Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a couple of Pines that are shy feeders. I either have to put them in a deli cup to eat or place the food item in front of their hidespot and let them take the meal. They eat fine and hardly ever refuse a meal. Should I just leave them the way they are or is there something I can do to bring them out of their shell.
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1.2 Black Pines
1.1 Red Northen Pines
.1 Albino Northen Pine
2.2 Northern Pines
1.2 Kankakee County Bullsnakes
1.1 Albino Northern x Southern Pinesnakes
1.1 Deppei Deppei

1.1 Cornsnakes

I would leave things the way they are. If that is how they are wanting to eat their food, and they don't eat their food other ways, then yep, I would just keep doing it that way. Maybe the ones you have to get to eat in a deli cup, perhaps work on getting them to eat in their cage in the long run, as they get older, the deli cup thing will not be big enough.

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Genesis 1:1

I guess I am use to the Pit family in general being very aggressive feeders. I only need to walk in the room and they start cruising the enclosure thinking they are going to be fed. I have to remember each snake is an individual and should be treated that way. Thansk for the answer.
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1.2 Black Pines
1.1 Red Northen Pines
.1 Albino Northen Pine
2.2 Northern Pines
1.2 Kankakee County Bullsnakes
1.1 Deppei Deppei
1.1 Cornsnake

Oh yeah, you are so right, they are all individuals!

For instance, I am used to throwing in food items and letting the snakes just go at it. Well, I have 4 pits that insist on eating their food by having it wiggled in front of them with tongs, before they grab it. They will not eat the food items any other way. If I do set the food items in the cage, they just push them around. It's all good though, as it only takes a few seconds for them anyways to grab them.
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Genesis 1:1

The way I feed is let the snake grab ahold of the item while its still on the tongs. I wait till it coils around the item then I let it go. I feel that way the snake gets some exercise by constricting the item. I have a pair of 6 foot Northerns that scare me when I do it that way. They hit the food so hard I am afraid it will be my hand that gets coiled.
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1.2 Black Pines
1.1 Red Northen Pines
.1 Albino Northen Pine
2.2 Northern Pines
1.2 Kankakee County Bullsnakes
1.1 Deppei Deppei
1.1 Cornsnake

Most of my snakes still constrict, even when I just place the mouse near them in the cage.

Using tongs for feeding is by far, the easiest way to feed everyone. Be careful though, as I have had some snakes get so tangled up IN the tongs that I had to wait till they were done so I could unwrap them from the tongs.
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Genesis 1:1