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Really wearing on my last nerve

TrpnBils

TrpnBils

22 is not enough snakes
I bought a 2 year old female corn off of a breeder at an expo in late September of this year and she is by far the most problematic feeder of any snake I have with one exception. I think since then she's only eaten for me maybe about 4 times total, and that's trying multiple types of food items during various feeding attempts 5-7 days apart. For her age/size, I'd normally give her either a large mouse or two medium mice, but I've tried those, rat pups, mouse fuzzies (to be followed by something larger), and something equivalent to a very small adult rat.

Even the times she's eaten, there's been a few issues. Like she'll get the mouse most of the way down and then spit it back out. In those instances, she'll usually eat something later on if I try again with a new mouse and leave the room completely dark and silent.

Basically she acts like she's not interested, or she'll act interested and then shy away from it, so I know she's a nervous snake.... so I've tried feeding her after I feed my other snakes, I've tried feeding before everyone else, I've tried feeding on a totally different night than all of my others so the commotion in the room is minimal and nothing seems to work any better than anything else.

She's in a sterilite tub (don't know the size off the top of my head, but it's the same size my adult corns and milk are all in) with aspen shavings, 78-84 degree temps, and two hide boxes.

Any thoughts?
 
What interval are you feeding at? Oh, I see. What if you go to a 10 to 14 day time frame? Have you tried in a feeding container? Have you tried slitting or braining? Washing?
 
I've tried washing but not braining. I'll do it if I need to, but she's gotten to this age on F/T somehow, so I know she knows how to eat it. I really don't want to revert back to something you normally do with a hatchling's first meal unless all else fails but I'm certainly not going to let her starve.

I haven't tried a feeding container exactly, but I have had some moderate success with her by leaving the mice in her hide overnight.
 
Well, I don't see anything wrong with making the mouse more appealing. I remember when I first slit mice for my snakes, after reading the study. They went CRAZY!!! Coiled, "killed," I've never seen them like that. They eventually got used to it and went back to normal, but they sure were excited by the extra smells to begin with. (I no longer slit mice for snakes on adults).

I've also found that confining a snake in a small area, covered up, where they can't wander off and do something else and forget they even have a mouse to eat helps most slow feeders. I will give them two or three hours before giving up.
 
Nanci said:
Well, I don't see anything wrong with making the mouse more appealing. I remember when I first slit mice for my snakes, after reading the study. They went CRAZY!!! Coiled, "killed," I've never seen them like that. They eventually got used to it and went back to normal, but they sure were excited by the extra smells to begin with. (I no longer slit mice for snakes on adults).

I've also found that confining a snake in a small area, covered up, where they can't wander off and do something else and forget they even have a mouse to eat helps most slow feeders. I will give them two or three hours before giving up.
Click to expand...

So two to three hours? I was told I should only leave it in thir for 3 minutes and if they don't eat it throw it away. I think I will do that two to three hours thing if I happen to run into a problem.
 
I'm not referring to non-feeding hatchlings- of course you can leave a pink overnight for them. I'm speaking of reluctant feeding adults. If you have enough snakes, you've got one or two, usually.
 
hey Jeff,
I have an adult female with the same sort of feeding issue. She's around 4 feet. I thaw the mice first, then soak in hot hot tap water, drain, and soak again in hot water. Then drain & dry off the food quickly, place in a small sterilite tub with the snake, snap the lid on, put the tub back in her viv, turn the lights off and check again in the morning.
Because she is a problematic feeder, I give her 3 rat pups every 10-12 days; a fattier meal but less frequently seems to be the only way to keep weight on her.
 
Tried a brained small adult mouse overnight in a dark feeding container at proper temps and got nothing.
 
Honestly if I thought it wouldn't kill her I'd just brumate her along with the male who's in now and hope that in February she'd pick up.... I'll give your method a shot, Dave - thanks!
 
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