1st time owner. Question about feeding.

[Jmarshall]

Okay, so I got Damian on Tuesday and I am doing my best to let him settling. He is being kept in a freedom breeder 10 inside enclosed rack with a hide. Hot side right around 90, cool side around 79. Humidity 60-70%. He ate last Monday (about 10 days ago). I have not handled him at all, just opening rack twice a day to check temps/humidity and make sure it’s clean. He was eating prekilled large nice during his last meal.

I gpt got my shipment of mice yesterday so I figured I’d try and feed. Thawed nice inside same room as him, then hit with hairdryer then used tweezers to simulate a live mouse. No interest whatsoever. He was inside his hide, head and all. I tried this a couple of times, repeated with hairdryer. I decided to leave the mouse in there with him. I checked on it a couple of times and nothing. I then left it alone for a while and he had mouse coiled. I was so excited. I ran to GF and told her I’m such a good snake dad and I was so proud of Damian (I was pretty discouraged and down that he wasn’t eating). Anyway I check back maybe an hour later and the mouse was still there. I think my closing the rack and interrupting him spooked him. I was super unhappy to say the least. Anyway, I warmed up mouse w hairdryer several time and left mouse in rack with no luck. Figured I’d leave mouse overnight woke up this morning and mouse was still there.

Breeder said Damian was 105 grams with a meal inside of him so he’s a very little guy. I am planning on letting him settle some more. I tossed the mouse and do plan on sliding rack out at all until I try to feed again. I think me checking on him is freaking him out. Anyway, when would you recommend trying to feed again? And should I try anything different?

sorry for the long post, figured id include all of the details from start so I could get best possible suggestions.

[tttaylorrr]

I decided to leave the mouse in there with him. I checked on it a couple of times and nothing. I then left it alone for a while and he had mouse coiled.

Anyway, when would you recommend trying to feed again? And should I try anything different?

sorry for the long post, figured id include all of the details from start so I could get best possible suggestions.

wait until his next scheduled feeding to offer (so probably 7 days).

it seems like he was interested if he coiled around it, but he likely became spooked. next time, i'd do everything the same except, instead of trying to get him to strike, give the mouse a little dance in front of the hide and, if there's no strike within ~30 sec, leave the head really close to the hide's entrance, close the tub and walk away. check back in the morning.

you're still a good snake dad.

[ckuhn003]

wait until his next scheduled feeding to offer (so probably 7 days).

it seems like he was interested if he coiled around it, but he likely became spooked. next time, i'd do everything the same except, instead of trying to get him to strike, give the mouse a little dance in front of the hide and, if there's no strike within ~30 sec, leave the head really close to the hide's entrance, close the tub and walk away. check back in the morning.

you're still a good snake dad.

I agree w/ what tttaylorrr says.....

I think as your BP becomes settled in his/her enclosure, they'll become more confident and you'll see a more aggressive food response. Mine has skipped so many meals in the beginning, only taken food when I wasn't in the room, etc......

Now he takes food like a champ! Good luck, be patient and try not to stress out. A couple skipped weeks isn't the end of the world. It will just make them hungrier until you offer again!

[Craiga 01453]

I say "ditto" to what tttaylorrr said...