| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| boost-boy74 |
Posted - 23/08/2010 : 14:49:47
hi
how do you strike feed? sorry for the silly question
|
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| BobJ420 |
Posted - 07/09/2010 : 18:23:08
I got my 6 month old girl a few weeks ago and she's struck everytime, I just take the mouse straight out of the freezer into a bag and into some hot (not boiling) water for 10 minutes, give or take checking myself how it is. Once its done just dangle in by its tail with the metal tongs and within a few seconds she's usually got it. Had no problems that way so far fingers crossed she keeps it up. |
| UncleNos |
Posted - 06/09/2010 : 08:33:29
My two are like night and day, If I show Rafiki a rat pup he strikes then spends five to twenty minuits working out what end is what before taking it down. He's only ever refused once but he was going into shed at the time. But Zazu is a different ballgame she didn't eat for the whole of last month didn't overly worry me just kept trying once a week untill she decided that she was hungry.
My method of defrosting is throwing all the snakes frozen foods (two pinkies two rat pups and a mouse) into a jug running hot water (maybe 40C) into the jug letting them defrost and just before I'm ready to feed I'll change the water and let them sit for two minutes before toweling off and then washing my hands (very important if you don't want a misplaced strike) before taking them out of their rubs into an empty larger rub and dangling ratty in front of them. My misses had the brown trousers the first time we got them to strike 'cos she was holding Rafiki at the time he launched himself at the pup. I almost wet myself I don't tend to flinch we've got nine cats and flinching is not an option with them.
The rule of thumb is patience and lots of it, you'll find plenty of posts and even a non feeding club on here so don't panic yet.
|
| n/a |
Posted - 31/08/2010 : 14:56:50
quote:
Originally posted by antw23uk
My 07 is a 'brainer' and i dont think i will ever get used to sticking a small knife through a rats brain 
It's easier if you use scissors and, if the rat is frozen, snip the skull before the creature is fully defrosted - less messy.
(The poor little bugger will never play rugger
And grow up big and strong ...
No, but the snake will.)
 Wot, play rugger?? No, but you know what I mean ... |
| antw23uk |
Posted - 31/08/2010 : 08:53:22
My 07 is a 'brainer' and i dont think i will ever get used to sticking a small knife through a rats brain |
| sandi |
Posted - 30/08/2010 : 09:46:38
Hiya,
I was reading the other day that "braining" a mouse will tempt a fussy eating. In other words, splitting its head open!...nice! The smell of brain tissue is apparently irresistable!
Thankfully florence likes a little less gore at meal times! |
| Headlow |
Posted - 29/08/2010 : 11:35:41
I just let the mouse defrost in a gap between 2 vivs. It's usually quite warm over all. I then get the snake from her tank and put her in an RUB. Then I'll grab the mouse with the tongues, heat the head for about 20 seconds under a bulb, and offer it to the snake. She'll work out very quickly that it's food, then hits it like a train and kills it for about 5 minutes before eating. Then I just tilt the RUB up and off she goes to hide in her viv.
It works every time, even when she's just heading into shed :) |
| boost-boy74 |
Posted - 28/08/2010 : 12:46:09
hi all,
thanks for the information - its very helpfull, i will try some of your methods and see how i get on |
| kittykat |
Posted - 27/08/2010 : 14:59:56
Yeh my royal is about 12weeks ive had her for just over 4 weeks she ate at the beginning of the week that was her first successful feed with me i had offered her loads of times then i heated the fluff up using the hairdryer and dangled it in front of her hide and voala strike and brown trousers would definentley been a good idea. |
| antw23uk |
Posted - 27/08/2010 : 14:00:00
My 07 only ever strikes (when he does eat) and it ALWAYS makes me jump. I was especially nervous the other day when i couldnt find my tongs  Rat tails just aint long enough when you have a hungry snake to feed 
My 09 is like lightening but luckily he strikes and picks it up if left in there ... anything to eat, he is a piggy.
My OH tried to feed him once when he was smaller, he had a glass of wine and felt brave ... the mouse ended up flying across the bedroom and landing in the bathroom doorway. they have never tried again, lol  |
| Blackecho |
Posted - 27/08/2010 : 13:45:16
Yeah, they're not so much rules as 'best practice', every snake is different and some will cope with things better than others. Whatever works for you |
| Snecklifter |
Posted - 27/08/2010 : 12:43:28
We've been lucky, got our royal as a hatchling and pretty much broke the rules on viv size etc, it must be like a cathedral to him, thought there was no way he would feed, especially as he was due just the day after we got him home. Warmed the prey up in a bowl of hot water for about five minutes and offered it on tongs. He came out like a heat seaking missile and struck very accurately, He's fed every single time since (but hasn't shed yet) and never misses a strike, I get the feeling that it wouldn't matter what I offered or how often, he would go for it. I'll definately know if he's off his food for some reason! The key seems to be properly defrosting the prey (room temperature for a day) then warming it through thouroughly, so that it retains the heat, gives off the scent and remains warm for a while during constriction. |
| n/a |
Posted - 26/08/2010 : 16:39:49
LOL I know - it's brilliant isn't it?
