still trying to get off live

LS84 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-30-2007, 12:40 AM

I am still having no luck getting Bean the burmese to eat anything but live. I have tried just about everything at least 20 times. By now Bean should be huge and he's only about 4 feet, not even, at 1 1/2 years old. I have tried mice and rats, but now I'm wondering if I should try something else that he may take f/t...chicks, quail or guinea pigs from rodentpro? I dont know which of these would be the best to try out as the most enticing to him.

For a while I was feeding live rat pups and then chain feeding a small f/t rat, to put some weight back on him. He hasnt eaten since Sept. 9, and he has been offered f/t rats twice. I am so frustrated with him, and I keep being told to just let him starve and eventually he will eat f/t, but he's getting so skinny. Any suggestions?

xbigredtankx · #2 (**permalink**) 10-30-2007, 12:52 AM

what about children???

ok seriously, have you tried going to where you buy your live food, and ask the person working there if you can have some of the bedding the mice or whatever you buy lives in. It will stink of the live animals, thaw out the rat, and place it in the bag of bedding, in no time it will STINK of the live animals...this is how i got one of my pick ball pythons to change over...worked great. i used it for a couple of weeks and now he takes f/t no problem!! the snake should smell it and go crazy...

give it a shot

goodluck

xbigredtankx · #3 (**permalink**) 10-30-2007, 12:53 AM

just remember to give it a good shake while in the bag.....lol

LS84 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-30-2007, 01:00 AM

I tried that, rat bedding and hamster bedding. Nothing. thanks though. I really dare someone to suggest some technique I havent tried!!!

xbigredtankx · #5 (**permalink**) 10-30-2007, 01:02 AM

o well, sorry i wasnt any help.....what about my first reccomendation, children??

LS84 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-30-2007, 01:10 AM

if he was big enough to eat the kid I babysit for, I'd do it in a heartbeat! lol

Anyway...Im really getting desperate. I have never had any trouble feeding f/t or switching snakes to f/t before this one. He's my favorite too, so it kills me to know he never has a full belly. I dont know if letting him starve is a good idea because he is very thin, but I am scared to death of him getting bite by a live rat. I am also frustrated because I dont know how LONG to let him go without food before its TOO long. Like WHEN will he get so hungry that he will eat just about anything? Its been over a month now, and he isnt interested yet. I am also worried about him being so small..will this cause permanent damage to him? Everyone always goes on and on about every snake being able to be switched to f/t eventually but I am convinced this snake will not do it.

ja-rod4545 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-30-2007, 01:12 AM

someone said on another thread that some snakes are picky about color????

LS84 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-30-2007, 01:14 AM

yeah I have tried white f/t, black f/t and white AND black f/t....lol

xbigredtankx · #9 (**permalink**) 10-30-2007, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LS84

if he was big enough to eat the kid I babysit for, I'd do it in a heartbeat! lol
Anyway...Im really getting desperate. I have never had any trouble feeding f/t or switching snakes to f/t before this one. He's my favorite too, so it kills me to know he never has a full belly. I dont know if letting him starve is a good idea because he is very thin, but I am scared to death of him getting bite by a live rat. I am also frustrated because I dont know how LONG to let him go without food before its TOO long. Like WHEN will he get so hungry that he will eat just about anything? Its been over a month now, and he isnt interested yet. I am also worried about him being so small..will this cause permanent damage to him? Everyone always goes on and on about every snake being able to be switched to f/t eventually but I am convinced this snake will not do it.

Many say that, i say otherwise, every now and then there will be a snake that will eat nothing unless it has a heart beat, i have one!!!

when you feed live, how do you do it???, do you hold the rodent by the tail, ensuring a head shot (this can be dangerous if not done properly) or do you let it run around and the snake catch it....?

a month is a long time for a youngester, if

Advertisement