Pics of Lou - Anne (my daughter named her)

[megan8706]

Excuse the dirty shirt she had a fun day, but this is the first time I've let my daughter actually handle louanne (:

[megan8706]

Louanne gets a rat today! I drove over 40 minutes to get one, I hope she takes it well! Pictures after she eats!

[megan8706]

No luck with the rat after several reheating attempts
Question- she's been eating white mice and strikes as soon as she spots it, could that be the problem? This rat was black.

[megan8706]

Tried another rat today, this one white....several attempts and she still refuses :/

[thejennabird]

I'd give her a whole week off before you attempt to feed again. Don't handle her this week either. If she doesn't eat next week, wait another week and try again. From what I've heard, attempting to re-feed too frequently can just stress your snake out. (Keep an eye on her weight, though) Most everything I've read here suggests patience and persistence! You can also try scenting the rat with used mouse bedding, braining the rat, etc. to get her appetite up.

[megan8706]

I'd give her a whole week off before you attempt to feed again. Don't handle her this week either. If she doesn't eat next week, wait another week and try again. From what I've heard, attempting to re-feed too frequently can just stress your snake out. (Keep an eye on her weight, though) Most everything I've read here suggests patience and persistence! You can also try scenting the rat with used mouse bedding, braining the rat, etc. to get her appetite up.

I feed f/t so idk if I could do any of that stuff for her. I've heard it's really hard to switch them from mice to rats, but I didn't think it would be hard for her bc she had been taking medium mice twice a week. :/

[thejennabird]

Yup, both braining and scenting can be done to a f/t rodent. There's also the "chicken broth" method, which I've seen mentioned but haven't looked into. If she's eating two mice in one sitting(?), start with a mouse, then follow up with a rat of similar size for the second meal.

Mice and rats smell different to a snake. You just need to her to realize the different-smelling-fuzzy-thing is still tasty food. Hang in there! You're doing the right thing for her in the long run, even if it takes a little tough love.

[megan8706]

Yup, both braining and scenting can be done to a f/t rodent. There's also the "chicken broth" method, which I've seen mentioned but haven't looked into. If she's eating two mice in one sitting(?), start with a mouse, then follow up with a rat of similar size for the second meal.

Mice and rats smell different to a snake. You just need to her to realize the different-smelling-fuzzy-thing is still tasty food. Hang in there! You're doing the right thing for her in the long run, even if it takes a little tough love.

Could you pm me on how to do the braining/scenting?
To clarify she eats one mouse a feeding, and she eats twice a week usually Tuesday and Saturday. She has eaten large mice as well, she had a little trouble with it so I dropped her back to the mediums. The rat weanlings thst I bought are the same size around as medium mice but longer. I just feel so bad because it has been a week since she ate last. Should I not offer her mice during trying to transition to rats, other than maybe trying mouse first then rat?

[megan8706]

It looks as if we are about to hit our second shed

[megan8706]

A few from last week, or week before. Lol