Refused feed

[Crazymonkee]

Ok, will do, I emailed the breeder tonight just to let her know she didn't take the feed and asked if she had any tips. When she responds I will ask how many feeds she had. Not sure what difference it will make if it's 4 or 5 or 6 though, my goal is still to get her feeding asap.

It will make a difference. If she's only taken 4 meals you may have less time to work with.... if she's taken 6 she might hold a lil weight to give more time. It may sound stupid but it's needed info.
Of course you want it to eat asap, the snake doesn't always do what you want. My hatchling held out for 2 months, you need all the info you can get

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[Shera]

It will make a difference. If she's only taken 4 meals you may have less time to work with.... if she's taken 6 she might hold a lil weight to give more time. It may sound stupid but it's needed info.
Of course you want it to eat asap, the snake doesn't always do what you want. My hatchling held out for 2 months, you need all the info you can get

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Ok, thanks, I will ask. Do you agree that I should start weighing after my next feed attempt if she doesn't take it? I'm worried about the handling aspect, although she was very used to handling, the breeder has 2 kids (they looked about 6-7 years old) and she said they would take them out all the time.

[AlexisFitzy]

I'm feeding rats, and that's what she was on before. I thaw at room temp for a few hours or in the fridge over night and warm up with a hair dryer. I just dangle, I'm not sure what the zombie dance is, or how to do it. I'd be afraid to drag it for fear of the aspen sticking to it and then her eating it.

Okie dokie that's how I warm up rats for my other snakes that aren't picky. And the zombie dance is when you hold the rat either by the nape of the neck or by the middle of the body and kinda wiggle it around in front of the snake to make it think its alive. And I use aspen as substrate too and don't worry about them eating it. When my big girl wraps her rats she wraps a bunch of substrate up with it and I just gently rub it off the rat with the tongs, and if she has some stuck in her mouth I just pick it out. But if they inject a little bit they will be alright. In the wild they probably eat a bunch of dirt and whatever else is on the ground when they wrap up their meals so it's okay. I always wipe off a bunch of the substrate though when there is a bunch of it stuck on. Just in case


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[Crazymonkee]

Ok, thanks, I will ask. Do you agree that I should start weighing after my next feed attempt if she doesn't take it? I'm worried about the handling aspect, although she was very used to handling, the breeder has 2 kids (they looked about 6-7 years old) and she said they would take them out all the time.

Yes let her completely alone (except to check temps etc) until next scheduled feed. If attempt fails weigh her. It'll only take a few mins. Write down date and weight and feed (refused/ taken) and keep a log.
She may not have eaten much at all if the kids were always taking her out.
Next.... breathe ...you've only had her 2 days, relax

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[Shera]

Okie dokie that's how I warm up rats for my other snakes that aren't picky. And the zombie dance is when you hold the rat either by the nape of the neck or by the middle of the body and kinda wiggle it around in front of the snake to make it think its alive. And I use aspen as substrate too and don't worry about them eating it. When my big girl wraps her rats she wraps a bunch of substrate up with it and I just gently rub it off the rat with the tongs, and if she has some stuck in her mouth I just pick it out. But if they inject a little bit they will be alright. In the wild they probably eat a bunch of dirt and whatever else is on the ground when they wrap up their meals so it's okay. I always wipe off a bunch of the substrate though when there is a bunch of it stuck on. Just in case


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Ok, cool, I'll try the zombie dance, I hope she takes her next feed, it will be a slightly larger prey than she's used to, I hope that doesn't cause a problem. If she won't take it I'll leave it in there, and I won't remove the hide next time. Fingers crossed.

[Shera]

Yes let her completely alone (except to check temps etc) until next scheduled feed. If attempt fails weigh her. It'll only take a few mins. Write down date and weight and feed (refused/ taken) and keep a log.
She may not have eaten much at all if the kids were always taking her out.
Next.... breathe ...you've only had her 2 days, relax

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Thanks, I will do that. I will update on Friday when it's her next feed.

Thanks so much for the help everyone, I've learned a lot and it's eased my mind. As long as i have a plan I don't freak out.

[Crazymonkee]

Awesome! I'll keep my eye out for update

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[Shera]

Ok, I got more info, she has only eaten 3 times, not 4 or 5. Her 2 clutch mates are going into shed, so she might be too (maybe why she looks a little wrinkled when she bends). Should I attempt to feed her when she's in shed since she's so young? I know for adults that most people don't, but I don't know what to do in this case. As a reminder her hatch date was Aug 6th.

[Neal]

Actually some of us offer food whether they're in shed or not. Some of us veterans recommend things though we try to offer different advice so that way it's simple to explain.

I tell people they can offer, but don't be discouraged if they refuse but I always offer. If I tell you to go ahead and it doesn't eat and somebody else asks then you accidentally word it wrong and so on it gets worded differently every time somebody passes it on, so most of us will just say to let it settle.

Another thing I do is offer food on feeding day to a new animal regardless if it's the day after. I don't recommend this to people because it's just easier to say to let them settle because of all the variables and it being a new snake and some people not being familiar with everything. Everybody does things differently though.

[Crazymonkee]

I also offer when in shed. So far she's eaten every time.
It's really up to you if ya wanna feed during shed or not.

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