Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

I just bought some new additions to my hobby two weeks ago and they still haven't eaten yet, I know they can go a long time without eating but I'm just making sure they will be okay...

When I bought them they were being fed live hopper mice, I figured I could easily switch them over to frozen which all of my other snakes are taking without any problem. Well, I have attempted to feed them two different times 7 days apart and they won't take them. My male pastel will strike at them from in his hide but won't coil and eat, my other 2 females show no interest.

Secondly I am having trouble finding live hoppers in my area. The only pet stores in Atlanta seem to be Petco and Petsmart!! Yikes!!

Any ideas? Should I just wait another week or 2 and then try again?

Thanks!

Spend the extra few cents on live at the local giants for a couple more feedings. Once they get a few meals under their belt, they should switch with no problems. If they have already had a few meals, switch to weanling mice or smalls. Hoppers are a bit small in my opinion.

Brandon Osborne
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www.brandonosbornereptiles.com

So you think hoppers are too small and I should try and feed "small" mice?

I know Petsmart won't sell live mice for feeders, not sure about PETCO?

Thanks for the help

when the pastel strikes do you still pull on the tail of the mouse a little so that the snake thinks it is a live? This may interest him more to coil and then eat it. Also I would say that feeding them live is not a bad idea and then work them over to prekilled. Also you can use the paper bag method where you put the prekilled rodent in a paper bag or small container and then put in the snake and keep it trapped with the rodent for a little while. Having a dead rodent confide with it should irritate it and normally they snake will take care of the problem the one way it knows how. I had to do this with one of my snake i just got and it worked really well. I perfer a container that is see through just so I can tell what he is doing without having to peek in and disurb him.

matt

Yeah, I tried last night just leaving the dead mouse in the snakes hide to see if they might just take care of it. One of the pastel's looked like it took a bite because the tail was dislocated but it didn't eat it.

I'm just going to leave them alone for a week and see if they will shed then try and feed again. I'm thinking that they might just be stubborn and not eating right now.

I replied to a "switching to f/t" question a few threads ago, check it out. And I agree with Brandon, get a few live in them and their appetite will be sparked, making it easier on you to switch. Small mom and pop pet stores or specialty reptile stores will be able to help you out with live feeders other than medium/adult mice. The best thing you can do is be patient.