Reptile & Amphibian Forums

OK, time for the Ultimate Inexperience question:

I've read all of the caresheets and posts on how to introduce a baby to f/t, but none of them get specific enough for one with as little experience at it as me. (I've kept boids before, but only voracias ones that would snap their *unfortunately, live* prey practically out of midair.) I've got my baby in the rubbermaid setup Kara suggested below, with the temps at around the low 80's. He's got one hide in there, which he seems to love.

My question is this: How do I actually present the mouse to him? I tried taking the hide off of him and making the mouse "dance" in front of him on a pair of hemostats. At first he seemed interested, but then he'd sort of just zone out.. Is this the right way to do it (taking his house off of him?) Should I just leave the mouse in there, and if so, how long?

This question is especially addressed to Kara, as she was the one who was feeding him previously. He's still a gorgeous snake, and he seems quite a bit calmer now that he's in a smaller enclosure. I'll take some pics of him pretty soon, but I'd like to get him feeding before I do so.

Sorry for the length (I'm a writer with a thing for excess description, in case you hadn't noticed ); thanks to anyone who has any ideas, or sees anything glaring that I'm doing wrong (or even just bothered to read this exorbitantly long post.)
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A. Fox

Taking the hide off of him & suddenly exposing him like that may have spooked him a little bit...don't feel like you have to take his hide away just to feed him, especially if he has his head sticking out of the front of the hide.

How warm do you have the mouse? If it's not triggering a feeding response, try holding the mouse's head up to a light bulb for 15-20 seconds prior to offering it to your snake - IME this is often enough to elicit a feeding response.
Bloods like their prey pretty warm & sometimes room temperature just doesn't cut it - they have those labial pits for a reason.

If you'd like to come up & feed baby bloods with me for a day I'd be happy to show you some of the various methods I use when feeding F/T, so you can get some hands-on experience in feeding as well as blood python behavior.

Just give me a shout or drop me a line.

Kara
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"Remember the days of the old schoolyard?" - Cat Stevens

Thanks so much Kara; I think I may just take you up on your offer. I'll give you a call some time soon..

In the meantime, he DID eat the mouse . . . But he didn't keep it down. I left it in there for a bit, while I was online, and when I went back and looked in the enclosure he appeared to be swallowing it. Not wanting to disturb him, I put a towel over the open plexiglas so that he couldn't see me . . . Unfortunately I guess that must have disturbed him because when I looked in the next morning, the mouse was still in his shoebox, only in a different place, and it was all wet and slimy.

So at least I know that he does want to eat . . . I just have to work on getting him to feel comfortable enough to keep the food down. (I think next time I'll try newspapering the glass before feeding him..)

I'm not too worried about this incident (I imagine he just spat it up because he was spooked.) Should I be worried? Also, how long do you reccommend I wait before trying to feed him again?

Thanks again, everyone,
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A. Fox

Hey,
I agree with Kara, that removing the hide cover and exposing him or her, like that can make for a very negative feed response. I would work with it while it is hiding in its hide and try to get it to come out of its own accord, this is the best way as the hide affords them a safety net and a place to feed and or retreat with their food if they feel like it.

I would take Kara up on her offer and hang with her for a day. Heck! I might do that my self. LOL! She's a cutie!
- Angel
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Sometimes on your way to your dream, you get lost and find a better way!

I agree. I would wait a week or two to try and feed again as the experience probably stressed him out a little. Now you guys are making me jealous that im in the south I wanna come watch too!!
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"It's my snake, I trained it, so I'm going to eat it!" - Mad Max, The Road Warrior