Feeding time at last..

tkc2k4 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-21-2007, 02:34 PM

Today I get to feed my Red Tail, Im not sure if I have tongs, but if I don't should I just drop it on him or put the pinkie in the tub first and drop him in?

hunters327 · #2 (**permalink**) 03-21-2007, 03:22 PM

I would not drop the mouse on the snake as this will likley scare your snake and could keep him from taking the meal.

tkc2k4 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-21-2007, 03:49 PM

Im giving it dead.. not live.

hunters327 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-21-2007, 04:02 PM

The point I was trying to make is that if you drop the food onto your snake it will startle him and they may seek cover rather than eat.
You should place the food item in the feed container and let your snake find it. If that doesn't work you may need to use tongs to do the rat dance to entice your snake to eat. Personally I just place the F/T rat inside the feeding tub. Then I let the snakes find it on their own.
Good luck.

tkc2k4 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-21-2007, 04:04 PM

Okay.. That sounds like a good idea. But if I don't have tongs (if I have to do the rat dance), what is another thing I could use?

brianb1998 · #6 (**permalink**) 03-21-2007, 04:05 PM

I just started my rtb on f/t he wont touch them unless i wiggle it infront of his face! kinda scary the first time.........lol

brianb1998 · #7 (**permalink**) 03-21-2007, 04:06 PM

go to walmart and but some tong for a couple dollars

hunters327 · #8 (**permalink**) 03-21-2007, 04:10 PM

anything that keeps your hands out of the way of getting bit.
I have even used a peice of thread tied around the very tip of a pinkies tail. I would dangle and bounce the food in front of my snake til they struck. The pinkie rat comes off the thread very easy (due to the tapered tail) and the snake never know that it was tied to the thread.
Good luck.

Yungair23 · #9 (**permalink**) 03-21-2007, 04:19 PM

Im sure he'll take the f/t first time he smells it. Put the rat in the tub, then put him in, put the lid on or off doesnt matter and let him find it id be very quiet and some like to eat in dimmed light. He may take a while to start moving around to find the rat but he will eat it eventually. It may take 2 seconds for him to find the rat or an hour. All depends on how hungry he is.

brianb1998 · #10 (**permalink**) 03-21-2007, 04:24 PM

i left one in my cage for almost 3 hours and he didnt touch it as soon as i reached in grabbed the rat with the tongs moved it towards hium wack...he nailed it then ate it

deadliestformula · #11 (**permalink**) 03-21-2007, 04:46 PM

Never really fed pinkies, but with mice and rats, we usually just open the screen top a TINY little bit, and hold the FT prey by the tail and swing it around. The snake hits it no problem and our hands are safely outside the cage. Other times if the snake isn't paying attention we just drop it in. Never had a problem with a frightened snake from it. With the pigs we just wait until he's not paying attention to us at the enterance of the cage and give it a toss in, and shut it up quickly.

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