Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So this seems like a topic where I should post pics, but I dont have any. I didn't even hear the second mouse squeak!! I was just thinking I was going to have to see what recommendations for a smaller tub were when she finally ate last night. I'm excited that my new girl is finally settled in, and I had to share.

Also, I went to go catch the second hopper, and when I was double checking to make sure the little bugger wasn't hiding, I noticed that the snake didn't look like she'd eaten at all. I got two hoppers this time, and I was just curious if she should be eating more in a meal? She's an august baby, and probably 14 inches??? I haven't handled her yet, so I'm not sure exactly on length.

Smiles,
Alinda

You're feeding her hopper mice? My guess is that those are too small for her -- a baby blood can take an adult mouse or small rat pup.

Also, I'm sure you've heard this before, but it's always better to get them started on frozen/thawed ASAP. It minimizes the risk for the snake, plus it's just so much easier (and cheaper, too!)

Good luck with her; I'd definitely reccommend offering her a f/t adult mouse or rat pup, though.
-----
Kitt

I tried frozen thawed last week, and she didn't eat it. I even made sure to get it good and hot, as well as putting it right in front of her hide box. So this week I just wanted to see if she'd eat. Her cage is quite large for her size, but I didn't know until too late that it can be stressful.

When I got her she was eating pre-killed mice, but I'm not sure if size was specified. Next week I'll try pre-killed, but we'll go with an adult mousee now that I know what size to feed.

Thanks for the reply! any other suggestions are welcome too!!

Its not too late for a smaller cage, you can pick a little rubbermaid up for less than $3. Just put holes in it so its ventalated and your ready to go. Sometimes it is hard to get babies started on FT. So I would say keep feeding her live and moitoring her feeding until she presents a better feeding responce and then try to switch her. A few things to try with FT are putting a little chicken broth on them, sometimes cutting their skull open entices them too mmm.. brains and make sure you dance them around so they look live and dry them off after dethawing, it migt help to try pre killed and then switch to FT.

J
-----
"It's my snake, I trained it, so I'm going to eat it!" - Mad Max, The Road Warrior

I always use live rat pups to start them for the first 3 or 4 meals since they dont bite or jump around. It seems like that makes for an easier transition to frozen. I have yet to have a newborn take frozen, maybe its just me.