Stimson feeding questions

[Slothicorn]

Hi guys! I just got a new Stimson's hatchie and I need some questions answered in terms of feeding.

Today, I tried feeding him a pinkie but he didn't take it so I left it in the tank with him over night. If he doesn't eat it by morning, what do I do with the pinkie and when should I try again?

Background info: i am currently keeping him in a Chinese food container like my breeder suggested. I have not handled him yet, only moved him once to change the paper towel in his container. I have a heat pad set at 32 degrees on one side, but the weather has been so hot that I haven't needed it, so the entire tank is the same temperature. (We don't have air conditioning) When I tried feeding him tonight, he bit the mouse once, then let it go. I am assuming it is because I didn't tug on it so he bro ably thought it wasn't food. I have tried some more to get him to grab it, he smells it but then backs away. If you could give me some tips I would be very thankful.

Thanks.

 

[The_Geeza]

What is the temp u r talking about?... Give him time to settle and try in 3/5 days

 

[Slothicorn]

What is the temp u r talking about?... Give him time to settle and try in 3/5 days

Celsius, if that's what you mean. I thought it would be helpful if some other people knew the temps and stuff

 

[The_Geeza]

U need a gradient... A spot of 31/33 for food digestion and the rest of mid 20's... U be better off getting it out and putting in your small enclosure or a 7lt sistema... This will allow u to get a better chance of temperature gradient

 

[Slothicorn]

U need a gradient... A spot of 31/33 for food digestion and the rest of mid 20's... U be better off getting it out and putting in your small enclosure or a 7lt sistema... This will allow u to get a better chance of temperature gradient

My breeder says that he should stay in the food container until he feeds for me, so I don't know what to do about that.

Also, today when I got home, he was curled up in his water bowl, probably trying to cool down. What should I do?

 

[Varanoidea]

Do what has just been said and get a click clack so you can get a gradient.

 

[The_Geeza]

My breeder says that he should stay in the food container until he feeds for me, so I don't know what to do about that.

Also, today when I got home, he was curled up in his water bowl, probably trying to cool down. What should I do?

And the breeder should know better since u live in dubbo with still relatively hot days ATM.... 7 lt sistema tub will be a perfect home got at least 6 months.. Or your small enclosure but u Gota get the cool side down in the mid 20's...there r various threads using the search bar regarding setting up click clacks... Plz look and do some homework cause if that snakes gets to hot then it could die... Good luck... Stimi's r great snakes for newbies but not bullet proof

 

[Slothicorn]

I have put a ice brick warped in a tea-towel under the cool side of his tank. It shouldn't cool him too much so I'm hoping that works

 

[kitten_pheonix]

I would do as the other 2 say, most stimmies start out in a 5l tub so keeping it in a chinese container is pointless. try keep it dark as well so it doesn't see the movement. are you heating its food at all?

 

[Slothicorn]

I would do as the other 2 say, most stimmies start out in a 5l tub so keeping it in a chinese container is pointless. try keep it dark as well so it doesn't see the movement. are you heating its food at all?

yes, I heat it's food to body temp with a hot water bottle.

 

[kitten_pheonix]

Ah, try heating it up with hot tap water, it may be going cold to quick for him (I also have 2 stimmis, one will not eat her food unless its soaking with water, she is an odball)

 

[PappaSmurf]

We live in Brisbane & the heat really affects our Stimmy. His favourite place in his tank at the moment is UNDER his water bowl which is where he is as i type. When he feeds he heads for his warm end to digest then straight back under the water bowl through the tunnel network he has dug in his aspen chip bedding. IMO a chinese food container is LUNACY in this weather.

 

[The_Geeza]

I hope I don't have to re type what I have already said... Plz read thread and make some changes

 

[Bluetongue1]

What circumstances does your breeder hold his hatchies in? I would suggest he/she has control over the ambient temperatures. The use of take-away containers is clearly a space saving device for the breeder. This size container is inappropriate for the vast majority of hobby keepers. I can only reaffirm the value of the good advice given with respect to doing some research on click-clack utilising the information on existing threads.

Ambient temperatures are just are every bit as important as knowing the ‘hot spot’ temperatures. Where it is not possible to provide a thermal gradient, a uniform temperature of 28[SUP]o[/SUP]C should be provided.

In heat wave conditions, feeding should be temporarily curtailed. More often than not, snake will make that decision for you. If it is considered imperative to feed, then a small feed item only should be utilised.

Blue

 

[Pythoninfinite]

One of the 5l containers from the Reject Shop would be perfect for your snake. In very warm weather, and for brief periods (a few days...) if you can't have a heat gradient it won't matter in the slightest, as long as the enclosure floor doesn't get much warmer than around 33C for a few hours. If it gets hotter than this, place the tub on the floor during the heat of the day. NEVER offer food if a heatwave is imminent or current.

Jamie

 

[Slothicorn]

Ok guys, thanks for the advice.

Last night I went to try and feed him again and found that he had recently shed! That would explain why he didn't feed before. I tryed again that night and he grabbed it right away so I left him alone to swallow. Came back to check on him and he had swallowed and was in his propper tank (I left the lid off his container while he was feeding) so I let him stay there and took the container out. All is going well.