Reptile & Amphibian Forums

When I first got him he accepted freshly thumped mice when sented with a goldfish. Soon he moved to just thumping them...cool. Now he wont eat them unless the mouse is bleeding or I have to squeeze a little brain juice through the nose. Do any of you have the same experience with there Indigos???
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norcalsnakemaster@comcast.net

I've sometimes had snakes that would feed more readily on f/t rodents when there was a tear on the snout with some blood present. Same with some hatchlings, which would feed more often when f/t pink had some blood/brain tissue freshly exposed.

I have never experienced this with any Drymarchon. However, I have experienced it with Grey Band Kingsnakes, which required split brain fuzzys in order to get them to feed on a consistant basis. In short, a real pain. But grey bands are like that...

The fact that your Indigo WAS eating on freshly thumped clearly shows that it recognizes that as a food item. Sometimes WITHHOLDING food from the snake, while at the same time keeping the temps optimum, creates a *desire* in them not to be so fussy. I've done it before, and it seemed to work. Try it, and report back..

*Cheers*

Fred Albury

thanks guys! He still is the coolest snake! The most alert snake I have ever known. Every morning when I get up (anywhere from 7:30 to 10:00) I go in & turn on his light. Within an hour he is out checking out every movement in the room. What a personality he has! Even the wife likes him-he is the only snake with the privledge of being in the main part of the house. Anyhow, I will keep you updated on him.
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norcalsnakemaster@comcast.net

well, he took a "giant dump" yesterday...So today, I thumped the mice & they didn't even hit the ground...grabbed them right off the tongs.
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norcalsnakemaster@comcast.net