problem eater (coastal)

[HerpAddict]

i've had my coastal for about 10 months and he has always been a trouble eater.
at the start i had to assist feed him as he wasnt interesed at all, now, 10 months on he is still not eating very much.
ive tried exposing some brain matter on the pinkie/velvet, i also went through a time of scenting his food by rubbing a skink on it, that worked for a while, but nothing is working now.
i get the feeling he was probably the 'special' one in his clutch that shouldnt of made it... but i still like him

Can someone give me any more ideas?

Cheers,
Pratty

 

[pythrulz]

Ive got 2 coastals they have been so hard to feed sometimes dont eat for a few months at a time no matter what i try but eating ok now.Try gently rubbing the mouse/rat gently along the neck upper body for about 10-15 minutes and got mine eating and try warming the food got mine eating hope it helps

 

[saximus]

Also try changing the prey item to see if you can find something he will take. There are a fair few options - rats, mice, quail, chickens (also chicken necks), rabbits etc.
Once you find something he likes you can use that to scent your rats and slowly get him onto them

 

[pythons73]

Quail has gotten a few non-feeders going for me.I also had a coastal a few years ago that just wouldnt eat,finally after 11months it started eating without any fuss,up until then it was assist fed..A Chondro that was forced fed for nearly 12months i got going on quail on the 1st attempt..Now its going great...

 

[HerpAddict]

thanks for the tips guys, he is pretty small, how small are baby quail?
might also try chicken necks...
i hope he starts eating good, poor little fella worries me

 

[driftoz]

im having trouble trying to get my 12 month coastal onto rats shes taking adult mice fine but never touches a rat im going to get a baby chicken and defrost it in the water with the rat and stick a couple chicken feathers in the rats mouth and see how i go.

 

[saximus]

Have you tried rubbing the rats with a mouse? I have a Bredli who still won't take rats (very frustrating since I breed rats and not mice) but I just defrost a mouse with it and rub them together and he smashes the rat

 

[driftoz]

Have you tried rubbing the rats with a mouse? I have a Bredli who still won't take rats (very frustrating since I breed rats and not mice) but I just defrost a mouse with it and rub them together and he smashes the rat

ive stored the mice and rats together ive defrosted rats and mice together ive rubbed together ive put into enclosure together and the mouse always got eaten and the rat didn't lol

 

[HerpAddict]

my little guy wont even take mice willingly... im gonna try again tonight, i hope he takes it. ill try rubbing a mouse on the rat, see how he goes. he always seems really interested and checks it out, but then just moves away...?

 

[saximus]

Yeah a lot of them will sniff it to see what it is but they just don't realise that the smell means food. That's why a lot of people will try different types of food. Most people seem to have the most luck with quail or chicken

 

[GeckoJosh]

ive stored the mice and rats together ive defrosted rats and mice together ive rubbed together ive put into enclosure together and the mouse always got eaten and the rat didn't lol

Try squeezing the mouses head so it produces a few drops of blood and then smear that onto the rat, it worked for me

 

[driftoz]

cheers ill give it a shot don't have any rats atm so when i buy some ill get a chicken too and see how that goes as well

 

[pythons73]

Just give it little-non disburbance for a few days-week,except to change water-paper.What works for some,may not work for others.Try at night,seem to have a better feed response.Ive even heard chicken stock can also do the trick,ive never used it thou..Patience is a key with fussy-nonfeeders,no disbubance,no handling etc..

 

[HerpAddict]

yeah ill try chicken and quails too, so hard not to attemp to feed him or handle him... but i do have a snakey little woma now, so i can spend some time taming her

YAY the little guy ate a quail... and still looks hungry. he loved it too
could/should he eat 2 in one meal?