Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My female southern scrub has been attempting to attack her food, but misses the mouse every time. I just moved her into a larger cage, and she is mean as ever if I reach in, but I am a little concerned about the missed striking...she has not eaten for two weeks now, unheard of for her. She is around 6 months and just over 2 feet, her gold starting to come out.

Any advise?

If you are using frozen thawed rodents, you may want to make sure it is good and warm before offering. Otherwise they smell rodent but the heat is coming from your hands and.....well you know the rest.
That usually helps a bit. But at times you do need to just be more careful and toss it and stand back. Some of our scrubs will catch the food in mid-air when we have to toss rodents in from a safer distance. Scrubs have insane feeding responses that take them a while to shake off. That is really all that these crazy wacky scrub stories stem from.
Have fun!

-Yasser
SR

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>>If you are using frozen thawed rodents, you may want to make sure it is good and warm before offering. Otherwise they smell rodent but the heat is coming from your hands and.....well you know the rest.
>>That usually helps a bit. But at times you do need to just be more careful and toss it and stand back. Some of our scrubs will catch the food in mid-air when we have to toss rodents in from a safer distance. Scrubs have insane feeding responses that take them a while to shake off. That is really all that these crazy wacky scrub stories stem from.
>>Have fun!
>>
>>-Yasser
>>SR
>>
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>>

Hey Yasser,

Thanks for the response. I gave up on frozen with her a couple weeks ago, as she was eaten live better. No she seems to just be "biting" without trying to eat. Probably nothing, as her color is fine and she is moving around her new setup. The ambient temp is 80. By the way, she is one of your 4th gen CBB...and still mean as spit!

norm

first of all, nice animal if it came from yasser! second, you say you moved her into a larger cage...this could be the problem. a new larger space thats more open, and you say that shes aggressive (more likely a little offensive), could lead to a territorial animal like a scrub simply striking at things in its cage in an offensive/defensive display. it could also explain the decrease in appetite as well. what were you keeping it in and what have you moved it up to? id also stick to thawed prey, such gorgeous animals why bother taking chances, and ive honestly yet to meet a scrub that wont willingly take very warm thawed rodents with a little time and patience. as for calming her down for handling, have you tried hooking her out then putting her in your hand. most scrubs are territorial and hungry, and in the cage alot of them have a "bite first ask questions later" philosiphy, the hook would help to defuse that. good luck.

J
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Jaymz
"got a bowlin ball in my stomache, got a desert in my mouth. figures that my courage would choose to sell out now..."