Finally!!

[popcorn]

so i woke up at 5 am this morning..found my GTp on the same spot hes been there for 2 days now.. so i turned on the infared light i got yesterday..i went downstair and got the frozen pinkie..i warmed it up and attempt to feed him..he refused..so i cut the brain open and let some juice come out...and again..he refused..So..i was like .let me use the last choice and if it doesnt work..i ll give up..i went into my mouse breeding room and got a live pinkie..at first.he striked at the pinkie but he didnt eat him...second..thing i know the pinkie was in pain and moved around alot that attract my gtp to do a second strike..lol this time he ate it!!~~ woo!!~~ but i dont want to keep feeding him live...i ll somehow need to change that..any ideas how? anyways congrats to me~~

[dshin963]

Nice!!! Congrats!

[emilie]

no idea i've never had this problem but congratulations!

[blindfireak40]

Glad to hear he ate for you! Just keep trying f/t until it takes...one thing you may try is putting it in the fridge the night before, so it'll thaw all the way, and then warming it up. Also, press the head against something hot right before trying to feed, that may encourage him to go for it. Try making the pinky "dance" as well :)

[stephanbakir]

Yeh, you really don't want him to stay with live for long, it might become harder to switch him back to F/T.

[Lankyrob]

You keep mice so know how hot they feel, ensure that the f/t mouse is as warm as a live one and then press the head against a heat source to really heat up the skull. Hold the pinky with tongs or tweezers by the scruff of the neck and dance it around UNDER but slightly in front of the gtp whilst it is on the perch and he should take it. You will want to bump up food size quite quickly too - my gtp was taking medium sized adult mice at 12 weeks old and switched to rats not long after.

As you know in the wild at dawn and dusk they will hang from a perch over a trail that is used by rodents through the forest and this is their standard hunting process - you need to replicate this as much as possible.

[CanadianEryx]

Congratulations!!! What finally worked for me (and, granted, I have a sand boa which may be different) was scenting my prey item with salmon--just rub it in some before attempting to feed. And, yes, make sure your thawed food is as warm as live!!!

[stephanbakir]

Never heard of salmon but if it works ill need to try it in the future with me picky eaters!
Thanks.

[popcorn]

Never heard of salmon but if it works ill need to try it in the future with me picky eaters!
Thanks.
huh? salmon? never heard of it either..i ve heard using bedding from mouse and shake it up with F/T so will pick up live scent from it...

[popcorn]

You keep mice so know how hot they feel, ensure that the f/t mouse is as warm as a live one and then press the head against a heat source to really heat up the skull. Hold the pinky with tongs or tweezers by the scruff of the neck and dance it around UNDER but slightly in front of the gtp whilst it is on the perch and he should take it. You will want to bump up food size quite quickly too - my gtp was taking medium sized adult mice at 12 weeks old and switched to rats not long after.

As you know in the wild at dawn and dusk they will hang from a perch over a trail that is used by rodents through the forest and this is their standard hunting process - you need to replicate this as much as possible.

i have done excatly what u just said ,i used a basketing lamp to heat up the head of pinky..it was too hot that u could hear hzzzz..from the lamp buring on the pinky.lol.but next attemp will be next week ..i ll try it again..btw i saw him drinking out from his coil..it was so cute~~ i tried to take pictures at 5 this morning but it was too dark i didnt want to flash him and stop him eating..sorry~~ next time

[mld]

Wonderful news on the eating!

[stephanbakir]

Try reptile night time blue lights, they don't bother my snakes and you can get some really nice early morning and night-time pictures, the blue light makes for some very attractive pictures.

[popcorn]

Try reptile night time blue lights, they don't bother my snakes and you can get some really nice early morning and night-time pictures, the blue light makes for some very attractive pictures.

actually i was using that and not sure if its gonna disturb them or not..as u can see i have another post about the night lights. it is simulate to moonlights but will it disturb the snakes? i m assuming not? cause in wild moonlight shines everywhere?? lol that s what i think..

[popcorn]

Wonderful news on the eating!
yeah at least he ate and drank water~~ i was so excited and went back to sleep at 6 am..lol

[stephanbakir]

I your worried, there is an easy way to test it. Get a temp gun and set up a secondary platform for him to stand on(make it match the first perfectly but have it in the shade protected from the moonlight, make sure the temperatures match though) and then cover the enclosure in a towel so it isn't influenced by the outside.
Check it over a few days and let your snake tell you what he likes and doesn't?

[infernalis]

huh? salmon? never heard of it either..i ve heard using bedding from mouse and shake it up with F/T so will pick up live scent from it...

Garter snakes, water snakes and ribbon snakes all love salmon.

I know it's kinda off topic... But there are fish eaters out there... and in my snake room, living room and yard.

[Lankyrob]

You dont want to be feeding your GTP every seven days or it will get fat, every fourteen days is perfectly adequate. As you know they barely moveso dont need much energy.

[popcorn]

You dont want to be feeding your GTP every seven days or it will get fat, every fourteen days is perfectly adequate. As you know they barely moveso dont need much energy.

Yeah u r right! I ve noticed that my GTP doesn't even move at night he stays in the same spot every day sometimes he moves a little bit just to drink water on his coil.. Sometimes I get worried wondering if he's still alive or not lol

[Jenn_06]

how are you feeding him? are you just putting the pinky in front of the snake or are you pissing it off? for the first few time i would feed him live so he will get use to eating then move to F/t you if he dose not want to eat the f/t wait another week, when he is hungry he will eat. i like to put the rats head under hot water for a min before feeding my GTP.