Dumeril's feeding problems - round two

[Caitlin]

Have you ever tried live with him? I know you'd prefer not to but sometimes a prey animal moving around is really what is needed to get some snakes interested. My fussy eater was my male borneo, after five ish years I think (knock on wood) he's finally accepted f/t rats as food and eagerly strikes and feeds. But no amount of dancing or heating or different prey options really helped over the years and if I put a live rodent in it was taken instantly every time. Are you pre scenting the room with feeder beforehand for awhile so he's good and revved up?

I planned to try live with him this weekend - and I appreciate your feedback; I was thinking that I'd have to feed live. When I've had to do that in the past the snake usually ended up accepting F/T soon after but they just needed the live prey to get them started. And yes, whenever I feed I thaw the rodents/birds in the snake room, plus I use a hair dryer to really spread the scent around.

BUT! The trick shared by the Colubrid importer worked!! I used collagen casing to tie a quail reptilink to the body of a day-old quail and he ate that. I also injected the reptilink with some Carnivore Care for a nutrient boost. I won't rest easy until he has taken a few meals like this, but for now I am just hugely relieved that he actually got some calories in him. Next feeding I will try two quail + reptilinks - that should be a very good meal. If he starts refusing that, I will definitely go to live.