Picky BP...Go figure

[ChadRamsey]

Of the six, this little guy is the ONLY one that does not eat every week. Shoot, if he ate every other week i would be happy! He is 100% Het for Roussis line Pied and i was hoping that he would be ready for this season.

(I now the dangers of feeding live, he is my ONLY live feeder. But i am kind of stuck here! And i closely monitor feedings with him)

His feeding card reads as follows:
* 2/24 live mouse
* 3/3 live mouse
* 3/6 419grams
* 3/9 shed
* 4/1 live mouse
* 4/16 2 live mice
* 5/4 shed
* 6/3 LIVE RAT
* 6/8 391 grams

Now he will not eat a rat OR a MOUSE! He's losing weight. And will not even look at f/t anything. I'm pulling my hair out here! He will strike at live but thats all.

Any suggestions would be great!
Thanks

	Heterozygous Heterozygous - the animal carries the gene for a genetic trait but does not outwardly demonstrate the trait. Example: A boa that is het for albino looks normal but carries the albino gene. When it is bred to another het for albino boa or an albino boa, a percentage of the offspring will be albino.

[JuliusSqueezer]

How often are you offering food? What are his cage temps? Is he living alone with plenty of hides? Have you tried leaving a f/t rat overnight in front of his hide in the cage? Are you handling him?

	Frozen/Thawed A rodent or other prey item that is frozen and then thawed to be fed to a reptile or other animal.

[ChadRamsey]

temps: 80, 88
offering food every 7 days
lives alone, 2 hides, one cool, one hot
last night left f/t for 2 hours in front of his hot hide, were he was hiding out, 2 hours later, saw him entering his cool hide.
not handling him as much

	Frozen/Thawed A rodent or other prey item that is frozen and then thawed to be fed to a reptile or other animal.

[ChadRamsey]

by the way thanks again for your concern Brett!

[unluckyseventeen]

I would plug the F/T feeding very, very hardcore. A lot of Balls go off feed randomly, but he should start eating. I'd get him on F/T, as it's a hundred times safer than live.

You might try this:

Get a box that he will fit in... something that is snug but not cramming him in there. A cereal box is good for most smaller snakes... I've used a pop tart box and some noodle boxes before. I'd prefer something with tabs so you can open and close a side easily.

Thaw the F/T rat inside a ziplock bag or something, so all of the possible scent stays on the rat while thawing.

Once it's feeding time, have the ball go inside the box and set it on the warm side of the tank. He should hang out in there for about 5 minutes unless he's really antsy. This will give you time to go get the rat. After a while, once you force them in there and leave, they will know it's feeding time and you'll get very, very good feeding responses.

Bring the rat in, open the bag and dry it off. Then open the tabs or whatever on the box, drop the rat in, close it, and walk away.

I assure you that the first concern I have is him eating out in the open. A lot (and I mean a LOTTTT) of snakes will not eat in front of supervision comfortably. Try that method. The plusses to it are that he eats in an enclosed space and feels safe, and also the bag/box harbors the scent very well so it should hit him like a ton of bricks.

Another tip to get a feeding response is to make the rat bloody or something. Snakes love that kind of stuff. I've heard of people poking holes in the dead rat's body to get a bit of blood to seep out... and they take it very quickly. Also, if you're really desperate, braining the rat would be a good idea. Just split it's skull with a knife or something and they will go nuts on it.


Anyway, primarily, I would worry about it eating in the open. Try the box way. I've never had to get down and nasty with the food, and the box has worked like a friggen charm for me and several others.

Try that first.

	Frozen/Thawed A rodent or other prey item that is frozen and then thawed to be fed to a reptile or other animal.

[ChadRamsey]

thanks UnLucky, i know all the dangers of feeding live, but he is sooooooo stubborn and i am so weak! Ill try your cramming method in a few days. I do have other balls that ONLY feed in their hides and NEVER in a feeding bin. Feeding time at my house is such a pain in the rearend!

Any other methods folks?

[Heidi]

I'd say to try to leave it in there overnight. I've even see it suggested to feed in a closed brown paperbag overnight, of course F/T only for this suggestion though. It is eating so that is a good sign. Maybe finicky but that is typical. I'm assuming you've also had him checked for parasites.