It's like your very own National Geographic/David Attenborough wildlife experience (and also the thrill of your snake eating and responding to your care.) And the sense of achievement!
Hope your hoggie starts eating soon (he will!) |
| Lettsy1 |
Posted - 26/08/2010 : 15:48:01
but DAMN its good! the only one that makes me jump now is my hoggie, off his food at min so all hiss n bluff! thing is i know its commin but i still jump! |
| n/a |
Posted - 26/08/2010 : 15:40:20
LOL - the first time I tried to feed a corn like that I shook so much that at one point I dropped the mouse nearly on top of the snake! Luckily for me it's a case of show a corn a mouse, and that's it! |
| Lettsy1 |
Posted - 26/08/2010 : 15:29:02
quote:
Originally posted by BurnedAtTheStake
I didn't warm the mouse in his viv, but elsewhere, so the mouse came straight in on tongs with a fresh waft of yummy mouse smell, and quivered in front of him (my hands were shaking.)
Lol, glad it wasnt just me! mine did for the first couple of times! Looked like it was doin a bloody jig!!! |
| n/a |
Posted - 26/08/2010 : 15:22:12
As has been said, they are all different ...
This is only my limited experience, but I too got a 3 or 4 month old last month ... he complicated matters, bless him, by going into shed and needing bathing and assistance, before he fed, and I was scared stiff I'd put him off his grub. My first attempt to feed him didn't go at all well, although I was trying everything I'd read about tempting a shy snake to feed:
I tried: leaving the mouse, in a cricket box, to warm up on his mat, so that smell of mouse would give him an appetite. Interested, but no.
Put mouse on safe surface and let him find it. Again interest, but no.
Then I tried tongs. My local rep shop had sold out of large tongs. so I got a pair of kitchen tongs from Wilkinsons for a couple of quid. Actually I like these better as they have soft plastic grips - if snakey catches those with his jaws, it's gentler than metal.
I didn't warm the mouse in his viv, but elsewhere, so the mouse came straight in on tongs with a fresh waft of yummy mouse smell, and quivered in front of him (my hands were shaking.)
Result - GANNET. Strike, coil and gone. (He managed to eat it tail first, but you can't have everything.) He's never looked back.
As I say, that is just my experience. They're all different. It's a case of trial and error to find out what suits your snake, but I'm sure you will. All the best! |
| Lettsy1 |
Posted - 26/08/2010 : 14:42:04
hiya hun, just outta interest, what size are u offering her? my hatchlin is on rat pinkies now but when i got her she was on mice pinkies! only askin cos wonderin if the size u are offerin she thinks is too big. I was told she was a non feeder when i got her, plus my other royal was a fussy eater to start with too. so this is how i do mine, (it might sound silly but works for me!) I take the food out the night before, thaw in a sealed container overnight then place in the fridge until an hour before i want to feed, (i feed when it gets dark) bringin it up to room temp, both mine like 'wet' food so i put 50/50 hot water (boiled about 15 mins before) and cold water, soak it for a couple of mins then damp dry it, now this is the silly bit, i dangle the rat infront of the faun blowin on it so the scent goes into the faun, put the rat back in the water for a min then open the viv/faun by which time they are normally out and coiled ready for it. if they're not the first time u do it like this, take the hide off them so they can see it, take the food out again damp it and offer it, (wiggle it near them) you should then get a strike. Both mine and my bro's feed like this, only ever refused when in shed. Sorry its long winded but hope it helps! :)
OH dont forget the new clean trousers the first time too!! lol! |
| chris100575 |
Posted - 26/08/2010 : 14:25:28
quote:
Originally posted by Blackecho
Heat the prey and point the nose towards the snake with some long tweezers, then buy some new brown trousers for the first time they do it
The actual process is more like:
Heat the prey and point the nose towards the snake with tweezers. After a few minutes jiggle prey about to try and make it look like it's alive. Carry on for five minutes while snake has the occasional sniff and looks disdainful. Watch as snake finally strikes at prey but misses. Repeat until you get bored and drop prey for snake to pick up later. Hope it's gone in the morning.
Or buy a boa. |
| boze |
Posted - 24/08/2010 : 14:10:19
Hmm, try defrosting the rat pup in a wee bag close to the rack. Once defrosted warm up in a cup of warm (not hot) water for about 5 minutes, then superheat the head with a hairdryer for about 10-15seconds.
I find this works because although they use the hot head to get a better strike, surely they will only strike if the rest of whats being offered to them is the right temperature for a prey item? So you want the body of the rat to be what it would be if it was alive :-)
D |
| boost-boy74 |
Posted - 24/08/2010 : 09:04:15
she is in my rack -temps about 90 warm side, two hides and in a medium contico box. tried leaving mouse in overnight 4 times now, she just pushes it about the tub.leave the rat overnight in the fridge then heat with a hairdryer after its been out for a while, i really dont know what else to do......cheers simon |
