opinions wanted

[redtailedmel]

i want to know everyones little ways of how they got their boas to eat F/T i cannot get my little one to eat a f/t for nothing ive tried giving her the live first and throwing in a f/t that didnt work so i put the f/t in their first and left it for a few hrs and she stuck her snobby lil nose up at it. i wiggled that lil live one at her snatch curl gulp it was gone amd i left the f/t in there hoping after she ate it shed take it too nope. no luck ive wasted so much money trying to figure out a way to get her to eat it. the place i bought her was feeding her live and thats all she wants she 30 inches long and not eating a very big mouse but still she wont take it at all. i gave her her 5th meal with me today well i decided not to buy the live mouse till after she really wouldnt eat the frozen as to this moment the f/t is still in there been in there all day. i may have to go buy her a mouse tomorrow grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[Blackmarked]

Re: opinions wanted

I have a couple of options for you. Try placing the f/t rodent in the tank towards the end of the night and leaving it till morning. Your snake might feel more secure if it's dark and there is no one around.
Also have you tried waving the f/t in front of your snake with a long pair tongs by the tail(only recomend this if the first option does not work).
Another thought, how do you thaw the rodents, if you place them in warm water without a plastic bag you may be removing the scent your snake usually identifies it's prey by.
Overall in my experince if you leave the f/t in over night they will take them when you are not looking and eventualy may eat them as soon as it is dropped in. My boa is only 11 months old and she is already forgoing the constriction. She just finds the head and swallows.
Good luck and don't give up, feeding f/t is best for your boa.

[redtailedmel]

Re: opinions wanted

i tried just placing it in there to see if she would go after it on her own and that didnt work, and then i put mouse maker on it, a scent enhancer, and that didnt work either i used the tongs to tease her with it by wiggleing it around and nope that didnt work, when i use the tongs with a live one its usually gone gulp gulp in a matter of minutes, i used warm water to thaw it but i dont use a plastic bag i just set it inside the microwave( no its not turned on) to keep my cat out of it, ive been trying all these different methods for the last 4 feeding and i end up having to feed her live so she dont starve. i get so aggravated, fz mice at the pet shop arent cheap i was hoping shed take them well right off so i could order from the internet and save a few bucks

[Blackmarked]

Re: opinions wanted

Have you tried leaving them overnight out side the hide box your snake uses, also when you present the f/t are there movements outside the inclosure? As I said they some times won't eat a non-moving rodent if there is something going on outside the cage. I had the same problems with my ball python, she would eat live great but would only eat the f/t ones if they were left overnight outside the hide with no one in the room with her. The only other thing I can say is I know it can be frustrating but you must keep trying and eventually the snake will come round, good luck!

[Blackmarked]

Re: opinions wanted

P.S. maybe try naturaly thawing the rodent (without water) so that it's natural scent is not washed of. Will take a couple of hours but if it works it might be worth it in the end.

[redtailedmel]

Re: opinions wanted

i havent tried letting it thaw naturally ill try that, the cage i feed her in only has a water bowl and newspaper in it no hide and i left her with it while i went out side doing yard work for about 4 hrs and then i went up town for a while came back she was just sleeping on it like it was a nice cooshie pillow or something. ithough maybe she was shy but she doesnt seem to be i can watch her take the live from the tongs kill it and eat it no prob, i guess since thats all she has ever known shes just not too sure of the f/t yet, i try to offer it every time i feed im hoping one day she will surprise me and take it

[Red]

Re: opinions wanted

Well you keep feeding the snake what it wants... if you want it to eat what you want skip for two weeks and then try feeding a f/t rat... she still does not take it try the next week... don't feed her... your snake will be fine... Do this and if at the one month mark she still not eating feed one live and start over.... If the f/t are the only thing she gets a chance to eat she may be a lil' more in to them....
defrost the thing is a bag... this will make the rat smell even more.... More then the sent enhancers.... keep it dry... this will help... how many live wet rats do you put in the cage.??
Set up the feeding tank/container and only use this... then she will know anything you offer when she is inside of the feeding container is food.... A hide in the feeding container will help with some snakes.... You want the rat to be warm not just thawd... I put mine in some water for a hour and then in some water that is just warm... kinda cold still... for 15 min. then I put it in another container with water that is hot but not too hot to put your hand in.... This will leave the rat with a warm inside to it and a room temp out side like that would when they where alive....
I hope I could help...
Eric aka...Red

[redtailedmel]

Re: opinions wanted

wow dont feed her, id feel like a bad mommy shes a growing baby, as little as she is wouldnt that hurt her? shes only about 30 inches??? i havent fed her a live rat yet havent been to the pet store i though about waiting a few extra days and trying again. dont know if i have it in me to not feed her at all though, but if i cant get her to eat after waiting a few days that might be my last resort.

[Red]

Re: opinions wanted

This is what I was told to do by clay and lori... You just have to make sure you are not killing you snake... a lil' weight loss will not kill her... Just make sure that when you feed you feed a big meal for her.... I hope I could help..
This is exactly what I had to do to get my redtail to eat finaly... he ate the first one after not getting anything for two weeks... I just skiped one feeding that makes two weeks... get it...
Have a good one...
Eric aka....Red

[redtailedmel]

Re: opinions wanted

did u have to skip any more meals after that or was it smooth sailing from there? just curious? never dealt with this prob before

[Red]

Re: opinions wanted

He was the only problem feeder I have worked with... and yes I skipped the next feeding and then it was smooth sailing from there... He was about 36" at the time...
I hope I could help... I try...
If you don't feel compterble with my advise then just IM lori or clay... they will ease you troubled mind...
Eric aka....Red

[Barracuda_41]

Re: opinions wanted

s8.gif Heres something you might want to try , after your snake has gone for a few without eatting try thawing a prey item out in a bowl of some used litter from some live feeders as it has real strong smell to it and as the item is thawing out its picking up that smell.. I have used this method many times and never had a prob getting them to eat. Also if you have a prey item that isnt what its use to eatting try putting it in some used bedding from another type of prey that its use to for about 20 min and more than likely it will take it.. Hope this helps.. 8)

[eViL_KaRoT]

Re: opinions wanted

As far as your snake "sleeping" on the rat. I've had that a couple of times. I just left the rat in the cage over nite. When I woke up, the rat was gone. Also, Feed your snake at nite or early evening. I've found that to be the best time.

[redtailedmel]

Re: opinions wanted

that might be the problem i usually feed her in the early afternoon, hmmmm ill try that she usually gets fed every sunday and she didnt eat that f/t i gave her and it got nasty so im going to wait a few days like maybe wed or thursday and try again this time ill try it at night, that might cure my problem i definatly have tried  most everything except using the old bedding and freshly whacked prey. on clays care sheet it says to try that too, havent done that yet.. wish me luck im gonna try the bedding i have some from the last live mousie from last week and is 10ish a good time to try to give it to her?

[eViL_KaRoT]

Re: opinions wanted

Boa's are usually nocternal hunters. Night time would be their norm. I've found that mine seem to like it better. I usually feed mine about 8-9 pm. That's about when they start to get the most active and start looking around for the food at feeding time.