| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Scottydog |
Posted - 22/02/2012 : 11:12:25
Hi all Im starting to get a bit concerned about my sons Royal. We got him in Novemeber and was told at the time that Royals can be very fussy eaters and due the breeding season, moving to a new enclosure etc he may not feed for a while.
Shortly after having him home he shed and again I was told that this may be a reason for him refusing food. I have been in regular contact with the breeder and he has kept assuring me that if he looks healthy and not appearing to be losing weight then not to worry. I have been offering food every week.
Two weeks ago my Royal had still not eaten since Nov. I took him back to the breeder and he offered him 2 live mice (not at the same time) which he took straight away (First time he's eaten since we've had him) 1 week on he refused his his last feed and now Im starting to worry that he's only going to take live from now on. I have however noticed that he has just gon blue again so that could be the reason why.
Can anyone offer any advice or reassurance. He was obviously hungry because he took the live food straight away, Im reluctant to resort to live food if I can help it, but I dont want starve him either.
Should I wait until he's shed and then try once again with frozen thawed? |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Lorraine |
Posted - 27/02/2012 : 15:18:53
Really glad to hear it. |
| jbarlow91 |
Posted - 27/02/2012 : 12:48:40
That's great news. hopfully there will be no looking back now |
| Scottydog |
Posted - 27/02/2012 : 12:01:26
Yea we're really relieved. Please he took a Rat too, heard from quite a few that theyre better for Royals than mice so all is good. |
| n/a |
Posted - 27/02/2012 : 11:45:01
Hey that's great! Especially in view of the worry about him possibly preferring live. Congrats! |
| daz2708 |
Posted - 27/02/2012 : 09:06:28
aw thats great news ya must be relived!! i got first royal 6 weeks ago so far no probs mine def likes rats better than mice i switched over aft couple of feeds so far no probs!! |
| Scottydog |
Posted - 27/02/2012 : 08:29:41
HE ATE HE ATE!!!!
He shed on friday so I thought i'd give it a try last night with a weiner rat. As soon as I opened his door you could tell he was interested, he struk at it striaght away and took no time at all getting it down. My son and I were so pleased. |
| Tawfik47 |
Posted - 23/02/2012 : 08:28:16
Good luck |
| Scottydog |
Posted - 22/02/2012 : 18:25:33
Thanks Janie I'll give it a try after he's shed. |
| JanieW |
Posted - 22/02/2012 : 18:19:57
I think offering a mouse you might get a pleasant surprise :) least I hope you do. |
| Scottydog |
Posted - 22/02/2012 : 18:14:12
No I havn't. They told me he was eating Rats ok in the past so I didn't think to try. |
| JanieW |
Posted - 22/02/2012 : 14:40:44
Its unusual for a shop to feed rats..have you tried feeding a mouse? |
| Scottydog |
Posted - 22/02/2012 : 13:52:31
Thanks for all the replies.
I have been trying rat (perhaps should have been a bit clearer in my first post). The only reason the guy at the shop used two mice was because he didn't have any live rats at the time. Mort13 the point about dangling the rat and intimidating my Royal was something I hadn't thought of so i'll try your walking approach next. Tawfik47 your reply has certainly put my mind at rest knowing that yours took 5 months. Thanks everyone else for your input too, all very helpful and i'll keep you updated on progress. |
| Evolution Morphs |
Posted - 22/02/2012 : 13:49:03
stick just its head in boiling water for a few seconds
thats what i do
but i just dangle in front of its head
i do that with all my royals
and it seems to work well
|
| mort13 |
Posted - 22/02/2012 : 13:43:15
I have no personal experience of royals feeding issues....yet having only picked mine up yesterday.
However,the breeder advised me on what she finds works well with her royals. She advised me to stick just its head in boiling water for a few seconds ad then to try and make it look as if its walking over to the snake as she's found that some get intimidated if its dangling about above them. As I say though,I'm new to these guys myself.
Good luck,hope you get him to feed soon. |
| Tawfik47 |
Posted - 22/02/2012 : 13:21:06
I think it is best for the snake to let it settle, u maybe think 4 months is a long period for a snake to settle, but i will tell u Blitz (my RP) took him 5 months to settle, lost 100 grm (from 660 to 500), but since then he didn't miss one meal
I think all you need is
1-to learn how to serve a pre-killed meal to your royal (which i can't help u with it since i'm using live prey technique)
2-to be patient and not worry, and your royal will surprise u soon hopefully.
|
| n/a |
Posted - 22/02/2012 : 13:11:02
Lol thanks, J. Yes, I'm always right ...except when I'm wrong lol!
Yeah, the rat's a good idea, especially as rats are better for royals, if only because of their size; when he's bigger it'll be a lot more convenient to feed one rat rather than several mice. And a dead rat is definitely smellier - in fact just heard about a young boa who's turning his nose up at mice and going mad for a rat. |
| jbarlow91 |
Posted - 22/02/2012 : 12:59:10
Lol looks like ur right again BATS I'd say go for a pre killed if he refuses next time or have you tried offering a rat cause they are supposed to smell different than mice so might go for it |
| n/a |
Posted - 22/02/2012 : 12:48:06
Ah we overlapped J. |
| Scottydog |
Posted - 22/02/2012 : 12:47:29
Yea I dangle it in front of him with tongs, do a little dance until my arm starts to ache and then leave it in for 24 hours. I warm it thoroughly with a hairdryer. |
| n/a |
Posted - 22/02/2012 : 12:45:48
I'd personally wait until after his shed, especially if he'll only take live atm - then it sounds as if you're going to have to ask the breeder to help with weaning him on to prekilled prey and finally f/t.I've never done this myself but have heard some success stories. Sounds like he's getting hungry again after a normal fast so with any luck he might take a nice warm prekilled prey next time, especially if you give it a good wiggle about, and wiggle it well when he's coiled to simulate the poor creature's struggles and stimulate his coiling and feeding response. (I have an adult male who comes from the states and who I think was fed live at some point; he likes his rat shaken not stirred lol, but he's a grand eater - hasn't even fasted yet.)
Good luck with Jake - at least he's got something in his belly now. |
