Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Welcome to kingsnake.com's message board system. Here you may share and discuss information with others about your favorite reptile and amphibian related topics such as care and feeding, caging requirements, permits and licenses, and more. Launched in 1997, the kingsnake.com message board system is one of the oldest and largest systems on the internet.

Click for 65% off Shipping with Reptiles 2 You
https://www.crepnw.com/
Click for 65% off Shipping with Reptiles 2 You

Help with Pre-killed feeding

tstepniak Jan 03, 2004 05:21 PM

Hi,

I am trying to get my young bum to eat pre-killed, however all of my attempts have failed, is there anyone out there who can offer me some suggestions. I have tried the technique of making the dead mouse appear to move around, i have tried feeding live then introducing dead during his feeding frenzy, nothing seems to be working, its as if he knows its dead already. I have even tried bloodying it up a little, though to no avail. Any suggestions would be a great help. I want to ge him eating dead before he is big enough for rats. Thanks.

Thomas

Replies (2)

dannygood1 Jan 03, 2004 05:46 PM

Try warming the dead mouse/rat. Place in baggie, put hot water in jar, let sit for 15 minutes. Sometimes, this makesa a huge difference.

rottenweiler9 Jan 03, 2004 09:45 PM

Ok, first try what the post said above mine. That is how my burm eats her rabbits, and how I got her to finally eat dead. But give it some time, what I mean is, do not try this everyday. I would let your snake go 7 to 10 days without feeding it, then try warming it up and try offering it on tongs. If that does not work, try this. You will have to go with pre-killed first. I found this to be the hardest thing I have ever had to do, but it worked. You are already ahead of mine because it is eating. So, take a mouse or whatever it is eating and put it in a pillow case or bag and smack it, wait till it stops kicking and then offer it on tongs. After about 3 weeks or 2 weeks go with the warmed mouse. I bought a bucket for this purpose. I use hot water from the bath tub in the bucket and put the bag in there and let it sit. It gets warm I offer it and she nails it and eats it. If it is still cold she will not hit it or will and then leave it, then I just have to warm it again, she is spoiled. Also you might be lucky, my boa use to eat frozen from tongs now I warm them and just leave them in the cage and she eats them. You can try just to leave it if it does not take it from the tongs and come back in an hour, and see. I have tried the braining the chicken broth, and none of those worked for me, but some have gotten it to work.
Keep us posted
Jeff

Site Tools