Baby Ball in critical condition - how to switch from tube feeding to self-feeding

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Sorry, but I have to disagree with this. Just because one animal may like something else, does not mean the next will. You may eat when chocolate is offered, but not me, I prefer salt over sugar... its all personal. I personally find that most of my snakes prefer rats over mice, but different experiences are talking here. I am not saying your snakes prefer rats over mice just because mine does.

Now back to the original poster, are you able to get ASFs (african soft furred rats)? This is my go to for picky eaters. Get a live one. I know its hard to feed live but sometimes your BP doesn't give you the choice. I agree with the tube feeding, its definitely not going to fix the feeding issue. Don't keep trying mice though, your BP just may not be into them. Try rats, ASFs, even hamsters.

And also, do not feed it outside of it's enclosure. Feed in its home. Pulling it out can cause stress and make your BP not eat. If your BP is in its hide, leave her there and throw in a live prey item into the hide. But be watchful that the prey item does not harm your BP.

How many hatchling have you started? How many animals failing to thrive have you put back on track? You can disagree but when offered a first meal you will get a higher percentage of success (hatchling taking their first meal successfully first time offered) if that first meal is a mouse (that comes from someone that used to start everything on rats and no longer does)


Not to mention that the animal in this case when it was eating was eating mice so trying to switch is the last thing that needs to be done at this point it need to feed what it used to feed on and again mice are more enticing.

Do my snake prefer rats over mice? Yes they do but my snakes however are not the issue here.

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