Question for Gray-Band Breeders

[Ladyhawk]

I've already heard the horror stories of how difficult it can be to get hatchlings feeding. I've heard that in the wild, gray-bands tend to be reptile specialists, only feeding on other snakes and lizards. This makes them reluctant to accept mice.

To the gray-band breeders out there: have you found something that works well for you? I'm wondering if the "lizard maker" product by T-Rex helps to convert the little guys over to mice more easily.

Most pet stores used to carry fairly inexpensive house geckos and anoles, but I haven't seen any in a long time...is there a good place from which to order feeder lizards?

As you can tell, I would very much like to have a pair of the most beautiful Blair's phase gray bands I can find. ;) And I'd like to raise their babies.

[crimsonking]

If you're going to purchase hatchlings try and get a pair that are already feeding on pinks. I used to buy non feeders very cheap and once I got them on to pinks resold them. I have had no luck with lizard maker at all. Since I have access to anoles, skinks and geckos, I can pretty much get the babies feeding on something. I always try stubborn gbs on brained pinks first before offering any lizard. Lots of feeder lizards available in the states. You have access to a ton of alterna breeders out in Cal., most of which will have hatchlings already on pinks.
:Mark

[gonesnakee]

Well out of 31 from 3 different clutches so far only 3 have fed & all were from the same clutch. 2 ate live pinkies & 1 dead while contained within a delicup & left in the dark alone for a while. Thats how things are going so far. I used some Bearded dragon shed to scent both live & dead with, with zero success. August will be get the greybands to eat month. Last year I had success with some "assist feeding", they would finally get sick of me poping its head in their mouths & eat it. They will sometimes take it on their own next time after an assist feed, but sometimes it turns them off food also. I'm up in Canada so lizards aren't really an option. I had ones that I "force fed "last year "take off" on their own after doing so & again others that would still not eat without being forced. In the end they all came around, but there was many assist & force feedings involved with a few of them. Not looking forward to it this year. Hopefully the little buggers will cooperate better this season. Mark I.

P.S. Pay the extra $ & buy well established hatchligs (on dead/thawed mice) & it will save you some grief. If you have the time, talent & patience, try your luck on some unestablished ones.

[Stockwell]

Alterna can be a pain to get going, but this depends on the blood line.
I used to produce quite a lot of them, and mine usually ate, although the odd clutch were a real pain, it could vary from one year to another.
I generally put them all on the pump right away,forcing them assembly line fashion , once a week ,for at least a few meals the same thing I do with pyros, thayeri and solomon boas.
After a month or two they will often start taking brained pinks on their own. You can try brained pinks right off too, sometimes they will take those.
Scenting with various geckos will apparently work as well.( I never resorted to that)
You should never feed wild caught lizards to captive produced snakes.. that just completes the parasite cycle, and theres a good chance your snake will get worms or something worse. Use any wild caught lizards for scenting only.