Feed trouble

[Robpiersen]

I have a feed record for my Stimson hatchie from the breeder and her last feed with him was a fuzzy. I had already bought pinkies to prepare for her arrival I've attempted 2 feelings since receiving her. She gets very interested in the pinkie takes strike pose follows its movement very carefully she has on both occasions put her nose right up started flickering her tongue, but it seems as soon as she relised what it was looses interest. Is it possible she may just want another fuzzy and has gotten over pinkies it's only been 2.5 weeks since last feed so I'm not freaking yet

 

[animal805]

I would definatley try with a fuzzy, one they get the taste for fur it is hard for some to go back. My Md was the same and I ended up with some wasted pinky rats

 

[kwaka]

My little one didn't feed for the firs 4 weeks, then when I tried all of the following:

• slightly warmer temps on the heat mat
• leaving him alone and undisturbed for 4 days in a row in a quiet dark room
• approaching him slowly,
• using the lid to keep him in the click-clack and not exploring
• I also used a little technique I saw on Youtube where you pinch the skin off the nose of the food item

everything just clicked. 3 feeds in a row, every 4 days. Pinching the skin may have tipped it over the edge, or it could have been a combination of factors. Definitely try leaving him undisturbed for a few days before trying to feed, ensuring adequate warmth (my click clack is registering 39 at the hot end directly on the plastic, but 35 on top of one sheet of kitchen paper, 33 on top of the double layer, and a consistent 25 down the cool end!).

 

[SarahScales]

I always say the same things with these feeding threads: Soak the prey with a day old quail. Never failed me.

 

[stimigex]

If it was feeding when it come from the breeder and had a feed record with it I would say it is the way you have it set up nothing more!
Make sure the heat is correct for it paying attention to the early hours of the morning which is the coldest. You should be providing a constant hot spot of 32-34dg 24 hours a day no matter what the ambient temp is.

 

[Robpiersen]

I have adjusted temp up I had it on 31 so I've moved to 34 apart from that click clack setup is about perfect 2 hides one hot end one cold and a small twig for climbing kitchen towel for substrate I'm wondering if my method may be wrong does the feed need a wash to remove packaging type scents ?

 

[pythonmum]

Are you feeding at night when the hatchling is most active?
I would not try to wash off the food items. The less washing, the more scent. I have a thawing bucket that is scented with rats and mice, so I never use anything but water when cleaning it out. It may well be the texture of pinkies rather than fuzzies. Fur is more like natural prey and acts as a good source of fibre, too.

 

[Robpiersen]

Or I their a certain method to feeding I have read many different ways mostly to present with tongs but can I leave the food next to the hide and have her eat it herself ?

 

[Robpiersen]

Mostly late afternoon about 5 I could try feeding later at night

 

[skittles85]

My Murray Darling hatchie was very fussy with the fuzzies. I was heating in a freezer bag sat in hot water but on advice from a family member who also has snakes I heated straight in water so the fuzzie was a little wet when I offered it. Worked a treat, hasn't refused since.

 

[Robpiersen]

How do you thaw your mice I was suggested to use the heat mat

 

[skittles85]

I thaw at room temp until its soft and no icy bits in the stomach then straight in warm water to heat it up a bit and make sure the brain isn't still a little frozen.

 

[Robpiersen]

Thanks for all the advice this is my first snake and she's doing great apart from feeding I really want to get her regularly feeding so I can begin handling

 

[pythonmum]

Mostly late afternoon about 5 I could try feeding later at night

I would wait until full dark outside and lower the lighting in the room. Offer the food holding it by the neck in tongs with the nose toward the snake. Make sure the food is very warm when offered. If she doesn't strike and take, try gently touching along her side. If she appears afraid of this, stop. Then just put the food next to her, cover the enclosure with a towel and leave her alone for an hour. You can reheat the item once more in hot water and try again, but if it is still there in the morning, chuck it.

 

[skittles85]

Definitely try heating in water, I used the heat mat originally with no luck but haven't had a refused meal since heating in warm water

 

[Robpiersen]

Ive been holding near back legs ill give neck a go and try defrosting in water and at night just need to wait for next attempt

 

[Pythoninfinite]

Drop the mouse into hot water for a minute or two to thaw, then offer, wet, as suggested. Temperature is the most likely problem... if you've bumped it up, it may well fix the feeding issue...

Jamie