Feeding problems. Looking for suggestions.

[imnotarobot]

I have a blue beauty snake who has been a problem eater since I got her. Basically I have to sit and hold a thawed rat pup in front of her for sometimes 20-30 minutes before she will take it. Often then she puts it down and I have to start over. Thankfully she almost always eventually eats, but it is a time consuming, and honestly annoying process, especially since she usually gets 2 or 3 feeders. I'm easily spending an hour a week feeding her.

The breeder I got her from fed her live so I always knew there would most likely be some work involved in getting her to eat. I've had her for a while now though and the problem persists. In fact if anything she is starting to take longer. If I just drop the rat and leave she will completely ignore it and never eat it.

Recently after much deliberation I decided to try feeding her live because I thought since that is how she was originally fed she might take to it more easily. The thing is though, she didn't. Again she just completely ignores the live feeders (which right now are rat pups and ant harm her.)

I'm looking for suggestions on what to do. I would rather stick to f/t, but it is just so time consuming. Of course though, I am a responsible pet owner and if that is what it takes, that is what I'll do, but I was hoping someone might have some insight or tricks I haven't thought of that would just take care of the issue so I don't have to.

Thanks

[Sylphie]

Since you tried live and it isn't working I would stay with f/t. It's winter though, even snakes that are normally eating without problems can start fasting as they would brumate in nature. I guess that's why she won't take even live now. If she's healthy I would try to give her 2-3 weeks without feeding, and then would try boiling the f/t mice + braining/scenting. All my troube eaters love that combination.

Rat snakes are monstrous eaters most of the time, so either your girl is the exception from that rule, or she isn't really hungry. If the first one is true then you can try tease feeding to "teach" her to more actively reacting to food being presented. If she's shy around food, then you can try feeding her in a separate box that will be small enough to not give her chance to avoid the food in it (but reckon that if she'll eat in there you'll be better to leave her in it for a night, as really shy ones can regurge after putting them again in their tank immediately after they ate).

Well, that's it from me, maybe someone else will have better advice :)

[chairman]

I agree about sticking with f/t.

You may want to double check your temperatures, warm snakes are better feeders than cold ones.

If you aren't already then try to thaw the mice/rats in 100F water. Some snakes prefer warm food (vs room temperature).

You can also try braining the mouse, which is using a pen knife to slice open the top of the rat's skull to expose a little brain. I prefer to avoid this myself but it may provoke a faster feeding response.

Or, if the snake doesn't eat immediately, don't feed it. A healthy snake can skip a meal. He'll probably be more enthusiastic about food the next time and continuing to offer food 'quickly or not at all' may condition the snake to eat faster.