Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just curious what everyones best take on this situation. Is it ok to leave food in the cage overnight? Ive had some stubborn eaters but never any that never eat since being hatched. I usually put them in a separate container in dark with food for a while and it works alot, but just want to see other opinions or methods.

let me start off by saying that the least amount of time that mice are left out, the better. Less bacteria is able to form, healthier for the snake.
The regular posters here probably know by now that I have a few hatchlings that are problem feeders (had a male with bad genetics, is my guess). Well, point is, some of the babies will only eat over night. I also have one adult that I bought full grown, that will only eat over night. I check on them first thing in the morning to see if they have eaten. If they have not, I toss it out. You can tell the mouse is no good.
I am sure there are other people who do it differently, but I think overnight is fine, if the circumstances call for it, but no longer than that.
Good luck
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****Misty****

www.sneakyserpents.com

"Yesterday was the deadline for all complaints"

I guess I should say I am trying live ones right now. If all fails with this. Im going to switch to f/t and try some tuna juice, cause I hear it works wonders.

I have had a few non eaters this year and i have to say that the tuna juice did absolutely nothing me but thats jsut my experience.....The only thing that has worked for me is by braining a live pink. Good luck.
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I have come to the conclusion that there is no cure for snake addiction!

With all the babies that I have had, only one ate a meal that was scented in tuna juice. And that was once. I have also heard it was a great thing. I just wonder if I am using the wrong kind or something because it does not work for me at all.
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****Misty****

www.sneakyserpents.com

"Yesterday was the deadline for all complaints"

Didn't work for any of mine either. I got some Ivory "Free" (I think that's what it's called - no fragrance, lotion, etc) soap, and all 5 of mine that hadn't eaten ate a pre-killed that had been lightly washed off with it right away.
P&S Pituophis

So, you took a freshly killed pinkie and washed it with a soap that did not have any additives, and they ate?
I have not tried that one yet. I have tried everything else, so I guess its worth a try.
Thanks for the tip
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****Misty****

www.sneakyserpents.com

"Yesterday was the deadline for all complaints"

Yes, I was amazed that all 5 of them ate the first time I tried it. I just held the pinkies in my hand, rubbed my finger on the soap a few times, then rubbed it around on them, , rinsed well, and blotted them dry on a paper towel. I was going to try braining and scenting with fish skin if it didn't work, but I didn't have to. Give it a shot!
P&S Pituophis

i'd try it, but it seems near impossible to find live pinkys anywhere in richmond, va.... still looking though

~kin
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~SNAKIES~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Corns:
.1 Normal (Gertrude) [just a pet...she started it all]
1. unknown hypo? normal? (Romeo)
1.2 Miami Phase (Hector, Emily, Charlotte) thanks jeff!
1. Amel het Blizzard (Dunesbury)
1. Classic het Hypo, poss het Amel, Anery (Cobra)
1.1 Classics (Henry VIII, Cassy [Emilys F1 babies])
.1 Amel (Pepperoni)
1.1 Hypo zig zags poss HET Caramel (Bernard, Abegail)
.1 Hypo HET Stripe (Gracie Lou)
1.1 Anery HET Motley (Lleroy, Persia)
.1 Candy Cane (Peaches HoneyBlossom) [Just a pet]
1. Abbotts Okeetee (Albert[Charlottes son])
snow coming soon....

Rats:
1.1 Black rats (Willard, Cecily)

Cal Kings:
1.1 Striped Cal Kings (Dweezil, Skunky)
more coming soon...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~LEOPARD GECKOS~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. Normal het Midnight Blizzard (Mr. Spot)
0.1 Blizzard (Blitz) was attacked by a cat and still living!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~TURTLES~~~~~~~~~~~~

.1 white cheeked mud (Opel)
.1 snapping turtle (no name, ideas welcome)

f/t worked on 60% of my babies first try and another 20% 2nd try
i had about 12 or so non feeders
braining did nothing for me
tuna did nothing for me
anole scent did nothing for me
at this point some that ate their first meal have not had a second and i will consider them non feeders

live pinkie hampsters worked on 2
then 4 more with f/t but scented with nasty mice bedding
2 more with live pinky hampsters again
now some are eating f/t on their own because they decided too after 2 months
some are eating 2 at a time
just stick it out,some will eat some wont. in the wild its been speculated that some wont eat at all and some wont eat until after brumation. its natures way if one dies it wasnt meant to be
adam
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hybrid breeders association
0.0.32 baby corns
0.1. normal corn het hypo,anery
1.0. snow corn het hypo,anery,amel
1.0. amel corn unknown hets(4ft 8inch long)
1.0 sinacorn
1.1 kenyan sand boas
0.1 mbk
0.1 albino nelsons
0.2 normal leo geckos
1.0 blizzard leo gecko
1.0 3 lined mud turtle

So far I have had 2 of them eat live ones and the others dont seem interested. I guess I have the opportunity to try all these new ideas