| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| frambo |
Posted - 26/08/2011 : 13:46:27
Hey all,
Offered her her mouse a couple of days ago with tongs and she went into an S and went very still quite a few times but didn't actually strike it.
Going to offer again today. And if she doesn't take it I'll wait till next week.
But I'm worried I'm doing something wrong here. Here's my feeding process, tell me if I'm getting anything wrong.
1. Take her out of faunarium and but her in a plastic recycling bin tub.
2. Mouse in warm/room temperature water for an hour to fully defrost. Then 4 minutes with the hair dryer.
3. Then tongs and shake in front of her face.
4. Keep holding till tongs.
5. Drop mouse by accident and spook her. Pic it up and start again.
In total I waited about 2 minutes each time for her before I dropped it by accident.
6. Put mouse away and put her back in faunarium after a quick weigh.
Should I do anything different tonight?
I don't know if she was fed in her RUB or out before, I wanted to encourage feeding outside so she doesn't associate a hand coming into her faunarium with food. Or am I wrong there? |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Snecklifter |
Posted - 05/09/2011 : 14:44:43
I don't bother with a hairdryer. I take the rat out on the day of feeding and let it defrost at room temperature. Before feeding the rat goes in a sealable bag in a bowl of hot water and stays there for 120-15 minutes. Prior to feeding, I take the snake out and some of the furniture in the viv. I cover the substrate with kitchen towell and immediately prior to feeding, pop the snake back in. Then feed by hanging the rat upside down by its tail with tongs. The snake has never failed to strike or eat its prey. After feeding I remove the kitchen towell and replace the furniture. Simples. |
| chrisc |
Posted - 01/09/2011 : 06:07:49
i personally feed all my snakes out of the viv, i defrost the rats in warm water then dry/warm them with the hairdryer then hold them by the tail a few inch's from snakey. my rat snake strikes every time an touch wood my royal has strike fed both times so far
my corn does not i place it in the rub for her.
as not to handle after feeding i put the corner of the feeding box in the viv and gently tip it up then the snake goes back in on their own |
| Lorraine |
Posted - 31/08/2011 : 16:40:24
quote:
Originally posted by BurnedAtTheStake
The word that begins with 'a'???
That word has been used by the mods themselves up till now!!
Haha, but they can't stop us saying BALLS!!!!
Yep, that's the one lol.
I'm chuckling here about the recyling bin and atlas, lol. Last week, Oscar missed his first strike and the mouse went flying across the viv. |
| frambo |
Posted - 31/08/2011 : 10:31:44
Thanks Bats, in that case I'm most certainly feeding her mice. She shed about 4 days ago and ate yesterday... no idea when she'll grace me with a dump but I have no doubt I will be notified by the smell coming through the vents of the faun haha.
@Sandi, I'll try that next time thanks. She didn't seem to want to strike until the mouse was kicking her in the face so maybe a little more seductive mouse dancing will help next time.
|
| sandi |
Posted - 30/08/2011 : 17:13:38
Just another little tip, i like to make the rat seem to act as realistic as possible so i make it snuffle about on the floor of the viv (sound effects help obviously!) I start a distance away from Florence and work up to her, keeping the rat at ground level. I always let some of the blowdry air get into the viv and always defrost on top of the viv in the hot spot where the lamp is. All these things seem to help with Florence but they all have their little preferences! |
| n/a |
Posted - 30/08/2011 : 16:31:20
Congrats - that's great! Good girl!
Difference between rats and mice ...
As D3lboys says, rats are bigger ...This is a large weaner (very young) rat and an exbreeder (mother) mouse - ratty has heavier, blunter head and almond eyes; mousey is daintier, smaller head, pointier nose, narrower tail ...
Yum!
She may not take a dump until she sheds ...royals can go for weeks without doing anything, must be a BIG relief when they do ... |
| frambo |
Posted - 30/08/2011 : 16:13:09
Well thanks all the tips on here... she ATE!
I put her in the recycling bin and covered her with an atlas so it was totally dark inside. After a couple of minutes I took the mouse/rat (how to tell which?) out of its freezer bag in warm water and gave it a blast with the hair dryer. I think I overdid it as there was a slight smell of singed fur and its ears started to wrinkle but madam obviously doesn't mind it well done.
When I took the Atlas off her I dancer the mouse/rat up to her, where she coiled into a Strike S but also balled up a bit. She didn't seem interested so I got a bit frustrated and nudged her in the face a few times with mouse/rat.
