Snake Feeding Question...

[CMatt2157]

I was wondering if all snakes are the same when it comes to getting them to eat. My corn eats fine and and I have 2 boas in which one eats fine. However, the other boa does not want to cooperate.

Before you bite my head off about this being a boa question... It's not. Just a general question. Do all the methods for making a refusing snake to eat work for all snakes? Or do you have to try different methods? I feed live and have tried everything... letting the mouse run around, dangling the live mouse in front of him, stunning the mouse, and killing it in hopes he would then eat it. Thanks.

 

[Roy Munson]

No, I don't think that all methods would work for all snakes. One example would be lizard-scenting. If a snake species doesn't eat lizards at any point in its life cycle (i.e. hatchling, juvie, adult), then I don't think that lizard-scenting would be effective.

 

[laanxx99]

I haven't had a problem feeder myself but the tradition of braining and slitting may work well. Personally, I think you can entice alot of snakes just by using some feeding tongs and making the food look alive.

 

[BeckyG]

I haven't had a problem feeder myself but the tradition of braining and slitting may work well. Personally, I think you can entice alot of snakes just by using some feeding tongs and making the food look alive.

If the snake won't eat a live mouse, it won't likely eat a dead mouse that is being wiggled. And live mice should NEVER be brained.

 

[CMatt2157]

Yeah, I feed my boas live so I guess I'll just keep on working with the problem feeder. He's going on 2 months so I am assuming he is just shy or inexperienced. However, this is weird because he ate his first meal with me after I stunned the mouse and it was twitching. He seemed scared of the next two feedings. Just gotta be patient.

 

[laanxx99]

I didnt mean brain a live mouse or anything like that. I was stating some of the ways to enhance a f/t mouse that if added to the wiggling with the tongs may help out a bit. That's all. I would never hurt a live animal like that. I have had waaaaay too many hamsters in my day. That's why I'm just glad the my guy likes the f/t!

 

[COMPOSITE CORNS]

other questions

I would go through these idea's in the order below.


Have you checked all of the cage parameters such as temperature gradient?

Does the snake look dehydrated? Snakes sometimes won't eat when dehydrated. Boa's like some humidity so spraying it a couple times a day may work.

How old is your snake and what is the sex? If it's a girl, she may be ovulating or gravid. If male, he may be wanting to breed.

Do you keep the boa's together? Stress could be a factor.

Maybe try different size rodents. This idea can't be over looked, if a snake is intimidated by the meal...it probably won't eat. This usually is the culprit, I've found, with getting baby ball python's to eat.

Have you tried different species of rodents? chicks?

As far as cross-scenting...
Traditional methods like a bird or lizard may work. Unorthodox means sometimes need to be employed like using chicken noodle soup.
Washing the frozen thawed meal with soap and water some times works too.
Just make sure to rinse throughly!

Good luck!
Geoff

 

[richyboy]

nah,some snakes can be very fussy eaters.like ive came across some royal pythons befor and they was fussy.