KSB Feeding Question

[Dani33]

Hi, I am happy to say that I am a new owner of a baby male KSB. First let me say that he is my first baby snake so I am worried to begin with. He is approx. 10" long. His temps are 90o - 73o. He is on shredded aspen. He looks healthy. I was told when I purchased him that he was on F/T.

I have tried feeding him twice w/ F/T pinkies. The first time was his second night w/ me. I put him in a deli container w/ shredded aspen on the warm side of his tank. I placed the pink in and left it over night. He didn't take it. I tried again tonight, I brained a pink, put him and the pink in a snake bag on the warm side. I left it for a good 5 hrs and he didn't take it. I have refrained from handling except for the above.

When should I try again and what method has worked best w/ F/T? When should I resort to a live or F/K pink? I don't breed mice so I shall have to look for some pet shops close to me that sells them. I live in Newmarket. I haven't ever fed anything other than F/T. All of my other snakes were yearlings approx. and already conditioned to take F/T. When should I get worried? Should I have waited a week to feed him?

To say again, this is my first baby and prone to over reacting. When should I get worried?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Stockwell]

Kenyans are ambush feeders as are most sandboas.
They feed best on live pinkies or small hoppers, placed above them in a particulate type substrate. Beta & Alpha chip is what I use, but sand is OK . Kenyans really prefer some substrate over them, and a little weight on them helps make them feel secure.
Get the temps hot, up to almost 90F and offer the pinky on the surface just before lights out. They eat at night in total darkness.
Young sandboas are best kept in small deli containers with only a few holes. This concentrates the scent molecules and also allows them to feel the movement above them.
Water is important with baby Kenyans. If they get dehydrated they will not eat.
Offer them water weekly by putting them in a low dish or putting their head right into a bottle cap of water. You'll see their little jaws moving as they take up the water.
Most will eventually eat F/T but I don't bother trying until they are several months old..
Young ones usually require both movement and scent
to trigger a strike.

[Tigergenesis]

So far this is what works for my new 6 mth old. I put him in a deli container (has holes on the side), add the fuzzy, put the lid on, put the container in the tank (warm side) and bury down in the substrate a bit, turn out the lights and cover tank with towel. I go away and about 20 minutes later its gone (maybe quicker, but I give him 20minutes). He won't eat it w/o the lid on the container or w/o it being completely dark. Just glad he eats.

[Dani33]

Roy - how old do you think my little guy is at 10"? I'm not sure as to how big they are at hatching. Thanx for the replies everyone!

Oh, he drank almost immediately. He found the water himself. I have witnessed him drinking on a couple of occasions. I left a small ceramic dish filled w/ him. I also put him in a 5 gallon tank. I remember you saying on a previous post that it's not always good to put them in a 10 gallon right away.

[Stockwell]

I produced 4 litters in September... so its a tad over 3 months
Even a 5 gal may be too big ....At least for feeding put it in a round deli container with the lid on (16 oz size from you local supermarket deli) Put several holes in for air

[Dani33]

Thanks, Your awesome! So, do you think that I should try live? I live in Newmarket, do you know where I can get alpha or beta chip? I hate sand. I do have play sand, should I use it while feeding until I can get the other? Or should I continue to try with the F/T? If I do try live, when should I try w/ F/T? I really love him by the way. I think that he is my favourite all ready!

[Stockwell]

Yes, save yourself some headaches and dissapointment..
Feed the little dude live! They all ate live several times before they left my incubators.
Get yourself a Bag of Alpha chip, or Beta chip if they are out of Alpha....
Its available here for 10 bucks for enough to last you a couple years(it's a big bag)
http://www.rensfeed.com/

The product info is here one the manufacturers website
http://www.nep-co.com/

[Invictus]

Just to throw in my $0.02 here... I have 4 Kenyans, 2 of which are babies. They both take F/T fuzzies, and the baby female will even take it dangled like a corn snake! But, it was a long road to get them there, and only on one single occasion did the baby male ever take a F/T pinky. There is something about freezing pinkies that kenyans just don't go for. Save the frozen pinks for corns. :)

However, 10" sounds pretty big to be giving it pinkies anyway. My young male has been taking fuzzies since he was about 6" in length. Maybe try a F/T fuzzy, and if he won't take that, step back to F/K, and if he doesn't take that, give him a live one. Fuzzies have more "mouse smell", so it's way easier to get them on frozen fuzzies than pinkies.

[Tigergenesis]

My 6 month old is 11.5 inches and was feeding on live when I got him. My first attempt I got him to eat a FT fuzzy - just had to go throught the whole ritual listed above.

:)

[Dani33]

Well, I went to a pet shop close to me. I purchased some F/T fuzzies just to try. They have live mice there too so, if I have to I can get them. I just want to try the F/T avenue first.

I also went to the grocery store and got some of the deli cups Roy was talking about.

I will contact Ren's Feed on Friday about getting some Beta/Alpha chip. I'll give him a couple of days before I try again. I'll let you all know how he does.

He is very healthy looking and his colours are just beautiful so, I am not worried about anything right now. Thanks for all of your suggestions everyone!

[Tigergenesis]

Let us know how it goes! Good luck.

[Dani33]

I actually decided tonight to try the F/T fuzzy. Since it's new years and all - thought I would have some luck. I used the method that Tigergenesis used except I put a wash cloth right over the deli cup. I checked after a 1/2 hour and he didn't take it. We decided to see The Lord of the Rings tonight, so I decided to leave him til we got home. When we got home - he had taken it!!!!! WOOOHOO!! I am so pleased. We decided to call him Sam after the character in the movie! Thank you very much for you ropinions and responses, your the best!! Hapyy new years everyone!!

[Tigergenesis]

Congratulations! Must be a shy little guy! My KSB is named after Gimli (the dwarf) in Lord of the Rings.