New BP eating ?

[MsMissy]

Good morning all,

I have a new bouncing baby girl <ok, she doesn't bounce really but it sounds good.> and after 11 days and a switch to live <small mouse> she finally ate.

Ok, here's my issue.... I don't know for sure she did in fact eat it. I dropped the little sucker in the tank where it proceeded to stroll right into Nagini's favorite hide. Of course she immediately grabbed it, coiled and with some watching, it seems she ate it. I could see her body pulsing as if she was taking it down, but she hasn't come out since then so I could peek into the hide to ensure it is gone.

Other issue... she is still 'camping' the hide entrance like she is still hungry. I have to admit to being remiss in weighing her. Plan to do that when I can get her out and change out her bedding which of course now I don't want to do for another 36 hrs. <48 after feeding> Switching her to reptibark since I live in the desert and having issues with humidity.

She's a small one...should I go get her another? I could actually house the little sucker if she chooses not to eat it right now.

[Andys-Python]

You could either get another mouse and see if she eats it or lift her hide and see if the mouse is gone.
I'm 99.99% sure if your snake coiled, it ate it. I'd also bet that she wouldn't eat another mouse right away anyway. I'd wait another 5-7 days for the next meal.
You're not going to disturb her all that much to move the hide to check it out. She'll go back in and settle right down to digest her meal.

IMO!

[BHReptiles]

You're not going to stress her out by just lifting the hide to see if she ate.

Was the mouse about the size of her girth? or smaller? Once you can get a weight on her, we can let you know how many mice to feed. They will outgrow a single mouse pretty quick so once you get her weight, just post here so we can help you out a little more.

[MsMissy]

It was about the size of her girth. The guy at the pet store tried telling me she could eat something three times her size. I, of course argued with him, explained that she is a baby and showed him a pic. He shut up <Rr "I've only raised snakes all my life"... I think he was about the age of my oldest son.> and grabbed one about the thickness of my thumb.

I hated going to live food for her but she seriously snubbed her nose at frozen/ defrosted. I'm figuring since I tend to be a worrisome mom with all my animals, I can/will monitor it very closely as she gets older.

Thank you for your advice... I spend a lot of time here learning.

Any thoughts on humidity? I'm using 2 water dishes, a humidifier in the room and am utilizing the damp towel over her screen for now. We will be doing the foil/tape thing this weekend.

[Andys-Python]

yes - lift the hide and take a peek.

[BHReptiles]

It was about the size of her girth. The guy at the pet store tried telling me she could eat something three times her size. I, of course argued with him, explained that she is a baby and showed him a pic. He shut up <Rr "I've only raised snakes all my life"... I think he was about the age of my oldest son.> and grabbed one about the thickness of my thumb.

I hated going to live food for her but she seriously snubbed her nose at frozen/ defrosted. I'm figuring since I tend to be a worrisome mom with all my animals, I can/will monitor it very closely as she gets older.

Thank you for your advice... I spend a lot of time here learning.

Any thoughts on humidity? I'm using 2 water dishes, a humidifier in the room and am utilizing the damp towel over her screen for now. We will be doing the foil/tape thing this weekend.

I stopped listening to pet store advice a long time ago! They just have regurgitated info that's rarely correct!

As for humidity, do all of what you said (foil, damp towel, etc.). You can also offer a humid hide (damp moss) all the time. When she's in shed, make all her hides humid hides. She should shed just fine.

[MsMissy]

No more mouse. She took me moving the hide very well and seems happy which makes me a very happy snake momma.

Those guys aren't too bright are they? It's a small store, family owned, but yeah, the one guy who claims to be a reptile expect has a big ego and not much in the brain department. I try to buy all my supplies from them since the only other ones close to me are the big chains. Being a small biz owner I can def appreciate keeping it local.