Failed feeding attempt:(

[MadTurtle]

So I tried to feed my new boy and he didn't take it.. He looked ready but I think the rat was too big.. My BP is 300 grams and I was told by a friend that she feeds her BP's small rats to hers that are the same size.. I think he could get it down but it just looked a tad too big.. he has been on a diet of rat crawlers/pups and he turned his nose at my offering.. I think I'm gonna try again tomorrow with an adult mouse..

[Craiga 01453]

This should help.

A small rat is too big for your snake at 300 grams.

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[Zincubus]

Yep . A smaller offering should prove more successful ..

Here's my method for what it's worth ...
This method WORKS ridiculously well - if done properly ...
I wait until evening as they're nocturnal of course . I let the rodent thaw out in the reptile room so they get the smell ..
Then I warm up the mouse / rat with a hairdryer and offer with tongs IMMEDIATELY whilst still warm . If refused simply repeat the heating and offering as many times as needed. .
A couple of mine will only strike feed from within their hides so I dangle the warm rodent in front of the hide's entrance - usually works but if it fails simply reheat the rodent with a hairdryer and immediately offer again whilst it's still warm , continue until it's grabbed ...
I always wait until evenings to feed as they're nocturnal of course .

Incidentally , if it shows no interest at all not even a tongue flicker maybe it's best to leave for a week or so.

[MadTurtle]

Thank you for this..

[Neal]

Yea, go with rat pups. In a few months you can bump up a size.

[Craiga 01453]

I wouldn't sweat it.

My advice would be to wait a week and then feed the same prey he had been eating. This will most likely get him eating regularly for you without much of a problem. Many prefer rats to mice, so if you can find rat pups I would try to stick to that. This way, as he grows you can just up the size of rat to be the right size for him. Since he's on rats, trying mice might be tricky, and then back to rats when he outgrows mice.

If you can't find rat pups at a local shop (I can't find any in my area, so I'm picking some up at a reptile expo near me n a few weeks. Cheaper than online) then I would say you'll be fine with mice if he takes them.

Keep us posted, good luck!

[MadTurtle]

So I got a large mouse(approx 20 grams) and thawed it out, then set it outside his enclosure where the smell could get inside.. not 10 minutes later and I turn to see him out of his hide and waiting.. fingers crossed but he looks like he's ready. Hopefully this mouse which is half the size of the small rat will be too much to pass on..

[MadTurtle]

Nope.. oh well.. I'm gonna leave him alone for a 4 or 5 days and then try again