Little Pin is a Finicky Feeder

[enginee837]

Our little male has been with us for 3 weeks not and up until today had not eaten. Much like you describe he would just strike at it but never took it. Today I tried again and again I got the same response but this time I left the mouse laying on him and left the room. Came back 10 min later and the mouse is gone and his belly is fat. ; ).

Now that I think about it, he came from a large bp farm and likely spent his entire life in a Tupperware dish. He was considered a good eater on ft mice so I am guessing they just threw the mouse in there with him and left him alone to eat.... maybe this might help your little guy?

[SCWood]

Our little male has been with us for 3 weeks not and up until today had not eaten. Much like you describe he would just strike at it but never took it. Today I tried again and again I got the same response but this time I left the mouse laying on him and left the room. Came back 10 min later and the mouse is gone and his belly is fat. ; ).

Now that I think about it, he came from a large bp farm and likely spent his entire life in a Tupperware dish. He was considered a good eater on ft mice so I am guessing they just threw the mouse in there with him and left him alone to eat.... maybe this might help your little guy?

I've done this several times and he refuses to eat it :/

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Total= 30 ❤

[SCWood]

I'm honestly to the point of going and purchasing weaned rats myself for this poor thing

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Total= 30 ❤

[Jamiesniper]

Just a thought but do you dip the head of the rodent in hot water before offering? I do this with all mine and I find that they have a really good feeding response compared to when it's not heated, I do have a het pied female that would eat anything, she'd probably take it if it was still frozen too

[tbowman]

You said the snake is eating every week. It doesn't sound like it's being too finicky to me. It's likely stressed due to the enclosures and conditions that places like petco tend to provide. I'm going to assume from your original post that the BP is being housed together with other BPs that are marked to sell, and that they don't have much of a place to hide. Sounds like a stressed animal to me. Make the point to potential buyers that he will likely not be that way once set up properly and by himself.

[SCWood]

You said the snake is eating every week. It doesn't sound like it's being too finicky to me. It's likely stressed due to the enclosures and conditions that places like petco tend to provide. I'm going to assume from your original post that the BP is being housed together with other BPs that are marked to sell, and that they don't have much of a place to hide. Sounds like a stressed animal to me. Make the point to potential buyers that he will likely not be that way once set up properly and by himself.

I have provided them with hiding spots in the enclosure. Like I said, he does eat but it takes a while to get him to take it.
Not to be snippy, but I'd really prefer you NOT refer to me and my store like that. I know petco has a bad rap but at my store, we care deeply for our reptiles and provide for them to the best of our abilities.

Just a thought but do you dip the head of the rodent in hot water before offering? I do this with all mine and I find that they have a really good feeding response compared to when it's not heated, I do have a het pied female that would eat anything, she'd probably take it if it was still frozen too

I didn't ! It might help, I should try that!

If you wanna step inside, pay admission at the door...
🐥🐥🐥🐥🐥🐥
🐔🐔🐔🐔🐔
🐕🐕🐕🐶🐶
🐱🐈🐱🐈
🐦🐤🐦🐤
🐍🐍🐍
🐊🐊
🐠
Total= 30 ❤

[Jamiesniper]

The reason I say about heating the head, my lesser won't touch a rodent if it's cold, dip the head in hot water and he jumps out of his tub after it, most times he wraps the tongs too.

Give it a try, hopefully it works for you

[cristacake]

Yeah, I would say make sure that the prey is very warm. Not too hot to burn your snake of course, but it should be warm to the touch. I've only fed my baby twice but both times I had to reheat the fuzzy, and man did it stink /: But I think that's exactly what does it for them. The first time I fed her she was a little shy, but the second time I had even accidentally dropped it into the tub (I didn't want to squish it open so I grabbed too lightly) and she struck right there in front of me even though it wasn't doing the 'zombie dance' or anything.