speaking for the chicken broth method

[lilyskip]

I just felt moved to post after my latest feeding attempt of Huxley and Marla tonight. Neither of them had eaten in a few weeks, and, while they showed minor interest in the rats, didn't strike. I was having trouble getting them interested, despite several methods.

Eventually, I decided to try dipping the head in chicken broth. WOAH, what a difference it made. Both snakes struck almost immediately. So, for any newbies looking for a method of enticement for their noneating ball pythons, try chicken broth. Let's just hope it works again ( ::knock wood:: !!)

[Jeff_Favelle]

That's great! What brand/type did you use for everyone's edification?

[sapphire_moon]

Yes, what type!? I would like to try this with my male bp. He hasn't been eating, stubborn brat.

[MouseKilla]

That's brilliant! Did you come up with that yourself? I've never heard of anyone doing it and I sure wouldn't have thought to try, though I may when the time comes to start trying to trick my BPs into eating again.

I broke the last fast my female was on by dropping a F/K rat into a box full of live mice and leaving it in there while I fed everyone else. I guess it smelled enough like mice when I took it out because she took it immediately instead of just sniffing at it then ignoring it.

Good work, anything to end a hunger strike.

[casacrow]

I use Campbells (low fat of course) myself. I have been lucky enough not to have needed it but still keep it around just in case. It works wonders for anacondas as well. Well just about any boa or python actually.

[Invictus]

I've used this method for kenyan sand boas who were being stubborn. It's next on the list for the female BP who hasn't eaten since November... (Yup, 5 months. You wanna talk frustration? GRRRR)

[lilyskip]

I used Maneschevitz Kosher chicken broth, actually. (hehe--it was just the first can I found. no religious agenda here...) I haven't used any other kinds, so I'm not sure how it stacks up, but I got a really strong feeding response out of my duo using this stuff. Of course, I heated up the broth in the microwave so it was hot before I poured it on the rat's head.

I'd definitely recommend the method, Sapphire...it's so much easier for the faint-of-heart than braining, and I've gotten much better results.

MouseKilla--I didn't come up with it...I think I actually read about it on one of these forums when I first got Huxley! I'd never tried it, but desperate times... ;)

Invictus--Five months? Wow...talk about conserving rats...!

[daver676]

Originally posted by lilyskip
I used Maneschevitz Kosher chicken broth, actually.

LOL!! It figures that it just couldn't be Campbell's or something. LOL! :p

[lilyskip]

LOL!! It figures that it just couldn't be Campbell's or something. LOL!

HA! It's PASSOVER, man! Whaddya want from me? ;)

[Andy_G]

I think I will try that for my female ball, a bit over 5 months as it is! :(

[MouseKilla]

Maybe if we just got the Campbells and then found a rabbi... Or maybe just a bag of dead rats and a rabbi, who says it's got anything to do with the soup? lol!

[sapphire_moon]

5 months, that sucks, my female just came of a 4.5 month fast, and my male is still on one. I think it's because several times over winter my room dropped to seriously cold temps (though the hot side stayed in the 80's until I could up the temps and do something to keep the cold out).

[Auskan]

Congrats. Your post moved me to try the same trick only it didn't work with mine. My female BP isn't actually fasting, just being stubborn. She ate two f/k rats a week apart 3-4 weeks ago. I have about a dozen rats in my freezer and she won't eat them f/t. I decided to try the chicken broth method last night, but by this morning the rat was still there and I had to throw it away. Sigh. I have a couple of rat pups that will be big enough for her next week so I'll see if she's still interested in f/k, and maybe after that she'll take f/t.

[lilyskip]

aw, i'm sorry it didn't work for ya. did you heat up the chicken broth?