Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been trying for a few weeks to get one of my retics to take dead rats. she will not at all.. she got bit a few weeks ago by one and i wanted to switch so it would not happen again but no mattter what i do she will not take a dead one. any suggestions?
-----
Greg

warn mthem up before you feed them.... dangle them over a light bulb or use a space heater.... heck, even a microwave will work!

careful though.... i would toss those in and bail. they may lock on to you and get distracted from the food!

i have tried that..it's almost like she is mad that i killed it cause she wanted to. i do not have to heat them up...i am klilling them myself they are not frozen i try to feed them to her 10 sec after killing them
-----
Greg

make her wait it out.... she will come to terms with you.

trust me, most retics dont like to pass up a meal, live or dead!

Ok i will try...as long as it does not start to smell too bad.. lol
-----
Greg

sorry... i mean dont feed her for a week or two. make her get really hungry... then toss a warm dead rat in her cage... walk away and come back later.

i wouldnt leave anything dead in her cage for more than just overnight. anything after that could make your snake sick if it eats the rotting food.

Ok thanks... i will give that a try
-----
Greg

I would try heating the pre killed rat or just feeding stunned prey. Take a live rat and break the neck so it twitches a little bit. The slightest spasms or twitches can trigger a feeding response.

When heating frozen rats don't use the microwave!!! Warm it under heat lamp or something similar to the desired temperature.

Thanks.. i tried that..well not heating them anyway. i tried feeding them right after i killed them. I'm working on it the next few weeks and see if i can get her to as well as my other retic and a couple of my other snakes.
-----
Greg

Try feeding a fresh killed rat swished around in fresh mouse bedding and see if that does anything. Also try dipping the rats head in heated chicken broth and see if that does the trick.

Winslow