Missed a meal

[EL Ziggy]

I'm not worried but I was surprised. My JCP refused his rat weaner last night. That was a first. I had been feeding him mostly rats but for his last (2) meals he got a chick and a ASF. I'm thinking he just got picky and wanted a different prey item. I can't think of any other reason unless he just wasn't hungry. I double checked my temps and everything is spot on. I'll give him 6-7 days and try again. I fed the weaner to my coastal who slammed it down even though he's in shed.

[Minkness]

He may alao be in shed. My girl is my garbage disposal for just about anything that fits, but this last feed, she was in deep blue. She seemed interested at first, then decided she wasn't that interested and just went back to her warm hide lol.

She's eaten while in blue before, so I'm thinking it's just an occasional thing.

[EL Ziggy]

@ Mink- He shed about 10 days ago.

[jpsteele80]

Could be that he got a taste for something better now he doesn't want regular rats anymore, try the chick and an asf, if he refuses on but takes the other that may be it.

[EL Ziggy]

@ Steele- That was my thinking too but I want him to stay primarily on rats. Do I just wait him out or offer alternative prey items? I really don't want to reinforce his fixation. If he refuses the rats two more times I'll offer something else and see how it plays out.

[Minkness]

Ah...spoiled snake syndrome lol

[jpsteele80]

@ Steele- That was my thinking too but I want him to stay primarily on rats. Do I just wait him out or offer alternative prey items? I really don't want to reinforce his fixation. If he refuses the rats two more times I'll offer something else and see how it plays out.

I would just wait him out, that's pretty much what i had to do with my retic's when i switched them to rabbits, they wanted nothing to do with them at first then after about 3 weeks of not eating they would finally take them. If he doesn't eat for a while it wont kill him lol, lesson of the day just stick to the staple diet, i always say that when i here "can i feed my snake this" yeah you can but what happens when he doesn't want anything else and you can find that item?

[trailblazer295]

Oh no, I'm not getting a carpet now!!!!

[EL Ziggy]

Oh no, I'm not getting a carpet now!!!!

LOL, trust me, don't let that dissuade you. The pros far outweigh any cons. :)
I was also thinking the weaner may have been a little large for him but it didn't appear to be. He's eaten 40g weaners before and this last one was 48g. The snake weighs roughly 270g.

[jpsteele80]

Oh no, I'm not getting a carpet now!!!!

Yes definitely don't let it discourage you, carpets are awesome my friend

[trailblazer295]

I had to seize the opportunity lol I thought carpets were good feeders. I don't have access to such a variety just mice, rats, asf and rabbits. But those .75lbs and bigger. Only rats will be an option for heavier snakes like my boa, bp and a carpet.

Not joking feeding wasn't something I was worried about with a carpet. More worried about getting in the way not a problem feeder.

[jpsteele80]

I had to seize the opportunity lol I thought carpets were good feeders. I don't have access to such a variety just mice, rats, asf and rabbits. But those .75lbs and bigger. Only rats will be an option for heavier snakes like my boa, bp and a carpet.

Not joking feeding wasn't something I was worried about with a carpet. More worried about getting in the way not a problem feeder.

Most snakes are not problem feeders, when you give them a staple diet they do just fine, when you start changing things around is when you could possibly run into complications

[Aaron_S]

And this is why we don't offer variety. It's possible the snake won't want to eat regular rats. I know that IJs and sometimes Jungles were notorious for being very difficult to switch prey items.

[EL Ziggy]

I think my problem was I was throwing too many prey items at such a young snake. Lesson learned. I'll stick to his staple diet and will only offer different prey intermittently if he shows he can transition seamlessly between them. If not, it's all rats all the time. My Coastal Carpet and bulls don't care what I give them. Anything that's on tongs is FOOD as far as they're concerned.

[Aaron_S]

I think my problem was I was throwing too many prey items at such a young snake. Lesson learned. I'll stick to his staple diet and will only offer different prey intermittently if he shows he can transition seamlessly between them. If not, it's all rats all the time. My Coastal Carpet and bulls don't care what I give them. Anything that's on tongs is FOOD as far as they're concerned.

I don't blame you. I think you just weren't aware and it happens. No big deal.

Keep at it is all you can do.

[Minkness]

Now I kinda wanna try a quail on Persephone and see if she shows any interest lol

[jpsteele80]

Now I kinda wanna try a quail on Persephone and see if she shows any interest lol

Lol we're learning nothing from this are we

[Herpo]

Most snakes are not problem feeders, when you give them a staple diet they do just fine, when you start changing things around is when you could possibly run into complications

That is very true. But it doesn't apply with all carpets. For a while now, I've been feeding Popeye a mix of quail and rats. He seems to down rats faster (although that's probably because he's used to eating something with a tail, and so starts to eat the quail butt first until he realises this one has a long neack lol) but other than that he eats whatever I give him.

[jpsteele80]

That is very true. But it doesn't apply with all carpets. For a while now, I've been feeding Popeye a mix of quail and rats. He seems to down rats faster (although that's probably because he's used to eating something with a tail, and so starts to eat the quail butt first until he realises this one has a long neack lol) but other than that he eats whatever I give him.

Like i said "Most Snakes" :D

[Herpo]

Like i said "Most Snakes" :D

I know, just had to throw it out there. Definetly serves to be careful with feedings!

[trailblazer295]

Most snakes are not problem feeders, when you give them a staple diet they do just fine, when you start changing things around is when you could possibly run into complications

All my snakes are eating rats, that won't change unless Banzai gets big enough for small rats which would be a permanent switch.

[Minkness]

Do you mean small rabbits?

[jpsteele80]

Do you mean small rabbits?

I don't think so, I don't see any of his animals listed that could take rabbits, maybe rabbit pinks but i think a full grown rat would have more nutritional value than a rabbit pink

[trailblazer295]

I did mean rabbits, his parents could eat a small rabbit so if he gets big enough they are leaner then jumbo rats.

[EL Ziggy]

It's all a positive learning experience IMO. I like feeding my snakes a diverse diet and for the most part they all eat various prey types. My coastal has eaten everything I've offered without fail so far. I've learned that the kings prefer mice and chicks but they rarely eat rats so I give them what they prefer because it's still efficient to do so. The jungle was started on mice and transitioned to rats with no problems. I was giving him mostly rats and maybe a jumbo mouse on occasion. Two weeks ago he got his first chick and last week he got his first asf. He took them both with gusto. Now that he's been finicky he'll get only rats for a long time. I can't have a jungle "mouser" or asf junkie :). If he can't handle a buffet then it's all one course meals. It's my responsibility as a keeper to provide the food. It's the snake's responsibility to eat. I'm sure he won't starve himself and I'm pretty confident he'll be back on the rat track soon. I may have rushed things a bit but like I said, it's a valuable lesson learned.

[EL Ziggy]

Let's hope we're back on track. The jungle ate a 34g rat weaner today. He hesitated for about 20 minutes before he even started eating it but I'm glad he finished. I don't think he'll be getting any other prey items for a while. My coastal ate his usual small rat and a chick.

[Gerbil Food]

I breed Gerbils and snakes LOVE them!