Reptile & Amphibian Forums

How long do you want to wait after first shed to offer food???

matt

Matt, I offer food as soon as they shed.
Good luck!!

when offering a live hopper mouse what is the ideal feeding container size so that the snake is snug and more likely to strike but not to sung that the mouse is more likely to nibble back? All live feedings are closely watched but I don't know how much time I would like to give with a hopper and this snake. It Shed on monday, a week ago and has been offered a live pinkie rat that has been locked down with it in a about a 5-6 inch circle dish about 2 inch high for a few hours and has not struck. I know not to worry at this point but am playing the field in hope to get that first meal down.

matt

90% of my hatchlings refused a Pinkie or fuzzy rat the first time, and took a fuzzy mouse the next feeding. I would say get a fuzzy mouse, and leave it overnight.

I feed my hatchlings in my Vision rack, and have had luck with all but one baby this year so far.

Dave

So just leave a hopper in the normal cage (shoe box) over night and call it good?

matt

I leave the fuzzy mouse in overnight, and have never had a problem, other than a drowning now and then, when the mouse jumps into the dish and cannot get out.

How do you maintain proper temps and humidity in a shoebox?

Shoe box cage like with a rack system, not actual shoe box.

matt

We didn't need to leave the hopper in over night after all. I dropped in the hopper and came back in about 30 mins and the little fellow was hiding in HER BELLY!!!

Thanks for all the pointers,
matt