Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have an Eastern that I can't seem to switch over to rodents. She's a rescue that I've had for almost a year and I'm sure she was probably WC, but not positive. She was fed toads before I got her and I've been continuing with that trend. I've tried to scent rodents with frogs and frog guts over the winter when toads were in short supply, but no such luck. I tried pinkies and fuzzies, no difference. One time I walked in and she was curled up with a fuzzy...cute, but not the effect I was looking for! Now that toads are "hopping" out again in Central FL, what can I try? I'm also not opposed to accepting the fact that she may just be a toad eater. Also, do you have to switch completely, or can you go back and forth?

Thanks,
Laura

What has worked best for me is the bait and switch method. Frog in one hand, toad in other. I kinda hold them together sandwich like head to head. I let the snake get a good scent on the toad, and when they open up to eat it, I slide it out of the way so that they bite the nouse instead. They might let go at first because of the fur fill, but just do it again. I do not wash the mouse at all, so that the get use to the scent and start associating it with feeding. I do this a little while and then move to just light scenting, to finally unscented. I find my eastern are very timid feeder and I have no problem feeding them by hand.

The female below has only been in captivity since May of last year. She was a rescue. She is on an unscented nouse diet. There are times when she is a little reluctant to eat, but just a little swipe with toad and she is good to go (taht happens very little).

Hope that helps you some.
-----
Jenea
Guardian Reptiles

"The beatings will continue until morale improves!"

Hey Jenea!,That's a really nice eastern!She looks like a big girl,how long is she? Jeff

Hey Jeff, she is 29 inches and 223g. Not a big girl, her boyfriend is bigger.

-----
Jenea
Guardian Reptiles

"The beatings will continue until morale improves!"

Laura, the tip that Jenea described has worked for me as well. Also I've found that putting a toad or frog in the enclosure for just a few seconds and then using the bait and switch method has also been effective. I believe the vibrations of the toad hopping around stimulates a feeding response, kind of a feeding "frenzy". It's funny to watch the snake crawl around biting the air. Then it's pretty easy to just hold the mouse in front of the snake. Good luck. Kevin

I have several snakes and have had herps for years, but have never been bitten by a snake. Is the fact that they rear-fanged make them so easy to feed by hand, or is it that they are not constrictors, or just they're feeding behavior in general?

I think it is just their feeding behavior in general. Now gravid females can get more aggressive, so those I would not feed by hand.
-----
Jenea
Guardian Reptiles

"The beatings will continue until morale improves!"

I have to assist feed my Eastern. The only thing I haven't tried is a live toad. But anyway...

I've gotten caught on her little front teeth a million times and it just feels like velcro, but last week when I was feeding her, a different tooth swiped across my finger and it _hurt_ and it was deep like a paper cut and it wouldn't stop bleeding for about an hour! (I was telling everyone at work the next day "I cut myself on my snake!" (A week later it's almost completely healed and it never got infected or anything.)

I'd be very, very surprised to hear of an Eastern that tried to bite someone on purpose.

I know people that feed kings and corns by hand, too, though usually pretty young, small snakes.

Nanci

-----
*****
0.0.1 Classic Corn, 0.0.1 Cali King, 0.1 Nelson's Milk
1.0 Tricolor Hog, 0.0.1 Eastern Hog, 1.0 Florida King
1.0 Eastern Box Turtle, 1.0 Florida Box Turtle
0.0.2 Desert Torts, 2.0 Feral Pigeons