Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I finally had a chance to pick up a pair of hatchling mussurana at the begining of the month and I had a few questions regarding feeding. Currently I have been hand feeding (FF) them mouse tails and occasionaly leaving FT pinks in each of their cages over night to see if they would eat them (which they have not yet). What are some tips from those of you that keep mussuranas would recommend to me to get them taking pinks? Can I feed them baby corn snakes, anoles, house geckos etc... ? Best ways to scent? If I do get them to eat reptile prey my fear is that they would imprint on the food items and not want to accept rodent prey in the future. Any advice or tips is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Most breeders wait until they get hatchlings feeding consistently on f/t mice before they sell them...
I'm sure any baby mussurana (if hungry) would jump at the chance for a baby corn snake or a baby gecko. You could always feed it one of those, I'd try f/t if anything to reduce parasite risk. After they get that first meal in them leave them alone for a week or two... Next meal offer them a pinky that was washed off good to get rid of the mouse scent, and wrap the pinky in some shedded snake skin if you have it, the fresher the better. If you want to completely avoid the reptile scent you could always try live pinkies, or f/t pinkies that are "brained" (use a toothpick and poke in the skull area of the mouse and get those brain juices flowing some snakes like that a lot). The more the snakes grow the more likely they are to get used to you offering them food, so chances of them taking f/t unscented pinkies greatly increase if you can get them to take prey items from tongs as soon as possible.

Mussies are smart snakes, and very interesting snakes to work with.

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Mike
KingPin Reptiles
www.kingpinreptiles.com