Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I fed my burm two large rats yesterday, but she is refusing to eat the second one. I thawed it out, tossed it in, and she hasn't shown any interest in it for almost 18 hours. I want to take out the dead rodent, but I am very weary about going to grab for it. It seems like any time I try and open the cage, she immediately puts part of her body on the dead rat.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Ahhh, yes, I have had this happened many of times. It takes time and being careful. Do you use a hook. What I use to do is open the door move the head away and grab quickly while I had the head facing the other way with the hook pushing it. Now if you do not have a hook, well that is a little more challenging. Use a rolled up news paper. By what you are saying your feeding two rats, so its pri about 9 or 10ft. You can try using a broom handle to touch it on the head like a hook so it knows its not food and move the head. Or your can use rolled up news paper. This will get you closer, so watch your hands and arms but yes you need to get that food out. Just keep an eye on the head and away from the food. It should be fine though.

Good Luck.
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0.2 Rotts
1.0 Super Tiger
1.0 Amel Retic
0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Red Tail
0.1 Blood Python
1.0 Green Ananconda
1.0 Emerald Tree Boa

i got a "hook" from jc penny- they are the pole things they use to get the clothes hanging on the wall down.
They are about 4 feet long and we have a *BIG* girl that occasionally wont eat one of the rabbits we give her- but is still in the food food food mode. We use the hooks to slid in a small crack of the door and pull the rabbit towards the door and then get it out. There is a small door about ever 3 foot on her cage and 2 big doors so we can always reach the food (or put it in- far away from her)....

works great for us but shes big and slow- a little 7-8 footer will be much faster so i dont know...

good luck
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The rescue site: www.freewebs.com/okreptilerescue

how did you get the hook? Did they give it to you? Do they sell them? How do you go about getting one?
Instructions? I'd like to have one of those.
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~Sara~
"If you look down on me, I am evil, If you look up to me, I am God, if you look straight at me, I Am you"
-Charles Manson

OK if this works it works. But come on, if you can get the critter then get the proper caging and tools.. OOHH so simple. Not trying to offend , but then again BROOMHANDLES.....

Ben

If you read the post that was if you did not have a hook. The object is to use what you have to be as safe as possible. You are not offending me because I own a hook, but if you do not have one then use what you can. Again the object to to help, and not everyone has the same things.
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0.2 Rotts
1.0 Super Tiger
1.0 Amel Retic
0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Red Tail
0.1 Blood Python
1.0 Green Ananconda
1.0 Emerald Tree Boa

This reminds me of that "sweet oil" stuff for ears. They sell it as "Sweet Oil" to charge more, but in reality it is only olive oil marketed under a different name.
If something works the same as something else, there's no reason not to use it, just because it isn't sold for that purpose. If all you are doing is touching the snake with an object to get it out of feeding mode or away from the rat, then it doens't matter if it is a "reptile hook" or a boomstick that you're doing it with. For instance, if I go to the vet and get their heartworm medicines, I'll spend $180 for a 6 months supply for both of my dogs, but if I go to the feedstore and get ivermectin sold for horses, one tube will last me a whole year and I only spend $5.
There's no reason to criticize someone for suggesting using something that will fulfill the same purpose just because it isn't marketed for that purpose.
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~Sara~
"If you look down on me, I am evil, If you look up to me, I am God, if you look straight at me, I Am you"
-Charles Manson

Get a set of tongs, hemostats?? WHATEVER. feeding by hand will and does cause accidents. not to mention it is easier, as you just found out.

Ben

Your not really feeding by hand if you just throw it in there or placing it in there, when they are not even on that side.
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0.2 Rotts
1.0 Super Tiger
1.0 Amel Retic
0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Red Tail
0.1 Blood Python
1.0 Green Ananconda
1.0 Emerald Tree Boa