scrubys on live food

[affroalex]

a few months ago purchased 3 adult scrubys off a guy in cairns, but what he didnt to tell me was that they are only feeding on live food. 2 have had a feed on a live rat, but it was a last resort after trying many other methods. but one of the females shows no interest in anything. i have 6 other scrubs but they all eat everything i offer and are absolute pigs. i dont want to give up on them as thery are really nice animals, but are starting to get frustrating. i have tried fresh killed rats, chickens, quails and rabbits, is there anything else i can try to get them feeding on defrosted food.

 

[jinin]

oh god.

 

[affroalex]

yeah there starting to be a real pain in the rear

 

[jinin]

I could imagine, I have no idea but best of luck alex.

 

[xxMelissaxx]

How frustrating.

Just be persistent and cross your fingers I guess. If they've got good condition on them, I'd be making them wait a while between meals also.

Have you tried feeding a relatively small live prey item to initiate a feeding response, then following with a thawed out rat/mouse/quail etc? I've had this work with a really difficult feeder - she eventually switched over after 18 months or so.

 

[cris]

With the ones that are eating live rats, try offering a fresh killed rat after they eat one. Was the previous owner feeding them live food because they are fussy or was it just the keepers choice?

With the one that isnt eating anything maybe try some live chickens, what was the previous owner using as food?

 

[AUSGECKO]

Sure their not wild caught?

 

[Jonno from ERD]

Hi Alex,

Being that they were purchased as adults from Cairns, and that they are finicky feeders, it is reasonable to assume that they were illegally wild caught. Because of this, you are probably dealing with a highly stressed animal that needs some effort to calm it down and subsequently begin feeding. Constantly offering it food will stress it out - the reason it refuses to eat is not because your food items are unsuitable, but because it's most probably stressed.

Keep it in a traffic-free area, with any glass covered with newspaper etc. Make sure it can get warm - 35 degrees minimum for Scrubs, they love it hot. Don't check on it or disturb it for a fortnight - it will be fine. Introduce a fresh killed adult rat with as minimum disturbance as possible and leave it overnight without checking on the snake. If it isn't in shed, it should eat it. Repeat this until it's eating consistently. You'll probably have to dose it remove any parasite burdens too.

 

[affroalex]

Hi Alex,

Being that they were purchased as adults from Cairns, and that they are finicky feeders, it is reasonable to assume that they were illegally wild caught. Because of this, you are probably dealing with a highly stressed animal that needs some effort to calm it down and subsequently begin feeding. Constantly offering it food will stress it out - the reason it refuses to eat is not because your food items are unsuitable, but because it's most probably stressed.

Keep it in a traffic-free area, with any glass covered with newspaper etc. Make sure it can get warm - 35 degrees minimum for Scrubs, they love it hot. Don't check on it or disturb it for a fortnight - it will be fine. Introduce a fresh killed adult rat with as minimum disturbance as possible and leave it overnight without checking on the snake. If it isn't in shed, it should eat it. Repeat this until it's eating consistently. You'll probably have to dose it remove any parasite burdens too.

thanks, ill give that a go, i was just talking to a mate and he suspected that they were wild caught as well. i was begining to think it myself. just a question with the heating, would a heat light be fine or do they need it to be dark.

 

[cactus2u]

Hi Alex,

Being that they were purchased as adults from Cairns, and that they are finicky feeders, it is reasonable to assume that they were illegally wild caught. .

can never assume anything i was told the word speaks for its self. How could he have bought them from a guy in Cairns they would have had no paperwork if they were wild caught. Either way the feeding of live is a touchy subject but necessary last resort. What are they like to handle ok? If you already have a few of them you be up to play on there needs so time &
Persistance with fresh killed be my plan of attack
Could only imagine the frustration you've got though

 

[xxMelissaxx]

can never assume anything i was told the word speaks for its self. How could he have bought them from a guy in Cairns they would have had no paperwork if they were wild caught.

Doesn't quite work that way unfortunately.

 

[jinin]

They could have quite possibly had paperwork but it would have been incorrect, anyone can give you their license details on a piece of paper without showing you their actual government print off license... Just a dodgy License number and away the snake goes "Legal" in the buyers eyes.

 

[cris]

I was thinking about them possibly being wild caught and stressed, but didnt want to jump to conclusions.

can never assume anything i was told the word speaks for its self. How could he have bought them from a guy in Cairns they would have had no paperwork if they were wild caught.

:lol: you cant drive faster than the speed limit either. It pretty easy to have paper work you just print it of the website, you could even make a fake licence in a few minutes. Most people dont even bother about looking at your licence during a tranfser anyway. However most people dont like getting ripped off, so chances are most people who do this end up getting reported.

 

[Riggsy]

They could have quite possibly had paperwork but it would have been incorrect, anyone can give you their license details on a piece of paper without showing you their actual government print off license... Just a dodgy License number and away the snake goes "Legal" in the buyers eyes.

I've learn't the hard way that you need to sight their actual Government copy of their licence. Now when purchasing snakes I'll ask to see their licence and also try to get a copy for the paperwork. If a deal looks too cheap or too good to be true, or if they give the old "Oh I can't find my licence but here's the number..." ( on a scrap bit of paper ), then maybe have second thoughts about buying of them. I'd rather pay a little more from a good breeder than risk something.

Everyone knows that in other sales industries some people will tell you what you want to hear and lie to your face just to get you money, then See ya later...The Herp industry is the same unfortunately. Buyer beware.

 

[jinin]

I've learn't the hard way that you need to sight their actual Government copy of their licence. Now when purchasing snakes I'll ask to see their licence and also try to get a copy for the paperwork. If a deal looks too cheap or too good to be true, or if they give the old "Oh I can't find my licence but here's the number..." ( on a scrap bit of paper ), then maybe have second thoughts about buying of them. I'd rather pay a little more from a good breeder than risk something.

Everyone knows that in other sales industries some people will tell you what you want to hear and lie to your face just to get you money, then See ya later...The Herp industry is the same unfortunately. Buyer beware.

I havn't actually had it done to me or know anyone personally who has but i would imagine how easy it would be to get away with. Its quite sad really.

 

[chickensnake]

if it does happen can the animal be taken out of your possesion?

 

[shellfisch]

if it does happen can the animal be taken out of your possesion?

that is a distinct possibility....

 

[Waterrat]

In the last few months, the Cairns QPWS were offering a good number of confiscated snakes to the members of CYHS. There were few scrubbies amongst them. Confiscated means wild caught then confiscated. Could it be the case someone got these "gifts" and passed them on?

 

[Jonno from ERD]

if it does happen can the animal be taken out of your possesion?

Not normally. It is very difficult to prove that the animals were wild caught.

 

[zuesowns]

Not normally. It is very difficult to prove that the animals were wild caught.

But there should always be a paper trail...I guess there is still ways around it...