Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I am planing to get a green, but I have read that they are pikcy eaters when they are young. So I would like to know some tricks to get the eating.
THANKS

Buy it from a breeder like Kelly. My little guy eats like a champ and is calm. Kelly does not let them go until they are eating rats consistently. Its well worth it. IMO. There is another breeder on her Ben.
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0.2 Rotts
1.0 Super Tiger
1.0 Amel Retic
0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Red Tail
0.1 Blood Python
1.0 Green Ananconda
1.0 Emerald Tree Boa

Thanks, but what I meant is if I am in that situation, I ambreeder (no yet) and some of the babys are not eating, or I get a perfectly healthy anaconda (parasite free and alll that stuff) but she/he is not eating (imagine that I dont have problems with the husbandry)
THANKS

I beleive they start to use quails, then they use sented mice with the quails, then just the mice, or rat pups.

That is if they do not eat a mouse first. I would not use the quail without trying mice.

Kelly can confirm this.
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0.2 Rotts
1.0 Super Tiger
1.0 Amel Retic
0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Red Tail
0.1 Blood Python
1.0 Green Ananconda
1.0 Emerald Tree Boa

Kelly and I usually try thawed rat pups at first. For the babies not interested most will take chick scented rats with great results. Sometimes there are a few not interested in the first two options but scenting with ducklings has never failed. Once started feeding we reduce the amount of scent applied and after several feedings most are eating unscented rats. Live rat pups are almost always rejected. I hope this helps. Jud

I was not sure what exactly you guys used, but had an idea to the method. Thank you
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0.2 Rotts
1.0 Super Tiger
1.0 Amel Retic
0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Red Tail
0.1 Blood Python
1.0 Green Ananconda
1.0 Emerald Tree Boa

It appears that the preference shown for bird prey by newborn greens is essentially “hard-wired” into them at birth. Field studies have shown that greens in their first year of life feed almost exclusively on shore bird and water bird prey, gradually taking more mammalian prey in the second year.

As Jud pointed out, the neonates we have produced will invariably shy away from or ignore mammal prey items in the beginning unless bird scented. There are rare exceptions, but this is the overwhelming pattern. I have even seen on numerous occasions, newborn greens show an almost defensive reaction when a rodent is placed in front of them. This makes sense as most mammals that young greens encounter at the waters edge are likely to view neonate greens as prey items. Small water birds would obviously be a much less dangerous and more easily subdued prey item, and more abundant as well. That is probably why the “holy grail” prey item to get young greens started is duckling.

Kelly