I thought, 'that's it, she's not interested, and now I've just scared her' when all of a sudden I heard the tongs snap shut as it was ripped out and she constricted it. I went and gave the tail a yank and she held on tighter. At this point I noticed some blood around mouse/rat's head and one of its eyes started to ooze blood.
She then let go, sniffed it all over and then with some amazing strength flicked it across the bin. At this point I thought she'd lost interest but next thing I knew, she cruised over to it, grabbed it's head, went into the 'I think I'm a cobra' pose (while holding the thing by its head) and opened her mouth and did a gravity assisted swallow. Downed it like a russian and his vodka. Few twists and it was right down in her stomach and she was looking most pleased with herself.
Then gently picked her up, transferred her to Faun where she is now squashed into her hide and digesting. I wonder when she's due to poop- this is her 4th feed so far. |
| n/a |
Posted - 30/08/2011 : 16:11:11
The word that begins with 'a'???
That word has been used by the mods themselves up till now!!
Haha, but they can't stop us saying BALLS!!!! |
| Lorraine |
Posted - 29/08/2011 : 18:23:07
Ummm, another word for 'rear' lol. |
| n/a |
Posted - 29/08/2011 : 14:08:35
Ooo what did GMac edit?? |
| Lorraine |
Posted - 29/08/2011 : 13:50:38
Ok, thanks bob, will do, and apologies to GMac..I know what you edited, lol. |
| Royalbob |
Posted - 29/08/2011 : 07:41:34
Hi Lorraine, congrats on feeding. Try to jump to every 5 - 7 days. 4 is a bit to frequent. |
| Lorraine |
Posted - 29/08/2011 : 01:20:57
Well, I've not had Oscar long but I defrost on the windowsill through the day and he's fed early evening. He's strike fed every 4 days for 4 feeds now. I don't use a hairdryer but I do use my tongs and feed in viv (tried out of viv when I got him but he wouldn't eat). I hold the mouse as horizontal as I can at the rear end so when Oscar strikes he gets the whole head. So far, it's worked every time. I never touch him after he's fed or the next day if I can stop myself, so I always get him out on the morning of feeding and have a play. |
| Royalbob |
Posted - 28/08/2011 : 22:46:00
Hair dryer definitely works with my lot. |
| n/a |
Posted - 28/08/2011 : 02:12:29
Yeah, someone on here, could have been Hodgie, once advised blowdrying the rat in the direction of the viv so that the snake got the aroma - doesn't half work with Saada - these days she strikes! |
| acd1984 |
Posted - 28/08/2011 : 00:09:43
Although i agree with most comments its really all about your royal and after some time you will no what works,
for instance i acctually get george out to have carpet walkies, then when he goes back i dangle the rat and wham bam thank you......
where as alot of royals would cope with being overly handled before feeding,
my gfs snake is a little more fussy so we leave her be.
as for defrosting, i put the rat in an air tight container until its defrosted (about 3 hours fluff)so george cant smell it then when i open it a strong whiff comes out, and after a few minutes of warming on a heat mat, dinner is served |
| scooterboy71 |
Posted - 27/08/2011 : 22:37:32
Great topic here, i made the mistake last week of trying to feed both royals and they had not settled into their new home & they diddnt feed so i left it till today (a week)..and after a bit of softly softly catchy monkey !! my spider fed..but the pastel still has not so ill leave another week and try again, i have learnt a lot from this thread, like useing a hair dryer !!& how to present food. i have been defrosting at room temp for a few hours then warming up by way of warm water..but will change things next week.. not like feeding boas are they..!!! |
| n/a |
Posted - 27/08/2011 : 20:09:10
quote:
Originally posted by frambo
Ahahaha... maybe I should refill her waterbowl with some chardonnay? I get it... act like the mouse is a puppet and make it do a little dance to attract the attention of her majesty, who if she is feeling like pleasing me, and if she's feeling peckish, and if she's not in a bad mood, MAY strike?
I'll get my coat
LOL! |
| frambo |
Posted - 27/08/2011 : 20:07:16
Ahahaha... maybe I should refill her waterbowl with some chardonnay? I get it... act like the mouse is a puppet and make it do a little dance to attract the attention of her majesty, who if she is feeling like pleasing me, and if she's feeling peckish, and if she's not in a bad mood, MAY strike?
I'll get my coat |
| n/a |
Posted - 27/08/2011 : 19:53:34
LOL - and play some Barry White while you'rRAT it!! |
