Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So I havent had him more than two months, and he ate once for me (dead), but I tried again about a week and a half later and he wouldnt eat. So, I gave it a couple of days, and tried with a live mouse, but it was the same scenario. I then noticed a while later that his eyes were clouding up and it was probably because he was pre-shed that he wasnt eating, so I left him alone, and after what seemed like FOREVER, he shed, very poorly. He shed from the middle out and I had to do most of it for him because he seemed quite unwilling. Since then, Ive tried both dead and live several times... during the day, and at night, but still nothing. I love this boy, can anybody tell me what I can do?

Here is what worked for me for the most difficult feeders:

1) Assuming you have been feeding live mice...start with feeding a frozen thawed mouse thawed in very warm water(not scalding hot!). The body temps should be 100-105F and thoroughly thawed.

2) Timing is everything! Feed in a low light room at night with the rodent still damp (just tap it dry a bit).

3) The snake should be in an ambush position like under substrate with its snout out or in its hide box with the head facing out. Using feeding tongs, grabbing the hind quarters or tail, introduce the rodent towards the head of the snake. He/she should see it coming, but not in a threatening manner. What ever you do, do not touch the snake with the rodent or tease the snake by slapping it with the rodent. This will create a completely different response.

4) Slightly jiggle the rodent to give it a slight living movement. If the snake is "buying it" you should see rapid tongue flicks or half-drawn held out tongue movement. This is a good sign. Keep up the facade until he strikes it or losses interest and pulls back. If he pulls back place, leave him be for a couple of days and repeat.

Some other points to keep in mind:
- don't try feeding a newly acquired snake immediately. Let them settle for at least seven days to relax.
- never slap the snake with the rodent because they will get defensive and make your task more difficult.
- try larger prey...really, sometimes they prefer an adult mouse when you think they should be eating a fuzzy.
- color sometimes matters. try black versus white rodents.
- never force feed.

Hope this helps. I had to dig in the archives for when I last wrote this, thank goodness for the archives.
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Another thing to consider is that your snake is stressed from being messed with during the bad shed.... take a pre-killed rodent (most Bloods have a preference for rats) and place it in the cage and just leave it there overnight. It can eat it at it's own leisure during the night. My red bloods seem to prefer their food just being set in the cage to striking anyways....
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-chris-

I'm more experienced with Ball pythons... the kings of the hunger strikes... here is what I would check ( based on my experience with my borneo).

1. Check your temps and humidity. (especially humidity if he had a bad shed) Have his eyecaps come off y?
2. What type of caging, substrate are you using compared to what he was on before? and what was he being fed before. (I've had snakes take a new prey once or a few times, and then decide they just plain don't like it.)
3. Is he in a high traffic area?
4. Agree in leaving a f/t over night... but make sure the room is dark/ and quiet. Try covering his enclosure if neccesary.
5. Don't mess with him too much. They seem to take a longer to acclimate to new surroundings than other snakes. Remember Each change you make he needs time to acclimate to...

Don't worry.. you'll figure it all out.
Good luck!
Best regards,
A.
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"There is a fine line between a hobby and mental illness"
COLD BLOOD.........WARM HEART

I was having the same problem with mine, what I found is that they truly like rats over mice. I go and get a pinky rat, which will stay alive for a couple days and not hurt the snake. I then put the snake and the rat in a pet carrier, which I place inside her cage. I then cover the cage with paper towels or newspaper so she can't see out. Sometimes it takes her a day or so to eat, but I just leave her in there and she eats every time. Good luck, Eric-

I came home tonight, and Lucifer was eating a live mouse (only BLACK) that I had given him. What an enormous weight was lifted off of my shoulders!!
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2 Mountain Horned Dragons, 2 Green Plumed Basilisks, 1 Albino Corn Snake, 1 Normal Corn snake, 1 Sumatran Red Blood Python, 1 Chinese Water Dragon, 1 Mexican Black Kingsnake,