Advice on getting my Blood to eat

[TheLuftGator]

Today was feeding day for Breda my Ball Python and Benito my Blood Python.
Breda is on F/T fuzzies and is doing fine as she's eaten for me 4 times. However, there's a slight concern for Benito who hasn't eaten since I got him from my friend. He's tried to get him on F/T but he seems to refuse it constantly, even leaving it overnight does not help. So when I took him in I decided to wait 2 weeks before I even decided to offer him food, so I got him a live mouse today and offered it to him. Didn't want anything to do with it, he struck at it a couple times but it wasn't a food strike.. more like get away from me strike. So the mouse was removed.

Last week I ordered some F/T Hoppers and Rat Pups and I'm just waiting for them to come in. And I'll most likely wait till next Tuesday to see if Benito will eat a F/T rat pup, but I want to hear what you guys have to say. ~Thanks in advance. *salutes*

[catzeye21138]

Enclosure temperature and humidity levels?

[KMG]

I 2nd the above asked info plus I would like to know what kind of enclosure it is in, what substrate, and what hides? A pic would be even better.

[TheLuftGator]

Enclosure temperature and humidity levels?

I had moved him from a 20 Gal tank to a 28 qt tub. I started out with Cypress mulch in the tub but the humidity levels were obnoxiously high so I changed to newspaper temps at the moment are 84 degrees with humidity levels from 51-62%

It might be because of the switching from tank to tub and from two different substrates could be the reason he wont accept food live of F/T, I was going to wait 2 more weeks before I feed him to determine if that's the case.
I am also going to try him with rat pups to see if he'll accept those better than mice.
It's late over here so I can't take any pictures do to my camera being dead.

I feel slightly awkward asking advice so soon, I just feel I need some reassurance so I can stop being a little worry-wort. lol

[KMG]

Cypress mulch is a great substrate for them as they like to borrow. Newspaper can work but put several sheets that are wrinkled and easy to hide under for it to use instead. I provide all my bloods with hides and they use them pretty much always. Only my big girl will sometimes lay out, but at 30 pounds what is to be feared. For her I use a cat litter box on one side and wrinkled newspaper on the other but sometimes she flattens it out and just lays on top.

So many changes could very easily be the issue.

[TheLuftGator]

Cypress mulch is a great substrate for them as they like to borrow. Newspaper can work but put several sheets that are wrinkled and easy to hide under for it to use instead. I provide all my bloods with hides and they use them pretty much always. Only my big girl will sometimes lay out, but at 30 pounds what is to be feared. For her I use a cat litter box on one side and wrinkled newspaper on the other but sometimes she flattens it out and just lays on top.

So many changes could very easily be the issue.

Yeah I do like cypress mulch and still have some stored away, but I plan to save them for the vision cages I'm getting for my snakes. But they wont be moving into those until they out grow the tubs they're in now.
I do have crumpled newspaper in his tub. He does move around I see him soaking in his water bowl at least once or twice a day and then in some random area in the tub,. And he's the usually talker too. But I'll be leaving him alone for two weeks and see how he fairs feeding wise.

I'll keep ya'll posted.

[DNACurtusK]

Make sure his enclosure isn't too large and that he feels secure and that he's able to hide. Also, wait a couple weeks in between offering feed or he may get more stressed out. Try turning the lights out also when you do out a prey item in with him. Good luck!


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[TheLuftGator]

A little update for you all, But I got a surprise shed this afternoon something I wasn't expecting as he didn't look like he was blue. Will try and offer him a rat tomorrow see if that was the reason for his finickiness.

[TheLuftGator]

Final update. =D Benito has eaten, gobbled up a nice F/T Rat Pup. So relieve. *phew*

[DNACurtusK]

Good deal!!


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