It is an EXTREME rarity that I ever offer a snake to any of my kings, because I don't want to get them "programmed" to like them. However a couple years back there was a badly deformed Honduran hatchling that there was no hope for so I offered it to a big female floridana. Well, it hardly took one tongue flick from the time I put it in front of her to snatch it and gobble it down. From initial introduction to snatching it took every bit of 1/10th of a second!..LOL!!



However on the other side of the coin, I have had some hatchling floridana coil up with cornsnakes and would also not eat ANYTHING offered whatsoever for a LOOOOOONG time including their new-found corn friend..HAHA!!. Then one magical day, the switch to voluntarily feed on a F/T pink would be triggered in their little heads, and from that day forward would be the ravenous carnivores they are historically noted for..LOL!



Many other folks hatchling floridana, sticticeps, and eastern getula can be just like this, but eventually they come around if given enough time and a sometimes a couple force-feedings to keep them alive until they come around.



Anyway, I know you are very aware of alot of what I said here, just thought I would share some personal experiences..LOL!



About the ONLY thing I didn't have and try on some were ground skinks, and these can often be a VERY preferred prey for young getula.....so I'll never know for sure if that would have worked early on, but everything else under the sun was certainly tried and some hatchling would go by all the offerings like they were never eve there..HAHA!!. I am glad I never give up is all I can say, I will keep them alive no matter WHAT until the start feeding. I guess that is always the bottom line..







~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"





serpentinespecialties.webs.com

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