Possible feeding issue with Woma.

[reptalica]

Hi all,

I have a reasonably newly acquired 6 month old Woma.....and allegedly was "puppy tame" and a "good feeder". However, since I have had her she, in my opinion, would be better suited to pinkies and has been successful taking two thus far. Problem was tonight and on another occasion whilst in her feeding tub I dangle a pinkie on tongs in front of her and she keeps missing it etc. On the times she did latch onto it tonight she curled up around it and did all the usual snake and prey routine, only to let it go and carry on with parading around the tub.

a) could she not be hungry? (doubt it),

b) prey item too big? too small?

c) method of feeding incorrect....even left it in with her for 15-20 mins or so.

I then tried to hold her and feed her "manually" holding her in one hand and the tongs with pinkie in the other, missed a few times and latched on once or twice.


Grrrrrrrrr. I guess until now I've had it pretty good with Jaffa and Amber........

This girl is also very flighty, initially I was hesitant but no longer. Just open the enclosure and take her out.

Pics attached, and any advice appreciated.

 

[Skeptic]

Pinkies are useless. I'd be upping the size.

 

[reptalica]

Thanks Skep. For 5-6 months old she ain't that big. I was certainly expecting a specimen with more weight. Hard with the pics I know but can anyone hazard a guess as to her general condition. Will try and get better pics.....

 

[Skeptic]

She looks healthy enough. A bit small for her age but she doesn't look emaciated.

Up the feed size but I wouldn't start power feeding her to catch her up. She'll get there

 

[Woma_Wild]

I can't really give you any advise as I'm only new to this but I can tell you that my girl is nearly 5 months old (about same size as yours )and is on pinkie rats.... what a pain. lol. You'd think I nothing better to do all day to just sit there dangling it in front of her.
BUT, add some mouse juice and she goes nuts. I have her on rat as I've been told that it's a better food that mice but she just wont take it and when she does, she lets go, latches on and off. Same as yours by the sounds of it.

Until someone with more experience comes along, next feed, defrost a mouse and a pinkie rat in same bag, rub the 2 together just before feeding and see if she acts differently this time.

 

[Becca-Marie]

Hi i think food size needs to be bigger my fella is older (about 6-7 months) and hes on hopper rats but i reckon ill need to upsize shortly

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[reptalica]

Yep my bad. I just received her feed records tonight and she was on hopper rats........duh! A tad different.....

 

[Becca-Marie]

Well i hope offering her a hopper rat helps

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[Boondocker]

Yep an animal that size should be on frozen thawed small weaned rats. I would just leave it in the cage in the evening.

 

[yommy]

Try furred. Your next one is a rat pig

 

[A1SNAKETRADER]

I have some 6 month old Tanami Woma hatchies that are smashing 20 gram aduly mice

 

[reptalica]

Just an update with regards to this thread......I have "upped" the size of Topaz food item tonight to weaner rats. Did the usual....thawed, used the tongs, dangled in front of her, a few strike attempts, once she latched on but let go. Left it in with her for 2-3 hours and still there so I gave it to Jaffa who smashed it.

Problem feeder or off her food???? As I have only had her 3 weeks I really have no precedent to work with.

Any advice would be appreciated. Pics of her attached......updated ones.

View attachment 291293View attachment 291294View attachment 291295View attachment 291296

 

[Boondocker]

Just an update with regards to this thread......I have "upped" the size of Topaz food item tonight to weaner rats. Did the usual....thawed, used the tongs, dangled in front of her, a few strike attempts, once she latched on but let go. Left it in with her for 2-3 hours and still there so I gave it to Jaffa who smashed it.

Problem feeder or off her food???? As I have only had her 3 weeks I really have no precedent to work with.

Any advice would be appreciated. Pics of her attached......updated ones.

View attachment 291293View attachment 291294View attachment 291295View attachment 291296

I'm unable to see your updated photos, there appears to be a forum glitch. I get an invalid attachment error message.
Reptalica your woma is of growing size, she didn't get to that size on just air. She must have been eating something, so don't worry my friend. Here is what I would do. I would do a check of cage temps do be sure all is right and I would keep in mind it is winter now and many animals slow feeding. I also would keep in mind that some young womas can be extra shy. An extra shy young woma is probably fear striking at the feed items dangled at him while being held. I would end this type of feeding practice for now. I would wait two weeks then simply try leaving food in the cage so she can find it and eat completely undisturbed.

 

[pythonmum]

Totally agree with boondocker. It looks from the original photos like fear strikes. Let her get hungry for a couple of weeks and leave her alone. Thaw a furred rodent and offer it with tongs, holding it by the scruff of the neck so that the nose points right at her. If she doesn't wrap it immediately, just put it in a warm spot in her enclosure, cover the whole thing and wait until morning. The only other trick may be blow drying the rat. Sometimes my female woma prefers a fluffy, dry rat.

 

[yommy]

typical female behaviour there susan...tic