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Having to debrain mouse every feeding

C

Cornylover2

New member
I picked up a sunglow motley about 3 months ago, age of snake is about 4 months old eating fuzzies. The snake will not eat unless blood is present on the mouse. Has anybody else ever had to debrain the mouse for EVERY feeding? I've tried both frozen & live and the snake will check the mouse out, kind of push it around and then go curl up on the other side of the feeding tub. I've even left them together overnight and he still won't eat the mouse. I'll try again 5 days later and same thing, he'll go curl up and not pay any attention to the mouse. I'll then debrain the mouse and he's gone within 5 minutes.

Not that I'm complaining because at least he will eat for me and I'll do anything for them, but I'm not wanting to have to cut a mouse open for every feeding for the rest of his life? The longest he went without eating was 3 weeks before I finally gave in and cut the mouse. Of course he went right for him. Guess they can be as stubborn as us sometimes huh?
 
I've had some that I've made a cut in the nose to get them to take it. I always cut the backs of my f/t mice to make it easier to digest so that's not really a problem. I would just keep doing a cut. As long as he will take f/t with a cut than do it.
 
Another thing you can do is squeeze the mouse's head. Usually a combonation of blood and brains will leak out from the nose. It might work better than cutting.
 
it's kind of a pain, but at least you've figured out the trick to get him to eat. he's kind of like a kid that wont eat his sandwich unless the crust is cut off.
i've found that some snakes are pickier than others...
 
seriously at least your snake is eating! i just recently picked up a Ball python that won't eat and hasn't for about a month and a half, I've tried everything to coax it to eat freeze thaw.
 
Bobo's Mama said:
Another thing you can do is squeeze the mouse's head. Usually a combonation of blood and brains will leak out from the nose. It might work better than cutting.
Click to expand...


thats what i do...works everytime so far.

so far are the key words in that statement...lol
 
My guy will always eat, however with out any enticement, it takes him awhile to realy get interested in it.

I've found that heating the mouse in a cup of hot water helps quite a bit. Also, i place a couple of slices across the back of the mouse (as MegF stated above) and a slighty deeper one across the belly. Just enough for a small amount blood to ooze out. I find its easier then braining. Just becarefull not to cut real deep.
 
i've never tried this method of cutting the back and belly to expose blood. though braining did not work for my snake. I guess the moral is what ever works stick to it.
 
yeah bro your lucky. Be glad that yours eats! Mine hasn't eaten in almost 3 months now! He is nice and chunky, but every time I tried to feed him he doesn't eat. Then again I have only fed him live mice since I got him, so I haven't tried cutting and all of that stuff. I just couldn't do that to a mouse. Thats messed up lol. When they are alive at least.
 
Are you sure?

albinoscooby said:
yeah bro your lucky. Be glad that yours eats! Mine hasn't eaten in almost 3 months now! He is nice and chunky, but every time I tried to feed him he doesn't eat. Then again I have only fed him live mice since I got him, so I haven't tried cutting and all of that stuff. I just couldn't do that to a mouse. Thats messed up lol. When they are alive at least.
Click to expand...

Hi Albinoscooby!

I gotta tell you, there are a lot of things I thought I wouldn't do too. The fact is, when your little snake won't eat, you'll go to great lengths to assist them.

I thought I wouldn't brain, but did. Then I read on this board (or was it in TJSAC's?) that a study was done (was it Serp?) about digestion rates, better growth..etc with cutting the backs of pinks and started doing that too. FYI - if you do it while they are still frozen, it's quite easy. Lastly, I tried making a contraption to euthanize my young and adult mice. Well, that was a bomb. Long story short I think my cat is still recovering... :sidestep: So, I tried cervical dislocation as described by someone here. Once you get the hang of it, it's fast, efficient, clean and I swear the mouse really doesn't feel much. The cats are safe and the kids are properly intimidated. What more can you ask? hehehe

My point to you is, that you may find there is much you'd do for your snakies, so don't say you wouldn't until you try :D

-Tonya
 
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