Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently switched my Cali off of pinkies to live hoppers, without a problem on the first two, but now Spots acting scared of the mice. Any ideas on how hungry should let him get before I try feeding again. He's been eating twice a week like clockwork until yesterday...

Pinkies to "hoppers" is a big jump. Are you sure you mean Hoppers. The next step up should just be fuzzies or peach fuzzies...

If your feeding live hoppers to your snake that is used to Pinkies, i am not surprised that its having some hesitations with it.

I dunno what they're called... but they've got their eyes open now and hop around a lot, so I'd call them hoppers... I'm trying to avoid freezing them, cause its kinda distribing and my boyfriend doesnt like frozen mice in the freezer, but the increased size doesnt seem to be bothering the snake any, I just think he's a little confused about his food moving

Same thing happened to me. Freezing was the only thing that worked. My snake was hungry you could tell but no way was going near the live hopper .
After the hopper was frozen than thawed it was eaten . Now he will take live hoppers but when I go to mice they will be frozen but either way freesing them might be only option you have.

well, thanks for the advice... I still have some pinkies frozen, so I'll feed him those till they're gone and freeze these stupid hoppers before they get to big for him...
any other suggestions? I'm still pretty new at this and I'd hate to lose a beautiful snake because of stupidity on my part...

When you say hopper(s) I assume you mean more than one. My personal preference is feeding prekilled period.Only exception being one that will not take anything else. Try killing one of the hoppers and offer it that way.If hes used to eating something that doesnt move it might take awhile to get use to his food moving about. My 2 cents worth

Toby
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www.Wood-N-Snakes.com

I agree with Toby. Kill the hopper or whatever we shall call it and offer it to the snake. The snake won't be so intimidated or put off by the size or movement of a live one.
Good luck