Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've been assist feeding my '08 female pastel every since I got her in October. I got her to the point of coiling around the rat pup after I got it in her mouth but wasn't making it past this point for 2 months. I tried all the tricks I read about on KS except trying a ASF rat.

Then it hit me. Why not assist feed with the rat pup still alive to get her used to the struggle while she was coiling. I tried that 2 weeks ago then yesterday I put the live rat pup in a she finally took it! Wow, what a relief. I'm going to try live for the next 2-3 feedings and then try pre-killed.

I'd do the live food offering for more than 2 or 3 times before trying to switch to prekilled. Stick with small live items for at least a month or 6 weeks I think , then if you must feed dead try her then. You need to get her used to the idea of killing and eating before you worry about feeding dead. When you do try the dead item once she grabs the rodent and wraps around it I would gently tug on the rodent for about 8- 10 seconds by it's tail so she thinks it is alive and struggling , then let go of the rodent and leave her completely alone so she'll eat on her own. I think doing that little trick makes it easier to switch over to prekilled or F/T .
Anthony McCain.

Actually I find that stubborn eaters have a stronger feeding response with full size prey items, over smaller ones. Balls have greedy eyes. For a hopper eater, you will get a stronger response offering a large hopper or small adult, as opposed to a crawler or something smaller.

But I do agree, get a good strong rhythm going with feeding the live before making a new switch. I would like to see a solid 10 feedings with no issues before switching an animal like that.

Best of luck.
-----
robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

you got the size thing right ...at times...I have had little baby balls that refused anything but nice sized mice...like 4 week olds....would not touch just pulleds (like 17 day old)...

...there are some that are sissys though and like the food small.....

try all

..
.
.

......
-----
.....................................
....dumbest thing ever created...
NO, not a hybrid....well....it is becoming one....

I'm trying to feed my two balls (about 22" pre-killed mice. The female struck it right away from behind, before I was able to put in on tongs and shake it around. She just hit it as it was on the bottom of the feeding enclosure from when I tried to feed her brother (who didn't hit the mouse). Anyways, she hit it from behind, and never curled around it. Then she slowly lost interest in it. Is it best to dangle the mouse in front of them? Can you feed them in their enclosure? Any other tricks?

jen

Don't dangle the prey, offer it head first. You have better control, better presentation, and a better target. Use a hemostat and hold/offer it as you see in the pic.
.

-----
robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

Thanks for the advice. I'll try the live rat pups for several more feeding in order to get her to stay on track. I previously tried different sizes of feeders between mice and rat pups. I thought the movement of a hopper would stimulate her but she didn't show any interest at all. Of course I wanted her to get used to rats so I wouldn't have to worry down the road. The larger rat pups seems to do the trick. Just big enough to start getting fuzz on them but with their eyes still shut. Thanks again for the advice!