weight off my shoulders! Thank you so much for the advice!!

[Andys-Python]

yeah!!!!!

I know the feeling!!!

Andy -