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how long for f/t mice?

Chip

Chip

ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒ&
I had a young man call who had bought a corn from me. His words: "It's an eating machine" (eats like a normal corn). He has another milksnake that is finicky so he offers it food first. If the mouse is still in there in the morning, he gives it to the corn. I suggested against doing so, mice are cheap, the kid only has two snakes, not a practice I'd recommend. But he buys Mice on Ice at two bucks a pop for fuzzies ("ouch" anyone?). And he's thirteen and money doesn't grow on trees at any age, but I remember my unfunded snake-keeping teenage years well. I told him when he bought the snake never to refreeze a mouse, leave the food in if uneaten overnight and check it in the morning, etc.
But what is a fair amount of time to tell him is okay? I personally have had snakes eating a f/t the day after feeding as I was going through cages to remove food if needed and record feedings. I suggested 12 hours, but I've witnessed snakes suddenly become interested in that mouse in the cage after more than 24 with no problems.
Not a huge husbandry dilemma, just wondering other opinions. Keep in mind this is advice to give to an enthusiastic youth who names his snakes, would call to tell me when it had shed, etc. So I am trying to err on the side of caution with the 12 hour thing...
 
What is wrong with naming your snakes? I mean of course they do not come when you call them but then again neither does my cat.

I generally feed my problem feeders first and walk away for a few hours then if I come back and if it is still there it gets warmed and put in another bin.
 
How big are the snakes??

Is it possible that he is trying to feed before they are hungry again? If the snakes are big enough, I'd suggest spacing out the feedings over a longer period.

As for as leaving overnight, I never noticed a problem with 12-16 hours.
 
nothing wrong with naming

but a snake has to really pull a stunt to get a name when you have a room full of 'em! I have corns named Escobar and Spawn of Satan, for instance. ;)
As for the feeding schedule, I think he's on a once weekly feed. The corn is a yearling now, so that sounds about right, don't know about the milk.
 
Khaman said:


I generally feed my problem feeders first and walk away for a few hours then if I come back and if it is still there it gets warmed and put in another bin.
Click to expand...

It seems like a bad idea to take an uneaten mouse out of the cage of one snake especially a problem feeder and give it to another snake. Good way to spread viruses and other nasty things.
 
I agree with Tim

I throw out a few mice every week. Small price to pay for disease prevention. Before feeding, I inspect every cage and bin, and take notes of any that may be blue so I waste as few as possible. I am a little more prone to moving uneaten pinkies to a siblings cage after hatching season, just because those numbers can add up fast. Other than that, I pretty much throw them out for the neighborhood screech owls.
 
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