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Q: Refused Frozen Mouse
Posted By:

msmeghan

So, I fed my new ball last night... Or tried, at least :P

She was interested in it, for sure. Tongue went crazy, and would follow it wherever the tongs would move it (note i wasn't moving it around, it just wiggled a bit) But after a bit, she lost her interest in it and just wanted to explore.

It was kind of disheartening, but I was surprised she even took THAT much interest in it for being fed live all of her life. I half expected her to completely ignore it.

My question is now: Keep feeding her live, or keep trying to entice her with frozen? My boyfriend said he'd kill the rats for me, so it really woudn't be a big deal.

Opinions?


Points: 100
Topics: Feeding
Tags: Converting, Feeding, Frozen, Python, Refusal, Regius, Switching, Thawed
Species: Pythons > Pythons > Python regius
Administrative: Show/Hide

Accepted Answer 12/31/2010 1:40:59 PM

aaron

Have you tried to get her to eat two small instead of one?

A small live meal followed by a small dead meal?

I'd strongly recommend converting to dead regardless. It's just a good thing to do.

 
Member Comment 12/31/2010 1:42:53 PM

aaron

Also, here's some research

 
Assisted Answer 12/31/2010 3:42:52 PM

Louie

Frozen is the way to go.I put my rats in a bowl on top the heat lamp and get the rat up to about 95 degrees and its worked great.Tried at room temp and they wouldnt take but the warmer temp works good.I just switched 3 adults over to frozen at the 95 degree temp that wouldnt eat frozen prior to the hot meal.Hope this helps.

 
Member Comment 12/31/2010 3:46:28 PM

Louie

One more thing I forgot.I also use a pair of tongs to drag rat around if they dont take it just laying in the cage.Happy New Year!!!!!!!

 
Author Comment 12/31/2010 6:13:19 PM

msmeghan

Thanks, Louie! I'll try that, for sure. I know the mice were warmer than room temperature, but I guess I didn't think to guage what they were actually at :)

 
Assisted Answer 1/1/2011 12:04:15 AM

darkplatypus

This is what I do when I feed my more difficult animals: Get the food item really hot! I thaw them out in the hottest water that comes out of the tap and then just prior to feeding I dump the old water and refill with HOT water. Dry off the food item really well with a paper towel. Then I basically toss up the substrate in the snake's encluse and make a lot of noise to get their attention. Drag the food item around on the substrate and do the "dead mouse/rat dance" until they take it.

 
Assisted Answer 1/1/2011 2:50:32 AM

shellboa

I second almost all of what dark said," a lot of noise to get their attention" can also just as easily be a lot of vibration that freaks them out so they won't eat. Converting a stubborn feeder can be a real test of a keepers patience but it is definetly safer in the long run

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