Update - Black Rat Snake Shed - Graphic Photo Warning

[Debbienflorida]

Since he likes his water bowl stick a couple minnows in there?

[MelissaFlipski]

Well, is the mouse super stinky? And any pre-scenting going on?

The mouse is living in a plastic tub in this room, so I'd say there is lot of pre-scenting going on. But maybe I could rub a f/t against it?

I'd think about what he might come across in the wild. Are there lots of mice in the area? Lizards? something that he might find more appetizing?

You could also try offering him a fresh killed or F/T and leave it in over night. If he's hungry but feeling a bit defensive because of the wound/cage, he might eat something already dead and at night.

My husband happened to catch a mouse about the same size, very small but past hopper, in our pantry - so it's native, alive, small, and probably what he's used to in the crawl space.

Since he likes his water bowl stick a couple minnows in there?

Do you think he would eat minnows? I don't think he's had them before b/c we are far from a body of water. But I could try a toad (occasional wet-weather pond nearby) or a salamander.

I'll try something again tonight perhaps. I'll keep you posted.

[mattciupak]

good hes in the hands of someone who cares for him

[Debbienflorida]

"Do you think he would eat minnows? I don't think he's had them before b/c we are far from a body of water. But I could try a toad (occasional wet-weather pond nearby) or a salamander."

I had a baby garter snake that ate minnows like crazy. You could try a couple feeder fish from a LFS.

[MelissaFlipski]

Well, is the mouse super stinky? And any pre-scenting going on?

"Super stinky" inspired me. At first, I thought of rubbing a f/t pinkie mouse on a small, live feeder mouse...

I'd think about what he might come across in the wild. Are there lots of mice in the area? Lizards? something that he might find more appetizing?

You could also try offering him a fresh killed or F/T and leave it in over night. If he's hungry but feeling a bit defensive because of the wound/cage, he might eat something already dead and at night.

Your f/t suggestion also tilted something in my head.

good hes in the hands of someone who cares for him

Thank you! I appreciate that.

And, Monty, I am not sure he would thank me - he'd probably say, "When the heck are you gonna let me go??" But he might thank me for last night....

Here's the update. I thawed out 4 frozen pinkie mice last night with plans to sacrifice one in trying to feed the Black Rat, Lefty, and give the other three to our boas (Kenyan Sand and Rosy). I wasn't sure if I should rub the f/t pinkie on the live feeder or just try the f/t. I tried the f/t pinkie first. Lefty just sort of seemed like he wanted to get away from it. I started making the pinkie "run around" and do a little dance. No doing. I got frustrated and stuck it in Lefty's face, thinking, "Eat this darn thing!" When it touched Lefty's nose, his body tensed and he perked up, then HE OPENED HIS MOUTH and took it!

Meanwhile, here was this 5' Black Rat Snake eating a pinkie mouse! So I got the other three from the warm water and gave him those in succession. I had talked to a snake guy in Morgantown, WV who talked to me about the feeding instinct - that once a snake starts, he will keep going w/out any "I'm really alive" dance.

The boas will eat tonight.

The four pinkies still aren't much for an over 500 gram snake. So I also offered him the small, wild mouse my husband caught (live), using the tongs and holding it by the scruff of his neck. He ate it, too!

It all blew my mind and I was SO happy!

Now he can rest up and wait for another meal in a few days while he still gets his SSD applied to his wound - which is healing over. New pics coming soon!!

[littleindiangirl]

Awesome!!! I think that is a great sign of his recovery.

[dalvers63]

Good job, Melissa! He will make a fine recovery, I'm sure.

Can't wait to see new pictures of him!

[MelissaFlipski]

Good job, Melissa! He will make a fine recovery, I'm sure.

Can't wait to see new pictures of him!

Thanks again for encouraging me to feed him!

[MelissaFlipski]

Here is an updated picture of his wound, as of this morning. I took it before I applied more silver sulfadiazine (SSD), but you can see there is still some on the wound from previous applications.

[Debbienflorida]

That wound is really looking good.