Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm having problems with getting a couple of my Royals feeding agian after the winter....any tips? I'm very worried about one of them as she hasnt eaten in over 8 months.

Thanks for any help.

Just a quick one as I am off to work.

1 Make sure temps are ok at warm and cool ends of viv.
2 Make sure there is a hide box for security.
3 For a start offer food no wider than the snakes head.
4 Try leaving snakes favorite prey animal in its hide overnight.
5 Cut the nose of a frozen rat/mouse so snake can smell blood and offer to snake.
6 Get someone that keeps live rats/mice to put some fresh rodent urine on prey item - offer to snake, leave in hide overnight.
7 Offer frozen/thawed day old chick to snake or leave in hide box.
8 Offer snake a fresh killed prey item - see also 5 above.
9 This is where I get flamed! Offer snake a live or stunned rat pup. If snake takes this be ready to follow with a frozen/thawed prey item of correct size. Dont let the snake finish the rat pup and close its mouth, be ready with the larger prey item and put the head into the snakes mouth as it finishes the rat pup (watch your fingers!) Several prey items may be given this way. You should find that next time you offer the usual prey item the snake will take it.

Pleased to help, Trish.

if he/she was feeding fine before the winter i wouldnt worry to much it will eventually come around,90% of mine are now feeding again, i have a few that havent eaten since january,

if you get really concerned two things never fail for me
1. T-rex mouse maker, a couple drops of this on a mouse/rat wiggled on some forceps always gets mine going.
2. offer a live food item to get it started again

hope this helps
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Guy
db Reptiles.

I had a female royal which wouldn't eat, the only thing I could get her to take was day old chicks with head and feet removed, have you tried that, if that works then keep your royals on that for a while and then put a small mouse inside the chick and take it from there. Hope this is of some help