Thanks for the info i will for sure try that, i already have provent a mite and reptile spray but i did not want to use it since i could not see any mitesOriginally Posted by John1982
So in 2-9 days(depending on if you got him 1 or 2 weeks ago) you have tried everything and are ready to resort to assist feeding. Your habitat could use some minor tweaking but I'll tell you now, over offering to an already shy feeder will only compound the issue. I wait 5-7 days between feeding attempts when I'm trying to figure out a snake's preference. Switch to a smaller, tighter fitting hide(you can just pack some newspaper or sphagnum moss in the larger one if you like) and wait 1 week then drop a hopper mouse in the enclosure. If he doesn't take that, wait another week before your next offer. He's a bit thin but not anywhere near where I'd consider assisting. I would take at least several weeks of offering different food types before resorting to an assisted feed. The reason larger enclosures can be a pain to get picky eaters feeding is many want to strike from the security of their hide; the larger the enclosure, the easier it will be for the prey to avoid the snake altogether.
Here are the food types I'd offer in chronological order, all offered after dark:
week 1) live hopper mouse - if your set up is indeed on point these are seldom refused
week 2) live pinky rat - set in front of the hide and leave overnight
week 3) frozen/thawed mouse - set it in front of the hide and leave overnight
week 4) f/t rat fuzzy - set in front of hide and leave overnight
For some super shy feeders the hopper's movements are too much. Some prefer a little movement so a pinky is used for that and bonus if they take it since it's a rat. Some prefer even less action so the frozen/thawed are offered last and notice I'm offering a different prey species each week. If the snake shies from the first mouse you are giving him 2 weeks before offering another.
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