Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've got an 18 month old female. when i first got her, she'd eat f/t pinkies with out any hesitation. then she went off feed for months, and i've finally got her eating again. i now have to brain the fuzzies in order for her to show any interest. is this something i will have to do each feed from now on, or will she take them un-brained, once she's gotten back into the habbit of eating?

Have you tried any other feeding strategies w/ her? I've found Western Hogs to be somewhat picky eaters. I think I first read that someone else posted similar thoughts on this forum. When I first got my male '05 Western, he was eating unscented live pinkies (what the breeder had stared him on). He moved on to unscented, live fuzzies w/ no problem, which worked great for a while. I briefly brumated him over the winter and now he only wants scented (either toad or tuna water)live fuzzies.

reako45

i've tried pretty much everything i've heard, and this seems to be the only thing that works. she'll hiss at the thawed fuzzie, until she smells the brain, then she'll realize its time to eat.

I have an adult female that came out of a 4 month fast and will only take brained now....go figure!
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Jenea
Guardian Reptiles

"The beatings will continue until morale improves!"

Mine came out of her first burmation and would not do anything but hiss or strike at a f/t pinky or fuzzy. She would always calm down instantly if I picked her up though, so I actually got her to eat by just shoving the mouse in her face really suddenly. I still pretty much have to push the first fuzzy in her face to get her to eat without letting her smell it or anything, so you might want to give that a try.

I guess, in this case, we should just be thankful she's eating. I'm no expert on Western hogs, but don't you have to figure that, if the snake changed to eating the way you described, there's always a chance that she will change back to the way she was eating before?

reako45

yeah, i am very happy she's eating again.
and i don't know if she will, that was my question.