re-trying to feed

[shhhli]

Just curious.
I got the male & female hets wednesday last week, so last night i attempted to feed them. Because i could not get to the petco for live, i tried to feed them f/t.
neither made any indication of interest, and the female was fine. The male, however, i managed to scare the mess out of by dropping his lid as i tried to replace it. i mean, he really squirmed around trying to hide under himself and then got back into his hide very fast. i was so upset i scared him so badly.

since neither ate/showed no interest in food after a week, should i:
1) try again tomorrow with live?
2) try again Monday when i get back (going on vacation) with live?
3) try again next Wednesday with live?

i figure either 1) they'll take the live and just did not accept the f/t, 2) really weren't interested either way in food and need more time to adjust, 3)were not interested + being as the male was startled + develop a routine.

preferably i feed on Sundays, but I'm going by Wednesday on these two since that was when i got them, and well after I've got them eating regularly, try and back them up to Sundays..

[muddoc]

If you can get ahold of some live prey today, I would try to feed them today. If they do not take the live today, then I would probably give them a week and try again. I personnalyy do not believe that offering food two days in a row is that bad at all, as that is how I attempt to get my animals to convert from mice to rats. I feed all of the hatchlings rats on Wednesdays. The ones that don't take rats, get fed mice on Thursdays. Normally after a couple of attempts, the mouse eaters will start converting over to rats.

I think this is a similar situation for you. If you are wanting to switch to F/T, then I would suggest offering F/T one day, and if they don't take it, then offer live the next day. Continue on that schedule for a couple months, and I'd bet they will switch over (if that was your goal).

[JoshJP7]

Ya id say your good to go with the live today... I know the snakes ive gotten shipped to me never eat F/T on the first try so i always go with live the first couple feedings... I feed mine in a separate bin so after a couple feedings they know why theyre in there and you can trick em with F/T ... Get em to eat a couple times live and you should be good.

[shhhli]

okay, good thanks guys. i was just worried that prehaps they were not ready or settled 'enough' because i (clearly lol!) have yet to figure out their personalities.

i'll try that and if they dont take it, well.. rat friends for a week.

[juddb]

I would leave them alone for an entire week, then try again , but i would try rat pups... Good luck

[shhhli]

I would leave them alone for an entire week, then try again , but i would try rat pups... Good luck

like.. babies but with hair?
they've been feeding on small rats (no larger than their girth) from what the previous owner said.
Would perhaps that entice them more if it were smaller than usual?

Sorry if it sounds silly saying that, i've just never actually had a snake refuse a meal. My ball crowley is a garbage disposal and will eat anything rat/mouse frozen or live, my previous female was the same, actually.. and my corns have never refused food... my rubber boas did, but they kinda went off feed for winter but their food is always babies anyways so.. eh..
my snake spoiled me?

[frankykeno]

rat pinks - newborn to about 7 days of age, no hair, eyes are closed, ears flat to the skull, full dependent on the mother rat for nutrition

rat fuzzies - from about 8 days of age to about 14 days of age, coat is coming in and appears seal-like, silky and tight to the body, eyes are closed, ears are flat to the skull, still fully dependent on the female rat for all nutritional needs

rat pups - from about 15 days of age until they are weaned, coat is fully in, eyes are open, ears are erect, they will begin to eat solid food and drink from the water bottle but will continue to nurse whenever the mother rat allows it

Ansli, with all stages of growth there's a pretty big growth pattern but especially with pups. A pup of 15 or 16 days of age is vastly smaller than a pup almost ready for weaning at anywhere from 3.5 to 5 weeks of age. Same with a newborn pink versus one almost a fuzzy and a fuzzy that's almost a pup...lots of growth there too though not as much as pups do during that stage. Here's a handy chart....

http://www.frozenfeeder.com/sizing.html

There's also pics and a ton of good info on feeders to be found at www.rodentpro.com