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Jonny Boa
Snake mite
United Kingdom
11 Posts |
 Posted - 09/05/2012 : 21:55:08
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This is a 2 part thread ...sorry guys so ill start at part 1
Firstly the facts,
Senna
Rainbow boa 07 Male
6ft
Just shed fine no issues at all.
Senna had settled in fine so I decided to feed him , his previous owner gave me a Med Rat for him which I defrosted and heated in warm water for him to eat and he refused it point blank.....no interest.
i then spoke to my local and very experienced rep shop and he reccomended dropping down to smal rat, next night senna struck well and rat gone so all ways happy .
I had to go away on business for 2 weeks to asia, short notice call and trip...so Senna went to stay at the above shop, the shop tried a feed the first week and he took a small rat , then the second week he wasnt at all interested .
After arriving home I went to the shop and collected Senna, he was in shed which went fine, once he got home to his viv and moss etc.
Day after shed I tried a feed and not interest at all !!
Same the next day....I thought snakes were hungry after a shed ???
I have thought about the issue and its been 3 days since his last offering of food, the last 2 nights he's been out in his viv I assume he's hunting , so I got a med rat from the freezer and that is thawed now and warming up nicely !
I think I may try a med rat tonight, to get him back into routine and maybe his normal eating habits as the 2 smaller rats were each fed at his normal routine of 2-3 weeks per Medium rat?
He is also fed in his rub which I dont want to break this routine at all as he is tame and very easy to handle due to the work of his previous owner who NEVER fed him in the vivarium , so im going to put some of his old substrate in the rub .
Am I thinking on the right lines here ?? any suggestions to get his appetite back ?
Sorry for my essay
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MrBD1980
Snake mite
United Kingdom
45 Posts |
Posted - 09/05/2012 : 22:11:33
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Hey,
I've not had any experience with non feeders so hopefully one of the more knowledgeable keepers will be along shortly.
Just from my reading of the forums I know the usual advice is to wait 7dats before offering a feed again as constant offering can stress a snake out and cause further issues.
As I say though this is second hand info and hopefully someone more in the know will be along soon!!
Regards
Bri |
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Snakesitter
Rainbow Master
USA
2718 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2012 : 00:06:02
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| Jonny, Bri is correct: always wait a few days, preferably a week, between feeding attempts. Snakes are amazingly efficient animals that are capable of going months between meals, and frequently do exactly that during breeding season. For an adult, a medium rat is the correct size; however, better to get him eating even small meals at all and then slowly move back up to mediums. As for getting a better response, try offering the prey piping hot on tongs at dusk. If he does not strike, clos up the viv and leave the room to give him privacy. You can safely leave it overnight if you want, and it will hopefully be gone by the morning. Good luck! |
Cliff Earle
Living Gems Reptiles
Premium Brazilian Rainbow Boas from a disease-tested facility
Website, Facebook |
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Jonny Boa
Snake mite
United Kingdom
11 Posts |
Posted - 11/05/2012 : 17:07:01
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Thanks for all your advice folks !
I got him a bigger rub for feeding yesterday morning as the rub I got with him wasnt big enough, so I put his hold hide in the rub with some substrate from the viv to make it smell more familiar.
I got him out to handle that night, with the rat in the room heated up and ready as I wanted to see if he was interested after 5 mins of handling, I popped him in the rub as he was very interested in the scent from the rat.
I also got some feeding tongs to make it easier for me and to give Senna a wiggling/moving hot target.
Senna is back to form and back to a decent meal size LOL he struck perfectly and is now a very full brazilian !! |
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MrBD1980
Snake mite
United Kingdom
45 Posts |
Posted - 11/05/2012 : 18:18:41
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Good news! Glad it all got sorted!!
Bri |
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Snakesitter
Rainbow Master
USA
2718 Posts |
Posted - 11/05/2012 : 23:15:17
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| Congratulations, Jonny! |
Cliff Earle
Living Gems Reptiles
Premium Brazilian Rainbow Boas from a disease-tested facility
Website, Facebook |
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Feed issue or me worrying ??
