another feeding thread

[gmcclurelssu]

this is less about asking for advice, more me being frustrated that i can't seem to go more than 3 weeks without having a feeding problem (although, advice is always welcome )

basically, i found a good reason not to feed live with tongs. when i was presenting the rat it twisted its way off the tongs and ran into the same hide that Lennie was still part way in. naturally, i moved the hide and got the rat, disturbing lennie in the process. so i reset the tank, waited a few min and tried again- only for the same thing to happen. this time lennie jerked back into his hide after i moved stuff around again and seems to be done trying to eat for the night. i'm going to wait a few days before i try again.

[SatanicIntention]

Introducing a calm prey animal into the snake's enclosure is going to be much safer than introducing a scared, hurting prey animal. They are more apt to bite and defend themselves if they are already hurting and being put in a place they don't recognize.

[the bull]

Introducing a calm prey animal into the snake's enclosure is going to be much safer than introducing a scared, hurting prey animal.

How do you do that?

[greghall]

after 3 weeks got my pastel to take a rat,my other two are still off feed 6 weeks & counting! when a rat or mouse runs into their hide forget about eating

[gmcclurelssu]

Introducing a calm prey animal into the snake's enclosure is going to be much safer than introducing a scared, hurting prey animal. They are more apt to bite and defend themselves if they are already hurting and being put in a place they don't recognize.

good advice, other than feeding in a separate tub is there a good way to present them without having the prey run into the hides? it seems there is a lot of advice out there that says not to let the rat go unwatched, but i'm not sure if removing the hides altogether is a good move.

[SatanicIntention]

I have 42 Ball Pythons and ALL of them get fed in their own enclosure. I've only been bitten once, maybe twice, by a snake in feed-mode and it was my fault(reaching for a mouse). Been feeding in the enclosure since 2004.

First, you pre-scent for 20-30 minutes by putting the prey item(s) into a separate, secure container(ventilated please) next to the snake's cage. After you see the snake "lurking" from his hide, get the prey item.

You introduce a calm, live prey INTO the enclosure, by gently grabbing it by the base of the tail and placing it into the enclosure on the opposite side that the snake is on. Close the enclosure lid and give the snake 10-15 minutes. If the snake isn't interested, remove prey item and try again next week.

Also, do not mess with the snake's enclosure. They can hunt very easily from their hides. They are ambush predators for a reason

[gmcclurelssu]

I have 42 Ball Pythons and ALL of them get fed in their own enclosure. I've only been bitten once, maybe twice, by a snake in feed-mode and it was my fault(reaching for a mouse). Been feeding in the enclosure since 2004.

First, you pre-scent for 20-30 minutes by putting the prey item(s) into a separate, secure container(ventilated please) next to the snake's cage. After you see the snake "lurking" from his hide, get the prey item.

You introduce a calm, live prey INTO the enclosure, by gently grabbing it by the base of the tail and placing it into the enclosure on the opposite side that the snake is on. Close the enclosure lid and give the snake 10-15 minutes. If the snake isn't interested, remove prey item and try again next week.

Also, do not mess with the snake's enclosure. They can hunt very easily from their hides. They are ambush predators for a reason

sounds good, that last part was all the clarification i needed (for right now at least). if the rat happens to run into the same hide the snakes body/tail are in and stays there, do you take any other precautions? seems a little iffy to have a rat out of sight with any part of the snakes body even if it is calm, or is that situation no big deal?

[Gloryhound]

Another thing that helps for calm prey is raising your own rats and actually taking time with them and handling them at least on a weekly basis for a minute or two. We like to hold them and give them a small treat at least once a week then put them back in while they are finishing the treat.

Now then you go to feed the rat you take one rat to prescent the room, but this one will be to crazy to be fed because it has already sat in a strange environment for 20 minutes or so. Then as you pull your feeders out you pet them give them a treat and sit them in the opposite corner from the snake. They never even realize they were in trouble!

[munding]

Another thing that helps for calm prey is raising your own rats and actually taking time with them and handling them at least on a weekly basis for a minute or two. We like to hold them and give them a small treat at least once a week then put them back in while they are finishing the treat.

Now then you go to feed the rat you take one rat to prescent the room, but this one will be to crazy to be fed because it has already sat in a strange environment for 20 minutes or so. Then as you pull your feeders out you pet them give them a treat and sit them in the opposite corner from the snake. They never even realize they were in trouble!

diabolic...

[gmcclurelssu]

i'm actually planning on raising my own later, but i was going to wait till/if i get multiple snakes first. although, my local pet store has hinted that if i were to raise my own, she would buy any extras i can't feed off.