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Finicky eater trick

zefdin Sep 10, 2006 01:09 PM

I've noticed that alot of picky eaters also seem to be very timid and shy. One trick/method I've been using with some success is to place the picky eater on an elevated platform inside the container where I place the live prey item. It has been my experience that when the snake is above or in a more dominant position in relation to the prey it doesn’t seem to be as intimidated and will feed more readily. I also try and place the snake in the container first, in a quiet spot and let it acclimate for awhile before I place the snake on the platform an place the prey item in. I also try and use a prey item that is relatively small in relation to the size of the snake I am trying to get to feed. This seems also to help the snake in not becoming frightened.

Replies (1)

salemserpent Sep 10, 2006 06:54 PM

Sort of on topic...I'm just excited cause I got my ball to take a f/t for the first time. He has refused up until this point. Nothing I tried worked. He is normally shy so, I left a frozen mouse in a bag with a small (5gal) heatpad under the mouse. Throughout the afternoon I'd catch him poking his head out of his hide with his tongue going nuts looking in the direction of the mouse. When he decided to emerge this evening from his hide he went straight underneath the area of the warming mouse. I grabbed my tongs and "hopped" the mouse a bit in front of him. He followed its every move and even trembled a bit (he was so excited) He grabbed it and sucked it down....ahh..today was a good day!
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1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Bearded Dragon
0.1 Blizard Leopard Gecko
1.1.1 Corn Snakes (2 Blood Red, 1 Orange Amelanistic)
1.1 Ball Python

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