Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just wanted to share my recent success story.

I purchased a 1.1 pair of Westerns and got an amazing deal because, apparently, the male is a problem feeder. They are 04's and the previous owner has been force-feeding the male since birth (ugh!). Anyway, the female was beautiful and feeding reliably so I purchased them, as the price was pretty much for the female, and the male was essentially free.

The male looked great, very healthy and robust (a little short in length for his age though). I thought I'd try to feed him today and I used the usual method of placing the snake in a small deli-cup with the f/t mouse and placing it in a dark and warm place - no dice... I tried split-braining the mouse - no dice... I tried the tuna water scenting trick - he took it with no hesitation at all...

It's the bloody weirdest thing ever, but it works like a charm.
R

This is great!! Will it work for easterns?
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Salato Wildlife Education Center

>>This is great!! Will it work for easterns?
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>>Salato Wildlife Education Center
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"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully."
Governor George W. Bush, Jr.

"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."
Calvin and Hobbes (Scientific Progress Goes 'Boink', 1991)

Once I went to tuna scenting for my Western over a year ago, she feeds great. She now instantly grabs the mouses and eats it, and most of the time is looking for another.
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0.1 Western Hognose
0.1 Common Corn
1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa

I might consider a hognose if tuna scenting is easy. thanks josh
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1vine snake
2 turtles
1 greek tortoise
1ball python
1 corn snake
1 childrens python
1 het for albino san diego gopher snake
1 sunbeam snake(any help with these guys even when not on a post about them will help thanks)
1 tarantula
some mice
and what ever lizards my vine snake hasn't eaten yet

Using a can of tuna (packed in water, not oil), I pierced a hole in the lid and drained the liquid into a small container (I used a film canister).

Simply dip the head of the mouse in the water, shake off the excess, and offer to the snake. The reason I put the liquid into the canister is so I can freeze it and use it again (just rubbing the fresh-thawed, warm mouse on the frozen liquid will liberate enough liquid to scent the prey).

Now, open the rest of the can and make a sandwich

Cheers,
Ryan