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I purchased one of Dean's YT's he produced this year and he is a beauty. I was told he eats live but I figured I could switch him over pretty quick ... I was wrong. The problem was I had zero access to live food small enough for him to eat. Anyway I tried everything I could and nothing. So in desperation I had a Outer Banks King juvenile that was even more stubborn than the YT and he was starting to get weak etc... I did what some may call unthinkable but I felt that YT needed a meal quick as it was going on 8 weeks. I put the juvenile OBK in there which is only 10" long maybe and they YT went after it fast ! Thats when the OBK found some renewed strength . The YT had the king in his mouth about 1/3 the way from the head so the king took the rest of his body and wrapped around the YT's neck and was literally strangling the cribo ! I manged to unwrap the king but in turn the king bit onto the top of the cribo's head and began to work his way down. Now he only could swallow up to where his body was stuffed into the cribo's mouth. I carefully peeled the king off and ...(gulp) euthanized it so it would give the cribo no more trouble. I felt terrible about it but the OBK was doomed to die regardless and that YT needed to eat and live was the only answer. The YT then gobbled him up problem free and 1 week later I offered a scented fuzzie with snake guts on it (I had a few dead in the egg Brooksi kings in the freezer)and BAM he ate it right up ! He did this agin last night as well . I took extreme measures to get this YT to eat and again I feel bad but now the YT is chowin so the trade off isnt half bad.
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Keith Hillson

Man, what are you doing with a gun in space? - Charles "Chick" Chapple

Well...yes that's pretty extreme!

wow.

Sorry you had to lose the king through all that.
Some of the babies seem to hold out for live for some time.

That snake was eating live unscented...so...your one step up now that you have him eating scented f/t.

If you can't get live, use scent manipulation to feed him as much as possible. Do you have any dead snakes in the freezer? If you do, break off a little piece for each feeding and smear the guts on it. Keep him well fed that way.

Then wait for him to go through a shed and give him 10 days or so to get good and hungry and then offer a non-scented ft. again.

I usually use this pattern with snakes that want "scenting" until they eventually take off.

Sorry you're having trouble...if it continues to be a headache we can trade one out or something...
Dean.

Hey Dean,

Well he has eaten 2 frozen thawed rodents with scenting about a week apart so I think Im home free. I do have several frozen Kings in the freezer so Im good there as well. I knew in getting him I would have some work since he was only eating live. Thanks for the offer of the switch out Dean but this guy is a beauty and worth the effort. I was trying to sell to someone who could have access to live but now Im for sure gonna keep him. I just didnt want him to expire due to my area petshops liberal ideals on live rodents LOL. Just a note this was in no way a complaint towards you or these snakes. I knew I couldnt get live I took the chance in getting him to frozen as Ive done it so many times with Kings and corns and another YT. This one was a just a bit more stubborn. Thanks again for the snake and the advice !

Regards

>>Well...yes that's pretty extreme!
>>
>>wow.
>>
>>Sorry you had to lose the king through all that.
>>Some of the babies seem to hold out for live for some time.
>>
>>That snake was eating live unscented...so...your one step up now that you have him eating scented f/t.
>>
>>If you can't get live, use scent manipulation to feed him as much as possible. Do you have any dead snakes in the freezer? If you do, break off a little piece for each feeding and smear the guts on it. Keep him well fed that way.
>>
>>Then wait for him to go through a shed and give him 10 days or so to get good and hungry and then offer a non-scented ft. again.
>>
>>I usually use this pattern with snakes that want "scenting" until they eventually take off.
>>
>>Sorry you're having trouble...if it continues to be a headache we can trade one out or something...
>>Dean.
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Keith Hillson

Man, what are you doing with a gun in space? - Charles "Chick" Chapple

wow! i never thought i would see you say that keith but i know what you mean. i feed off baby corns and ratsnakes in cases of extreme stubborness from time to time. something/anything to get them at least started and maintain strength.i got a female yt from dean and she does plow thru anything that moves! haven't tried anything else on her yet though. btw, who would you say was winning that classic little battle? LOL! j/k...........

Yeah it was extreme but the YT was to big to feed to the OBK so it had to be the other way around LOL.

Keith
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Keith Hillson

Man, what are you doing with a gun in space? - Charles "Chick" Chapple

next time, send those "feeder" OBK's my way!!

I doubt that anyone who has ever dealt with Dean thought for a second you were being critical of him.

The eastern indigos I've purchased from Dean are heads and tails above the ones I've acquired elsewhere. I'll stop at that. (I don't want to criticize others for their overpriced stubby snakes)...

Hey Mike, thanks for the kind words. Any of your indigos breeding size yet?

You have a pretty sizable collection by now right?
Seems you have at least 5 from my stock...and I know more than that...

The male I got from you first is probably ready, but none of the females are big enough yet.

I pretty sure I'll be able to give it a try next year. In the mean time I'm just enjoying watching them grow.

Absolutley. The message was for those who have not.

Regards
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Keith Hillson

Man, what are you doing with a gun in space? - Charles "Chick" Chapple