Hey everyone,
I recently (about 2 1/2 weeks ago) acquired a trio black rat snake morphs (whites sided het albino and vice versa). I was told these snakes had fed on f/t several times before; however, I've only managed to get my male to eat once, the day after they all arrived. The two females and since this first feeding, the male, have refused meals offered to them. I've tried in a feedbox that is covered. Also, I tried feeding them in their original cages, halfway in their hide boxes when they are in them. The snakes are naturally a little skittish as all hatchling rats are but they don't seem stressed. They cruise often in their cages climbing on objects and seeming less shy than some rats I've had in my past experience. I've kept handling down to a minimum since I want them to get on a regular feeding regime. So any ideas how to get these guys to feed? Thanks in advance.
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"Bones heal, chicks dig scars. Pain is temporary, glory is forever."
-Evil Knevel
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Any tips for getting my balck rats to feed
Replies (2)
I got a young albino black rat in June. She refused the first several meals I offered her. I tried feeding live, dead, at different times of day, leaving in a pinky overnight... nothing. I then offered her a brained pinky which she gingerly swallowed. She didn't seem enthusiastic about eating, but she just couldn't resist the smell of pinky blood. LOL. She ate another brained pinky the following week, and then started eating intact fuzzies on her own. Now after having her for about 6 weeks, she is ravenously striking and constricting anything that remotely looks or smells like a mouse. If I hold my finger up to her tank she'll come out of her hide and follow it around, hoping that its a mouse - even if she just ate the day before!
Don't handle your snakes until they're eating, make sure the temps are right (roughly 85/75), that they have good hide spots, and keep stress to a minimum. Try offering them brained pinkies in the evening or at different times of day. You might want to try leaving one in overnight. Good luck.
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-Andy
n/p
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"Bones heal, chicks dig scars. Pain is temporary, glory is forever."
-Evil Knevel
